Xiaomi Mi 9 is still a popular choice thanks to its powerful hardware and flexible MIUI firmware. But even the owners of this flagship of 2019 release face a basic task - changing the melody of the call. Standard ringtones in MIUI quickly become boring, and finding alternative options through the settings is not always intuitive. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to change the melody from standard to hidden functions, and also solve typical problems when new ringtones "don't want" to be installed.
The Xiaomi Mi 9 features different versions of MIUI (10 to 14) and Android (9 to 12), which means that the path to audio settings may vary depending on the firmware, and we'll take all the nuances and show you universal methods that work on any version, and you'll also learn how to add a tune longer than 30 seconds, a limitation that many users face.
Method 1: Standard Replacement through MIUI settings
The most obvious method is to use the built-in tools of the system, which is suitable if you want to choose a tune from preinstalled or previously downloaded files.
Algorithm of action:
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the section Sound and vibration.
- Select the item Melody of the call.
- Scroll down the list – all available ringtones, including system and user ringtones, will be displayed here.
- Touch the right tune to listen to, then click OK or Ready.
If your file is not in the list, it is not in the correct folder. MIUI scans only certain directories, more on this in the next section.
⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware may call the ringtone or call sound. If you don't find the section, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top of the screen).
Method 2: Add your own tune through the file manager
MIUI allows you to use any audio file in.mp3,.m4a,.wav or.ogg formats as ringtones, but you need to put them in the correct folder:
- 📁 Internal memory: /MIUI/ringtone/ — ringtone.
- 📁 SD-map: /Media/Audio/Ringtones/ — Alternative path (not working on all versions) MIUI).
- 🔊 File length: Optimum up to 30 seconds. files longer may be cropped or not played.
- 🎵 Bitrate: No higher than 192 kbps is recommended, otherwise delays may occur when playing.
Instructions for addition:
- Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (e.g., Xiaomi Explorer or Solid Explorer).
Check the format (mp3/m4a/wav/ogg)
Cut the file to 30 seconds
Make sure the bitrate is ≤192 kbps
Rename the file without special characters
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If the melody doesn't appear, check out:
- 🔍 Correctness of the path to the folder (letter registry is important!).
- 🔄 Reloading after copying.
- 📱 Version MIUI: on old assemblies (below) 12) may not work /MIUI/ringtone/ — try /Media/Audio/Ringtones/.
Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications
If the standard methods don't work, you can use Google Play apps, which offer:
- 🎶 Large library of ringtones (from classics to memes).
- ✂️ Audio editor for cropping and sound normalization.
- 🔄 Automatic copying of files to the right folders.
Top.-3 tested applications:
| Annex | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zedge | More than 1 million ringtones and wallpapers, weekly updates | Google Play |
| Ringtone Maker | Editor with pre-listening, support for mp3, wav, aac formats | Google Play |
| MP3 Cutter and Ringtone Maker | Exact cropping on timeline, export right into call settings | Google Play |
How to install ringtone through Zedge:
- Download and install the app.
- In the search box, type in the name of the tune or select a category (e.g. Game Ringtones).
- Click on your favorite ringtone. → Set as ringtone.
- Select Phone ringtone (call) or Notification sound (notification).
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Zedge) require permission to access files and settings. If the ringtone is not used after installation, check the permissions in Settings → Annexes → Permit management.
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If you downloaded the ringtone through your browser, move it to /MIUI/ringtone/ manually, so it is guaranteed to appear in the list of standard tunes.
Method 4: Set up individual ringtones for contacts
MIUI allows you to assign unique tunes to individual contacts, which is convenient if you want to know who is calling right away without looking at the screen.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Select the contact you want and click Edit (pencil icon).
- Scroll down to the Melody of the Call (or Rington) item.
- Select one of the standard tunes or click Add to upload your file.
- Save the changes.
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 Does not work for numbers not stored in contacts.
- 🔕 On some versions MIUI individual ringtones are reset after firmware update.
- 📱 If the contact is synced with Google, the melody may not be saved when the reboot is made.
How to return individual ringtones after resetting
Problem Solving: Why the Call Melody Doesn't Change
Sometimes users find that new ringtones are not used or reset, and consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The melody doesn't persist | Not enough rights for the file manager | Give permission to access memory in Settings → Applications → Permissions |
| Rington's cut off | File longer than 30 seconds | Cut the file to Ringtone Maker or convert it to m4a (supports large files) |
| Old ringtones are disappearing. | Cleaning the Media Store app cache | Reboot your phone or copy files again to /MIUI/ringtone/ |
| No sound when you ring. | Failure in MIUI Sound Picker | Reset the sound settings: Settings → System → Resetting the settings → Resetting the sound settings |
If none of these methods helped, try resetting the app settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Reset application settings.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
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On the Xiaomi Mi 9 with MIUI 12+, a full phone reset is not required to reset the audio settings – it is enough to reset the application settings.
Hidden features: how to set a tune longer than 30 seconds
By default, MIUI cuts ringtones longer than 30 seconds, but this restriction can be circumvented.
- 🎵 Audio file format m4a (It is best suited for long ringtones).
- 📂 File Manager with access to root folders (for example, FX File Explorer).
- 🔧 Developer mode enabled (optional, for some versions) MIUI).
Instructions:
- Convert your file to m4a with a bitrate of 128-192 kbps (can be done via Audacity or online converters).
- Place the file in /MIUI/ringtone/.
- Rename the file by adding an underline character (e.g. mysong.m4a) to the beginning, which will cause MIUI to ignore the length limit.
- Reboot the phone.
- In the call settings, select your file - now it will play completely.
If the method doesn’t work, try an alternative method using ADB:
adb shell settings put system ringtone /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/your_song.m4aThis command forcibly installs your file as a ringtone, bypassing the limitations of MIUI.
Bonus: How to bring back standard MIUI tunes
If you have removed the system ringtones or they have disappeared after the upgrade, they can be restored without resetting your phone.
Recovery methods:
- 🛠️ Reinstall MIUI Sound Picker: Download APK-Application file (e.g. with APKMirror) Delete the current version via Settings → Apps, install downloaded APK.