How to change the ringtone on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Changing the standard ringtone to Xiaomi is easier than it sounds, but only if you know where to look for the right settings. Many users find that after updating MIUI, the usual paths to change the melody disappear or move to other menus. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from basic settings to hidden firmware functions and working with the file system.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have customized MIUI shells that regularly change the layout of options. For example, MIUI 14 has a different audio path than MIUI 12, and some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) have additional options for dynamic change of tunes. We took into account all these nuances and prepared a universal instruction that will be suitable even for older devices like the Redmi Note 5.

Important: If you use third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or HyperOS), some of the settings may be hidden, in which case, go back to the standard MIUI launcher or use alternative methods from this article.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

It is the simplest and most secure method that works on all Xiaomi devices, regardless of the firmware version, and is suitable for changing the ringtone, notifications and alarm clocks.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Sound and Vibration section (some models may call it Sound or Sound Effects).
3. Select the Melody of the Call (or Call).
4. In the list that opens, select one of the standard tunes or click Add Rington to download yours.

If you're in your version MIUI No Add Rington button, which means the system blocks the installation of user files. №3) or third-party applications (method) №4).

File format (supported.mp3,.m4a,.wav)

File size (no more than 5MB for standard ringtones)

The file must be in internal memory (not on the SD-map)

Device not in power saving mode (can block changes)-->

On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T), there is an option in the Sound and Vibration menu called Vibration. If you want to turn off the vibration completely, uncheck here - this will not affect the melody itself.

Quick change through the notification panel (MIUI 12 and later)

The latest versions of MIUI have a handy way to change the ringtone right from the notification panel, which only works for the ringtone of the call (not for notifications or alarms).

How to do this:

• 📱 Unlock your phone and swipe down to open the notification bar.
• 🔊 Find the Sound icon and hold it with your finger. 2-3 seconds.
• 🎵 In the window that appears, select the ringing melody and set the desired one.

This method is not suitable for Android Go devices (for example, Redmi A1) or if the notification panel is modified by third-party software.

Standard of MIUI|Your music in format MP3|A tune from the Zedge app|Other-->

3. Manually add melody through file manager

If you don't like standard ringtones, you can download your music, and you have to have three conditions for that file:

• 🎵 Format:.mp3,.m4a.wav (others not supported).
• 📏 Size: No more than 5 MB (otherwise the system will not display it in the list).
• 📁 Location: The file must be in the Ringtones or Notifications folder in the internal memory.

Step-by-step:

1. Download your favorite tune to your phone (for example, from the Zedge website or from your playlist).
2. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Total Commander).
3. Go to the root folder of internal memory (usually called Internal Storage or Internal Storage).
4. Create a folder called Ringtones (if you don't have one), Notifications folder, Alarms folder for alarms.
5. Move your audio file to the appropriate folder.
6. Restart the phone (required! otherwise the system won't see the new file).
7. Now your tune will appear in the list of available ringtones in the settings.

Important: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite), Ringtones and Notifications folders are hidden by default. To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.

4. Use of third-party applications (Zedge, Ringtone Maker)

If standard methods don’t work or you want more features (like cropping a track or setting different tunes for different contacts), use specialized applications.

• 🎶 Zedge is a huge library of free ringtones and notifications.
• ✂️ Ringtone Maker – allows you to cut any song from your media library under the ringtone.
• 🔄 Ringdroid is a simple editor for creating melodies from MP3-file.

How to set a tune through Zedge:

1. Download Zedge from Google Play and open it.
2. Select Ringtones or Notifications from the menu.
3. Find your favorite tune and click on it.
4. Select Set as a ringtone (or Set as a notification).
5. Confirm the action – the melody will automatically apply.

Zedge has the advantage of regularly updating the library and being able to download tracks without registering, but some tunes can only be available in a premium version, with the alternative being Ringtone Maker, which allows you to create a ringtone from any song in 30 seconds.

💡

If the melody is not used after installing the melody through Zedge, check if the battery optimization is blocking it. Add Zedge to the exceptions in the Battery settings → Battery Optimization.

5. Change of melody for individual contacts

In MIUI, you can assign unique ringtones to different contacts, which is convenient if you want to know who is calling without looking at the screen.

How to set up:

1. Open the Contacts (or Phone) application.
2. Find the right contact and click on it.
3. In the upper right corner, tap three points (⋮) and select Edit.
4. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call (or Notification Sound).
5. Select a standard tune or add your own (if the file is in the Ringtones folder).
6. Save the changes.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Not applicable to contact groups (only individuals).
• 🔕 If the contact is saved SIM-map, the option may not be available.
• 📵 In some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) this function is disabled in global firmware.

If you want to assign different tunes to notifications from different apps (like a separate sound for WhatsApp and Telegram), this is set up in the messengers themselves, not in the system.

6 Problems and Solutions: Why the Melody Doesn't Change

Sometimes even after all the manipulations, the ringtone doesn't change, so let's look at the typical causes and ways to fix them.

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the sound settings to the factory:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting.
2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (not a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

💡

After the update MIUI All user ringtones are missing, check the folder `Ringtones` — Sometimes the system recreates it and the old files remain in the system. `Ringtones_old`.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the tune to Xiaomi

If your question isn’t covered in the FAQ, check the official Xiaomi forums or Telegram communities, which often discuss specific model bugs. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro, after upgrading to MIUI 13.0.5, had a problem with displaying custom ringtones, which was solved by rolling back on the previous firmware version.