How to change the ringtone on Xiaomi phone: 5 ways + error solving

Changing the standard call to Xiaomi is a challenge that every second smartphone owner of the brand faces. Even flagship models like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 13 come with a set of tunes that get boring quickly. But the problem is not only monotony: an inappropriate ringtone can create an awkward situation at work, wake up the household at night or just annoy with its obsessiveness.

In this article you will find 5 Proven ways to change the melody of the call - from basic settings MIUI before installing custom ringtones through the file manager, we will analyze the nuances for different versions of the shell (including the nuances of the file manager). MIUI 14/15), explain why some files are not displayed in the list of tunes, and give a unique solution for models with limited functionality (for example, POCO F6 And then there's the global firmware โ€” FAQ Answering frequent questions, including problems after system updates.

1. Standard method: change through "Settings"

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (starting with MIUI 12), the main advantage is that it does not require the installation of third-party applications and works even on devices with limited rights (for example, corporate ones).

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Open the Settings app** (the gear icon on the home screen).
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Go to the Sound and Vibration section (some firmware may call it Sound and Vibration).
  • ๐ŸŽต Select the Melody of the Call (or the Default Call).
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Scroll down the list to see all available standard tunes. Click on your favorite to listen.
  • โœ… Confirm the choice with the OK button or tick in the upper right corner.

If you don't have the right tune, you can add your own, which we'll explain in the next section. Please note that on some devices (such as the Xiaomi Pad 6), the path may be slightly different - instead of Sound and vibration, look for Sound Settings.

โ˜‘๏ธ What to check before changing the ringtone

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2.How to Put Your Call Melody on Xiaomi

Standard ringtones get boring quickly, so many users want to set their music as a ringtone. In MIUI, you can do this in two ways: through a file manager or a special application. We recommend the first option, which is simpler and does not require additional software.

Here's what we need to do:

  1. Prepare the file: the melody should be in the format.mp3,.m4a,.ogg or.wav. The optimal duration is 20-30 seconds, the size is no more than 5 MB.Too large file may not play or crop.
  2. Place the file in the correct folder: ๐Ÿ“ Open Files** (Standard Xiaomi Manager). ๐Ÿ” Go to the root catalogue (/storage/emulated/0/). ๐ŸŽต Create a Ringtones folder (if it doesnโ€™t exist) or use an existing one. ๐Ÿ“ค Copy your melody file into this folder.

Update the ringtones list

  • โš™๏ธ Go to Settings. โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ The ringing melody.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Pull the list down to update (like in the browser).Your tune should appear in the Local or Custom section.

If the melody doesn't appear, check out:

  • ๐Ÿ” File format (e.g.,.flac is not supported).
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ The folder is called Ringtones (with a capital letter, without typos).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Does not update the melody cache immediately.

๐Ÿ’ก

If you want to use a song clip, cut it in advance in any audio editor (like the MP3 Cutter from Play Market).Long tracks will be cut automatically, but the beginning may sound ugly.

3.Use of third-party ringtone apps

If standard methods don't work (for example, on the POCO X6 Pro with custom firmware), you can use third-party applications.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Files by Google is an alternative file manager that sometimes finds the Ringtones folder better than the standard Xiaomi.

How to install ringtone through Zedge:

  1. Download and install Zedge from the Play Market.
  2. Open the app and select the Ringtones section.
  3. Find your favorite tune and click on it.
  4. In the window that appears, select Set as ringtone.
  5. Confirm your choice in the MIUI system window.

โš ๏ธ Note: Some applications (such as Ringtone Maker) require permission to change system settings. Do not give it to unknown programs - this may violate the security of the device.

๐Ÿ“Š What tune do you prefer to call?
Standard MIUI.
His music (MP3)
Melody from the app (Zedge et al.)
No sound (vibration only)

4. Problem Solving: Why the Call Melody Doesn't Change

Sometimes users find that the ringtone does not change or resets after a reboot, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

Problem.Reason.Decision
The melody doesn't persistMIUI cache errorClear the Settings app cache (Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management โ†’ Settings โ†’ Storage โ†’ Clear the cache)
The file does not appear in the listWrong folder or formatCheck that the file is in /Ringtones/ and is MP3/M4A.
Call resets after updateResetting MIUI settingsReinstall the tune or use the Ringtone Scheduler app to automatically restore the tune.
No sound when you ring.Do not disturb or problems with the speakerCheck the DND mode settings and test the speaker through Settings โ†’ Sound โ†’ Sound Diagnostics

If the problem persists, try resetting the sound settings:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ System and device โ†’ Resetting.
  2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
  3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
What if all the melodies are missing after the reset?
This means that the Ringtones folder has been deleted or its contents erased, restore files from the backup (if any) or download new tunes, and check if the Saving Charge mode is activated, which can block the playback of user ringtones.

5. Features for different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones behave the same when changing ringtone.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Xiaomi 13/14 Series: Supported by 3D Audio for calls. To make the melody sound voluminous, turn on the option in Settings. โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound effects.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ POCO F5/X6: Global firmware may not have a Ringtones folder. Create it manually using Total Commander.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi Note 12/13: Sometimes you need to reboot after adding a new ringtone to make it appear on the list.
  • ๐Ÿ“บ Xiaomi Pad 5/6: On tablets, the path to sound settings can be called Sound and Multimedia.

For devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi 10C), you may need to turn off battery optimization for applications that control ringtones:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. Select an app (such as Zedge).
  3. Press Battery Limitations โ†’ No restrictions.

๐Ÿ’ก

On devices with HyperOS (the new Xiaomi shell), the path to audio settings may be different. โ†’ Sounds and vibrations.

6. Additional settings: vibration, horns and notifications

In addition to the ringtone, you can configure MIUI:

  • ๐Ÿ“ณ Vibration when calling: in Settings โ†’ Sound. โ†’ When you call, choose one of 10+ Or create your own templates.
  • ๐Ÿ”” Notifications: Separate from the call is configured in Settings โ†’ Notifications โ†’ The sound of notifications.
  • ๐ŸŽš๏ธ Volume: adjustable by physical buttons or in Settings โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Media volume/call.
  • ๐Ÿ”• Silent mode: quickly activates through the notification curtain or on schedule (Settings) โ†’ Don't disturb).

For Xiaomi with IR-With a blaster (for example, Redmi Note 11) you can customize unique sounds for the remote control:

  1. Open the Remote app.
  2. Go to Settings โ†’ Sounds.
  3. Select a tune to confirm commands (for example, when turning on the TV).

โš ๏ธ Note: on certain firmware (for example, MIUI EU) Changes in system sounds may require ROOT-Don't experiment with it without experience, you can damage the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the ringtone to Xiaomi

๐Ÿ” Why does my tune get cut off when I ring?
MIUI only plays the first 30 seconds of the track by default. To avoid this, cut the file in advance to 20โ€“25 seconds in the audio editor. Also check that the file format is MP3 with a bit rate of no more than 192 kbps.
๐Ÿ“ฑ How to Play Different Melodies for Different Contacts?
Open the Contacts app. Select the contact you want and click Edit. Scroll down to Call Melody and select the file. Save the changes. If you don't have the option, update the Contacts app through Play Market.
๐Ÿ”„ After updating MIUI All the ringtones are gone?
This is a well-known MIUI 14โ†’15 problem. Solutions: Check the Ringtones folder - files may have stayed but are not displayed in the list. Reboot your phone. If files are missing, restore them from a backup (e.g., via Google Drive). Use the Ringtone Backup app to automatically recover.
๐ŸŽต Can I play music from Spotify as a call?
Directly from Spotify, no, because the app doesn't allow access to the track files. But you can: Download the song through another app (like a premium Deezer app), use YouTube Music and save the track offline, then extract the file through Files, find the song freely available (like Zedge) and download it as a ringtone.
๐Ÿ”• How to turn off the sound of the call, but leave the vibration?
Turn on Vibration mode: Press the volume button and select the Vibration icon (usually second on the left). โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound mode โ†’ Vibration. For individual contacts, set the vibration in their profile (Edit โ†’ Vibration).