How to change the ringtone on Xiaomi Redmi 8: all the ways from standard to hidden

Why Redmi 8 is Hard to Change Ringtones and What to Do About It

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 often face a paradoxical situation: the smartphone offers dozens of built-in tunes, but none is satisfied. And trying to install your favorite song as a ringtone turns into a search for hidden settings or encountering the limitations of MIUI. It’s all about the features of the firmware: Xiaomi traditionally “hidden” some options under the layer of customization, and in older versions of MIUI (for example, in MIUI 11, which was equipped with Redmi 8 at the release), the algorithm for selecting the tune differs from modern smartphones.

Another trap is the audio file format. Not everyone. MP3-The computer file is suitable for ringtones: MIUI It requires bitrate, duration, even file name, for example, if your track is longer than 30 seconds, the system may crop it automatically or not display it in the available tune list.m4a or.flac often ends with the error "File is not supported».

In this article, we will discuss all working ways to change the ringtone to Redmi 8 – from basic (through standard settings) to advanced (using a file manager and third-party applications). You will also learn how to avoid common errors, such as when a selected tune is not played or resets after a reboot. MIUI — from MIUI 11 MIUI 14.

Method 1: Standard change of melody through settings

To start with, the most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable for most users and does not require any additional software installation, but there is a caveat: depending on the firmware version, the path to settings may differ.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
Go to the section Sound and vibration.
Slap on the call melody item.
In the list that opens, select one of the standard tunes. To listen, click on the triangle to the right of the name.
Confirm the choice with the OK or Ready button.

For MIUI 11 (if your Redmi 8 hasn't yet been updated):

📱 Go to Settings. → Sound.
🔔 Select the Melody of the Call (may be called Ringtone).
🎵 In the list of standard tunes, find the right one and click on it.

⚠️ Warning: If the sound hasn’t changed after selecting the melody, check if Do Not Disturb mode is activated (Settings) → Also make sure that the volume of the call is not set to a minimum - it is adjusted by side buttons or in the sound settings.

The limitation of this method is that you can't set a custom tune (your music), and it requires additional actions, which will be discussed later.

📊 What tune do you prefer to call?

Standard MIUI.

His music (MP3)

Melody from the app (Zedge et al.)

No sound (vibration)

Method 2: Install your music as a ringtone

If you don't like the built-in tunes, you can use any audio file from your phone or computer, but there are a few pitfalls here:

📁 The file must be in a specific folder (usually Ringtones or Notifications).
🎵 File format —.mp3,.ogg or.wav (others may not be recognized).
⏱ The length of the track is not more than 30-40 seconds (otherwise MIUI cut it off automatically).

Step-by-step:

Connect Redmi 8 to your computer via USB-cable and activate file transfer mode (MTP).
On your computer, open the internal memory of your smartphone and find the Media folder (if not, create it).
Inside Media, create folders: Media/Audio/Ringtones (for ringtones) and Media/Audio/Notifications (for notifications).
Copy your audio file (pre-cut up to 30 seconds) into the Ringtones folder.
Disconnect your smartphone from your computer and go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody.
Your file will appear in the list – select it and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: If the file does not appear in the list, check its format and placement path. MIUI You can’t see files in Download or Music folders, even if they’re in the format MP3. Also make sure that the file name does not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces – replace them with Latin or underline.

Cut the track to 30 seconds |

Rename the file to Latin (for example, my_ringtone.mp3)|

Convert to MP3 format (bitrate 128-192 kbit/s)|

Place it in the Media/Audio/Ringtones folder

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Method 3: Using a file manager (without a PC)

If you don’t have access to your computer, you can use a built-in MIUI file manager or a third-party application (like Solid Explorer or FX File Manager), a method that is convenient for those who want to quickly replace the ringtone directly on their phone.

Instructions:

Download or transfer the audio file to the memory of the smartphone (for example, in the Download folder).
Open the Files application (standard MIUI manager).
Go to the folder where your file is located, and click on it with a long tap.
In the menu that appears, select More → Use as → Call Melody.
Confirm the selection – the file will automatically be copied to the Ringtones folder and will be available in the settings.

If the option to use as absent:

📂 Install a third-party file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer).
🔍 Find your audio file and select Open with → Music.
🎼 During playback, click on three points in the player and select Set as a ringtone.

Important: some versions of MIUI block the installation of ringtones through third-party applications, in which case only manual copying of the file to the Ringtones folder will help (see Method 2).

💡

If it resets to a standard after you reboot a custom tune, check the permissions for the Files app or file manager. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Storage and enable access.

Method 4: Ringtone Maker (Zedge, Ringtone Maker)

For those who don't want to mess with files manually, there are specialized applications that offer ready-made collections of tunes, as well as tools for cropping and editing tracks.

Annex	Advantages	Deficiencies	Reference
Zedge	A large library of free ringtones, notifications and wallpaper, and there's a clip editor.	Advertising, some tunes are paid, requires access to storage.	Google Play
Ringtone Maker	It allows you to create ringtones from any music on your phone, precise time trimming.	The interface can seem complicated. Some features are only available in the paid version.	Google Play
MIUI Ringtone	Optimized for Xiaomi smartphones. Simple interface, MIUI themes support.	Fewer tunes than Zedge, not updated since 2021.	Google Play

How to install ringtone through Zedge:

Install the app from Google Play and open it.
Select Ringtones from the menu.
Find your favorite tune (you can use the search).
Click on the track, then select Set as ringtone.
Confirm the choice – the melody will automatically apply.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Zedge request access to contacts, storage, and microphone. Unless you plan to use additional features (such as creating tunes from voice recordings), refuse unnecessary permissions through Settings. → Annexes → Zedge → Permits.

Problem Solving: Why the Call Melody Doesn't Change

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the ringtone doesn't change or resets to a standard one.

🔄 Post-reset reset: MIUI It can reset the audio settings if the ringtone file is not in the standard folder. Media/Audio/Ringtones.
🔇 No sound played: Check if the sound of the call is turned off in the sound profile (Settings) → Sound and vibration → Also make sure the file is not corrupted.
📱 The melody is cut off: MIUI Automatically shortens tracks longer than 30 seconds. Use an editor (like Ringtone Maker) to crop.
🚫 File not displayed in the list: Check the format (should be) MP3) Also restart your phone after you copy the file.

If the problem is not solved:

🔧 Try clearing the Settings app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Clear the cache).
🔄 Reset the sound settings to standard (Settings) → Sound and vibration → Resetting the sound settings).
📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes ringtones bugs are fixed in new builds).

What if all the custom ringtone ringtone has disappeared after the MIUI update?

When updating the firmware, the Media/Audio folder is sometimes reset. To recover the tunes: 1. Connect the phone to your PC and check if the files are still in the Ringtones folder. 2. If the files are in place but not displayed in the settings, restart the smartphone. 3. If the files are missing, copy them again from the backup (if you did a backup). 4. In extreme cases, install the ringtones through the application (for example, Zedge) again.

Additional settings: vibration, volume and profiles

In addition to the melody itself, Redmi 8 can also be configured with vibration, progressive ring, and sound profiles, which affect how you feel about the call and how you use it.

Vibration setting:

Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Vibration when calling.
Choose one of the options: 📳 Default Vibration – Standard Pattern. 🔄 Customized – Create your own rhythm of vibration. 🚫 No vibration, just sound.

Gradually increasing the volume (calibration):

This feature is useful if you want the melody to start quietly and grow.

Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Graduate bell.
Turn on the switch and adjust the duration of the build-up (from 5 to 30 seconds).

Sound profiles:

MIUI allows you to quickly switch between pre-configured profiles (e.g., Work, Home, Night) to create your profile:

Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound profiles.
Click Add Profile and set a name (e.g., “Meeting”).
Set the call volume, vibration and other parameters.
Save the profile – now it can be quickly activated through the notification panel.

💡

On the Redmi 8 with MIUI 12+, there is a hidden feature called Adaptive Sound, which automatically adjusts the volume of the call depending on the noise level around. To enable: Settings → Sound and vibration → Adaptive sound.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the ringtone to Redmi 8

Can I set different tunes for different contacts?

Yes, for this: Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want. Click Edit (pencil icon). Tap on Call Melody (or Rington). Select a tune from the list or add yours. If you don't have an option, update the Contacts app via Google Play.

Why does my melody play with distortion or interrupt?

It could be related to: 🎵 Incorrect bitrate of the file (optimally - 128-192 kbit / s). 📱 CPU overload (close background applications). 🔊 Speaker problem (check if the sound is distorted in other applications) Try converting the file to another format (e.g. from the same format) MP3 into OGG) Using the Audio Converter app.

How to return standard MIUI tunes if they are missing after the update?

Standard ringtones are stored in the system folder /system/media/audio/ringtones. If they are missing: Back up current tunes (if any). Reset the sound settings to standard (Settings → Sound and vibration → Resetting the audio settings). If that doesn't work, reset your phone settings (data backup is mandatory!). In extreme cases, you can download standard MIUI tunes from the archive on the Internet and install them manually.

Can I use music from Spotify or Yandex Music as a ringtone?

Directly from streaming services – no, as tracks are protected DRM. But there's a workaround: Download the track to your computer through an official app (if offline listening is available). Use a sound recording software (like Audacity) to record a playback of the track. Cut the recording to 30 seconds and save it to a format. MP3. Transfer the file to the phone and set it as a ringtone (see Method 2). ⚠️ Copyright Consideration – Using Protected Content as a ringtone may violate the rules of the service.

How to make the ringtone differ in headphones and on the speaker?

MIUI doesn't support separate ringtones for the speaker and headphones at the system level. However, you can use a workaround: Install the Tasker or MacroDroid app. Create a rule: "If you have headphones connected → change the ringtone to [your file]." For the speaker, leave a standard melody. This will require you to set up automatic tasks, but you will get the desired result.