How to change the melody of the message on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Are you tired of the standard notification sound on your Xiaomi Redmi and want to install something more original? Or are important messages lost among other signals? In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to change the notification melody, from basic MIUI settings to install custom sounds through the file system.

Xiaomi manufacturer regularly updates the shell MIUI, So the interface may vary slightly depending on the version (MIUI 12–14) and have prepared universal instructions that will be suitable for most Redmi models – from the budget Redmi 9A up to the flagship Redmi K60 You will also learn how to bypass system limitations and install any audio files in the format.mp3 or.m4a.

Important: some methods require super-user rights, but we're going to offer alternatives for users without root access. If you've never changed your system settings, start with the first two methods, they're the safest and don't require any additional knowledge.

1. Standard method: change through MIUI settings

The simplest method that works on all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones without additional applications is suitable for changing the tune of SMS, notifications of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and system alerts.

Open the Settings menu → Sound and vibration. Here you'll see a few sections:

• 🔔 Notification Sound – Responsible for signals from apps (social networks, email).
• 📩 Sound. SMS — separate setting for messages from the operator.
• 🎵 The melody of the call is not to be confused with notifications!

Select the desired item (for example, "Notification Sound") and tap it. MIUI. Listen to the options by clicking on the playback icon ⏵️ Next to each name, click OK or Ready in the top right corner.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware after the update MIUI Notification sounds are reset to standard. To avoid this, back up your settings in Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.

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If the list doesn’t have a suitable tune, try downloading sounds through the Zedge app (available on the Play Market), which automatically integrates downloaded files into the MIUI system settings.

2. Install custom melodies through the file system

If you don’t like standard sounds, you can add your files in.mp3,.m4a or.ogg formats. This does not require root rights, but you will need a file manager with access to system folders (for example, Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Follow the instructions:

1. Download or prepare a sound file no longer than 30 seconds (optimally 5-10 seconds).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use the file manager on your phone.
3. Move the file to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/ If there is no MIUI or ringtone folder, create them manually.
4. Reset the device (required!).
5. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Notification Sound – your file should appear in the list.

If the sound is not displayed, check:

• 🔊 File format (supported only.mp3,.m4a,.ogg).
• 📏 Track length (maximum 30 seconds).
• 📁 Correctness of the path to the folder (letter registry is important!).

File in.mp3 or.m4a| format

Track length ≤30 seconds|

/MIUI/ringtone/ exists |

The device is restarted after copying the file-->

3. Change of sound for specific applications

MIUI allows you to assign unique tunes to each messenger or social network, which is convenient if you want to distinguish notifications from WhatsApp and VK in sound.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram).
3. Slip on Notifications. → Categories of notifications.
4. Find the category "Messages" (or similar) and click on it.
5. In the Sound section, select a tune from the standard list or your own (if you added files using the method from section 2).

Note that not all apps support custom sounds, like Instagram, which only changes the vibration, and Viber, which changes both the sound and the light.

WhatsApp|

Telegram|

VK|

Other|

4. Use of third-party applications (without root)

If the system methods don't work, we can use third-party utilities, and we tested 3 popular apps and selected the most reliable one.

Ringtone Maker (Play Market) app:

• 🎛️ Allows you to crop any audio files under notifications.
• 🔄 Automatically adds sounds to the system list MIUI.
• 📱 It works without root rights.

How to use:

1. Install Ringtone Maker from Google Play.
2. Select an audio file from your phone’s memory.
3. Cut the track to the desired length (recommended 3-5 seconds).
4. Click Save as a notification.
5. Go to MIUI settings and your sound will appear in the list.

⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (e.g. Avast) may block Ringtone Maker from accessing system folders. Add the app to exceptions or temporarily disable protection.

Important: Once MIUI is upgraded to a new version (e.g., 13 to 14), custom sounds may disappear from the list. To avoid this, save a backup of the /MIUI/ringtone/ folder.

5. Methods for advanced users (with root rights)

If you have root access, you can replace system sounds directly, a method that is suitable for full customization, but requires caution - wrong actions can lead to failures.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/media/audio/notifications/
3. Copy your files there (required in.ogg format for compatibility).
4. Change the access rights to 644 (rw-r----).
5. Reset the device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Complete control of system sounds.
• 🔄 Ability to replace even service signals (low charge, charging connection).
• 📱 No sounds are reset after updates MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Before editing system files, make a backup folder /system/media/audio/ through TWRP or ADB. Error in access rights can lead to “eternal loading” (bootloop).

6. Solving common problems

Sometimes, when you change the tune, the notifications stop playing or they don't sound right, and we'll look at the common mistakes and their solutions.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔇 Is the sound in the Do Not Disturb profile disabled (Settings) → Don't disturb).
• 📵 Is the “Airplane” or “Energy Saving” mode activated".
• 🔄 Have you reset your settings after the update? MIUI (Check the version in Settings → The phone).

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If the notification sound is gone after the update MIUI, Try resetting the settings of the Settings app (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the data. This will bring back the standard tunes, and then you can reassign your own.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing tunes to Xiaomi Redmi