The standard ringtone on Xiaomi is a quick bore, especially if you hear it 20 times a day. Fortunately, MIUI offers a number of ways to change the ringtone, from basic settings to customization through the file system, but not everyone knows where to look for these options, especially after upgrading to MIUI 14 or HyperOS, where the interface has changed again.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current techniques, from simply choosing from standard tunes to downloading your tracks through Files or Google Play Music, and why new ringtones are sometimes reset after a reboot and how to fix them. If you want your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 to play a unique tune for each contact, read on.
———
1. Standard method: change the ringtone through the MIUI settings
The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI options, which is suitable for all models, from Xiaomi 11T to Redmi A2, and does not require the installation of additional applications.
Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and go to the Sounds and Vibrations section. Here you'll see a few tabs -- we're interested in the Call Melody. Tape this item, and the system will open a list of available ringtones, broken down into categories: Standard, MIUI and Downloaded.
If you want to return a factory tune, select Default (MIUI). To pre-listen to any track, tap it in a small player. After selecting, press OK or Ready (depending on the shell version).
- 🔍 Where to look: Settings → Sounds and vibrations → The ringing melody
- 🎵 Melody Categories: Standard, MIUI, Downloaded (if any)
- 🔄 Reset: To return factory sound, select by default
———
2 How to Put Your Music as a Rington
If you don't like the built-in tunes, you can use any audio file from your phone's memory, and.mp3,.m4a or.wav formats up to 30 seconds long (otherwise the system will crop the track) are suitable.
First, copy the file you want to use to the Ringtones folder on your internal storage (if you don't have one, create it manually through Files). Then go back to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call Melody and select the Download tab. Your track should appear in the list. If it's not, reboot your phone or make sure the file isn't hidden.
⚠️
Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite), the Ringtones folder is not automatically scanned, in which case use Google Files or ES Explorer to manually specify the path to the file when selecting a tune.
———
3. Set different tunes for individual contacts
MIUI allows you to assign individual ringtones to each caller in the phone book, which is convenient if you want to know who's calling right away, whether it's a boss, a friend or a courier.
Open the Contacts app, find the contact you want, and tap it. In the upper right corner, click Edit (pencil icon), then scroll down to Call Melody. Here you can select any track from the standard list or you downloaded earlier. Remember to save the changes!
If the option is inactive, check that the contact is stored in the phone’s local memory, not in Google Account. For synchronized contacts, individual ringtones may not work.
- 📞 Where to set up: Contacts → Select contact → Edit → The ringing melody
- 🔕 Restriction: Does not work for contacts saved only in Google
- 🎼 Use short and memorable tunes (for example, the first 5 seconds of a song)
———
4.Use of third-party ringtone apps
If the built-in MIUI options seem limited, you can install specialized apps from Google Play, the most popular being Zedge (a large library of free ringtones and notifications), Ringtone Maker (for cropping tracks), and MP3 Cutter (advanced audio editor).
Once you install any of these apps, open it and select your favorite ringtone. The system will suggest using it as a ringtone, notification, or alarm. Click Set, and the track will automatically be added to the list of Downloaded in Xiaomi Settings.
⚠️
Note: Some applications (e.g. Zedge) require permission to access storage and contacts. Denie access to contacts if the application is not from a verified source - this can be a security risk.
———
Cut the track to 30 seconds |Save in MP3 or M4A|Put the file in the Ringtones|Reboot phone (if not displayed)|Check volume in the settings-->
5 Problems and Solutions: Why the Melody Doesn't Change
Sometimes users find that the new ringtone is not used or resets after a reboot, and here are common reasons and ways to eliminate them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Rington doesn't change. | File in the wrong format | Convert to.mp3 or.m4a via Audacity or online converters |
| The melody is dropped | MIUI cache error | Clear the App's cache Settings in Settings → Apps → Application Management |
| No "Downloaded" tab. | Ringtones folder not created | Create it manually in the root directory of internal memory |
| The sound is interrupted. | Too long a track. | Cut the file up to 30 seconds with Ringtone Maker |
If nothing works, try resetting the sound to factory settings. Go to Settings → System & Device → Resetting → Resetting the sound settings. This method will remove all custom ringtones and return the standard vibration and volume settings.
———
6.Alternative methods: ADB and MIUI Hidden Settings
For advanced users, there are ways to change the ringtone through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or hidden MIUI settings, for example, you can manually write the path to the audio file in system settings.
Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers) and execute the command:
adb shell settings put system ringtone /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/your_song.mp3Replace. your_song.mp3 You can use your file name, and after you've run the command, restart the device.
⚠️
Warning: Incorrect use of ADB can cause your phone to malfunction. If you are not sure about your actions, you should use the standard methods from the first sections.
———
How to bring back old MIUI tunes?
7. Sound optimization: volume, vibration and profiles
Changing the tune is only half the battle. To make the call really convenient, adjust the additional parameters: volume, vibration and sound profiles. For example, in Xiaomi you can activate the Do Not Disturb mode with exceptions for important contacts.
Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Loudness and adjust sliders for ringing, notifications and multimedia. Here you can turn on Volume Amplification – useful if you are often in noisy places.
To adjust the vibration, select the Vibration Type in the same section. MIUI offers several templates: Classic, Heartbeat or No Vibration. On models with a linear vibrator motor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), additional effects are available.
———
💡
If you miss calls often, turn on the option of Re-call in the settings SIM-The phone will vibrate every 2 minutes until you answer or reject the call.