How to change the music of the alarm clock on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways in 5 minutes

Waking up to the same alarm clock tune for months can turn even the most beloved song into a source of irritation. Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi line) often face the question: how to change this annoying trill for something more pleasant or motivating? Fortunately, MIUI offers several ways to customize the alarm clock sound - from choosing among standard tunes to installing your own audio files.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing alarm clock music on Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12, 13 and 14 firmware. You will learn how to use the built-in system tools, where to look for hidden settings, and how to circumvent restrictions if your smartphone does not support the loading of custom tracks.

Why Xiaomi’s standard alarm clock tunes annoy users

Neuroscientists have found that monotonous sounds (like standard alarm clocks) activate stress-related areas in the brain, which explains why many Xiaomi users are seeking to replace factory tunes with something more personalized.

🔊 Too abrupt onset – most standard tunes start with a loud peak, which is frightening and triggers a heart rate.
🎵 Lack of dynamics - monotonous trills without development do not stimulate awakening, but only cause irritation.
🔄 Repeatability – a limited set of melodies in MIUI He listens to the same things day after day.
📱 Style mismatch – factory sounds often don’t align with the user’s personal musical preferences.

In addition, in some Xiaomi models (especially the budget Redmi A and POCO C series), the choice of standard tunes is artificially limited - the manufacturer leaves only 3-5 options, which forces users to look for workarounds for installing custom tracks.

📊 What alarm clock tune do you prefer?

Standard MIUI.

Own audio file

Playlist Spotify/Apple Music

The sounds of nature (rain, birds singing)

Method 1: Selection of a melody from the standard MIUI set

The easiest method is to use the built-in sounds of the system, which is suitable for those who do not want to bother with downloading files or installing third-party applications.

Open the Clock app (icon with dial).
Go to the Alarming Signal tab (bell icon in the bottom menu).
Click on an existing alarm clock or create a new one (+ Add an alarm clock).
Slip on the Sound line (or Melody in older versions of MIUI).
In the list that opens, select one of the suggested tunes. MIUI 14 are grouped by category: 🔔 Standard signals (e.g. Morning Flower, Sunrise"). 🎶 Melodic – more complex compositions with instrumental accompaniment. 🌿 Nature – sounds of forest, sea, rain (not available on all models).

Reproduce

Note that some Xiaomi regional firmware (e.g. India or China) may have different standard tunes, so if you don’t like any of the options, move on to the next one.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Update the Watch app to the latest version on Google Play

Download the desired audio file in MP3 or M4A format (max. 10 MB)

Make sure the file is in the phone’s memory and not on the phone. SD-map-->

Method 2: Install custom melody from phone files

If you don't like standard sounds, you can download your own music. MIUI officially supports this feature, but with some limitations:

✅ Formats allowed: MP3, M4A, WAV (without DRM-defense).
❌ Maximum file size: 10 MB (in) MIUI 14 limit increased to 15 MB).
⏱ The duration of the track: optimal 30-60 Seconds (long files will be cut off).
📁 Folder for melodies: Internal Storage → Ringtones or Internal Storage → Notifications.

Step-by-step:

Place the audio file in one of the system folders: /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ – for alarms and calls /storage/emulated/0/Notifications/ – for notifications If there is no folder – create it manually through any file manager (for example, Files by Google or Mi File Manager).
Open the clock. → Alarm clock and select the appropriate alarm clock.
Click Sound → Add a new sound (or Select from the device in older versions).
Your file will appear in the list – select it and save the settings.

Important: Some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) may need to reboot the phone after adding custom sound to make the melody appear on the list.

💡

If your audio file doesn't appear in the list, check its bitrate. MIUI sometimes ignores files with bitrates above 320 kbps. Use a converter (like AudioConverter) to reduce the quality to 192-256 kbps.

Method 3: Using third-party alarm clock apps

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can install an alternative alarm clock app.

🎧 The ability to use streaming music (Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music) as a signal.
🔊 Smooth volume increase setting (Soft Wake-Up function").
🌙 Integration with sleep phases (wakes up at optimal time).
📊 Sleep statistics and wake-up analytics.

Top.-3 apps:

Annex	Features	Cons	Reference
Sleep as Android	Smart alarm clock with sleep analysis, Spotify support, smooth awakening	Paid version for all functions (~300 ₽)	Google Play
Alarmy	Extreme tasks to wake up (scanning) QR-code, mathematical example)	Advertising in the free version	Google Play
Timely	Minimalist design, cloud-based alarm clock backup, widgets	Not updated from 2020	Google Play

To set the music alarm in Sleep as Android:

Install the application and provide all necessary permissions.
Go to Settings → The sound of the alarm clock.
Select a Musical Alarm → Spotify/Local files.
Sign in to Spotify (if necessary) or select a file from your phone’s memory.
Activate the option Smooth increase in volume for a comfortable awakening.

How to get around the MIUI limit on the length of a melody?

If your track is longer than 10MB or 60 seconds, but you want to use it as an alarm clock: 1. Cut the file in an audio editor (like Lexis Audio Editor). 2. Save only the most memorable snippet (chorus or start). 3. Convert to M4A format with a bitrate of 128 kbps - this will reduce the size without a severe loss of quality. 4. Place the file in the Ringtones folder and restart the phone.

Method 4: Replacing the alarm clock music through ADB (for advanced)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t support custom tunes (like some MIUI devices for POCO), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires command line skills but bypasses system limitations.

What you need:

🖥 Computer with installed ADB Tools.
📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
🎵 Audio file format OGG (System format for alarm clocks in Android).

Instructions:

Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the adb.exe folder.
Check the connection command: Adb devices must display the serial number of your device.
Copy your file to the system folder: adb push your file.ogg /sdcard/Ringtones/
Set file rights: adb shell chmod 644 /sdcard/Ringtones/your file.ogg
Reboot your phone: adb reboot
After the reboot, your file will appear in the alarm clock melodies list.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause system failures. Do not modify or delete system files in folders. /system/media/audio/alarms/ — This can cause errors in the loading process. MIUI.

Problem Solving: Why the alarm clock melody doesn't change

Sometimes Xiaomi users find that the new tune doesn’t apply or the alarm doesn’t work at all, and here are the typical reasons and ways to fix them:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The melody doesn't change.	Cache app Clock damaged	Clean the cache in Settings → Apps → Watch → Storage
Castomic sound is not displayed	File in an unsupported format or too large	Convert to MP3 (max. 10MB) and place in /Ringtones/
The alarm clock doesn't ring.	Battery optimization for the Watch app is disabled	Add the Watch to the exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization
The sound is interrupted.	Active mode Do not disturb or without sound	Check the exceptions in Settings → Sound → Do not disturb

If none of these methods helped, try resetting the settings of the Watch app:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find the Watch and select the Warehouse.
Click Reset settings (alarm clock data will be saved).

💡

If the alarm clock is quieter after changing the tune, check the volume settings separately for the alarm clock. In MIUI, they are adjusted regardless of the overall volume: press the volume button → the gear → the volume of the alarm clock.

How to Make the Alarm Louder on Xiaomi: Hidden Settings

Many users complain that even at maximum volume, the alarm clock on Xiaomi sounds too quiet, due to the limitations of MIUI, which can be circumvented:

🔊 Engineering menu: Open the Phone app and type ##36446337##. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio → LoudSpeaker Mode: Set Level 5 for Ring and Alarm.
📱 Developer Settings: Activate Developer Mode (7 Taps by Version) MIUI). Turn off absolute volume in Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Third-party utilities

Apps like Volume Booster or Equalizer FX can artificially turn up the volume, but they can cause distortions.

⚠️ Attention: Increased volume through the engineering menu can cause the sound to be distorted at maximum levels or damage to the speaker during prolonged use. Do not set values above Level 4 unless you are sure of the quality of your device's speakers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about alarm clocks on Xiaomi

Can I play a song from Spotify/YouTube Music as an alarm clock on Xiaomi?

Yes, but only through third-party apps like Sleep as Android or Alarmy. The standard Watch app doesn't support this feature. To do this, Set Sleep as Android. In the alarm settings, select Music Alarm → Spotify. Sign in to your Spotify account. Select a playlist or track. Please note that to play streaming music, your phone must be connected to the Internet.

Why did all my custom alarm clock tunes disappear after the MIUI update?

This is a known MIUI problem in major updates (e.g., version 12 to version 13). The system resets paths to custom audio files. To restore: Check if your files are still in the /Ringtones/ folder. If the files are still in place, restart the phone. If there are no files, move them back from the backup. Open each alarm and re-select a tune. In the future, before updating, backup the Ringtones folder.

How to make the alarm ring even in the mode "Do not disturb"?

In MIUI, alarms by default ignore Do Not Disturb mode, but sometimes this rule gets lost. To be guaranteed to wake up: Open Settings → Sound → Don't Disturb. Select a schedule and make sure the alarm clocks don't fall into the silence interval. Scroll down to Exclusion and activate Alarms and timers. For reliability, add the Watch app to the battery optimization exception list (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).

Can I set different tunes for different alarm clocks on Xiaomi?

Yes, MIUI supports customized tunes for each alarm clock. To do this: Create multiple alarm clocks in the Watch app. Set up a tune in the edit menu for each alarm clock. If you use a third-party app (like Alarmy), you can assign unique wake-up tasks for each alarm, which is convenient if you want to use a calm tune on the weekends and a wake-up track on weekdays.

Why is the alarm on Xiaomi quieter than music or video?

This is due to MIUI's policy of dividing the streams into: Media (music, video) is the maximum volume. Notifications are the average volume. Alarms are the limited volume (for safety). To equalize the levels: Open volume settings (volume buttons → gear). Turn off the separate volume setting of the alarm clock. Use the engineering menu (see section above) to increase Alarm Gain.