How to change music to a call on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Are you tired of the standard ringtone on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO and want to install your favorite song or unique sound?In this article, you will find all possible ways to change the ringtone, from basic MIUI settings to advanced methods using a file manager and third-party applications. We will break down the nuances for different versions of the firmware, tell you how to circumvent the limitations of the system, and give tips on how to optimize the sound.

The process of replacing the ringtone on Xiaomi devices may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the path to the audio settings will be slightly different than on Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. But don’t worry – we covered all the current versions and provided universal solutions. You will also learn how to add custom sounds (including.mp3,.m4a,.ogg formats), why some files do not appear in the ringtone list, and how to solve the problem with trimming the melody.

If you've tried to change a call through standard settings before, but your favorite track didn't appear on the list, it could be because of the wrong file format, its duration, or the location in the device's memory. We'll take a look at these points in detail and show you how to prepare an audio file to work properly as a ringtone. And for those who like experimentation, there's a bonus section on creating dynamic tunes using apps like Zedge or Ringtone Maker.

Method 1: Replace a call through standard MIUI settings

The easiest and most obvious method is to use built-in MIUI tools. This method is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, including the latest flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or budget smartphones like Redmi A2. The main advantage of the method is that you do not need to install additional applications or have root rights.

To change the ringtone:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Sound and Vibration section (some models may call it Sound).
3. Select the Melody of the Call (or Call).
4. In the list of available ringtones, tap the right option. Standard tunes are divided into categories: Classic, MIUI, Downloaded.
5. To pre-listen, click on the triangle to the right of the melody name.
6. After selecting, click OK or Ready (depending on the MIUI version).

If you don't have the right tune on the list, you can add your own.

• 📁 Place the audio file in the Ringtones folder on the internal memory or SD- card. Path: Internal memory → Ringtones.
• 🔄 Reboot the device (sometimes required to update the ringtone list).
• 🔊 Return to the call settings – your file should appear in the Downloads section.

⚠️ Warning: MIUI may not display files longer than 30 seconds or a bitrate higher than 192 kbps. If your track doesn't appear on the list, try cropping it or converting it to.m4a using applications like Audio Converter.

Method 2: Using a file manager to add custom ringtones

If the standard method didn’t work or you want to have more control over audio files, you can use a file manager, which is especially useful for users who don’t have the tunes displayed in MIUI settings even though the files are in the correct folder. We recommend using built-in Files from Xiaomi or third-party managers like Solid Explorer.

Instructions for adding a custom ringtone:

1. Download or transfer the audio file to the device. Supported formats are.mp3,.m4a,.ogg,.wav (but the latter can take up a lot of space).
2. Open the file manager and go to the root directory of internal memory.
3. Create a folder called Ringtones (if you don't have one), and you can create Alarms and Notifications folders for alarms and notifications, respectively.
4. Put your audio file in the Ringtones folder.
5. Restart the device (required to update the media library!).
6. Go to the call settings as described in Method 1 – your file should appear in the list.

If the file is still not displayed, check:

• 🔍 File extension: MIUI can ignore files with double extensions (e.g., song.mp3.mp3).
• 🎵 Duration: Optimal length, up to 30 seconds. Long tracks may not load.
• 📌 Metadata: Some users report that files without ID3- tags (artist, album information) are not displayed.

Cut the track to 30 seconds|Convert to format.m4a or.mp3|Remove unnecessary metadata|Place the file in the Ringtones folder|Reset the device-->

Important: On devices with MIUI 13 and above, the system can cache media files, so after adding a new ringtone, you sometimes need to clear the cache of the Media Storage application (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Media Storage → Clear the cache).

Method 3: Install ringtones through the Music app

Few people know, but Xiaomi’s built-in Music app allows you to quickly assign any track from your library as a ringtone, a method that is convenient if you want to use a song from a playlist without first cutting or converting.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Music app (the note icon on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Find the track you want to set as a ringtone and play it back.
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner (track menu).
4. Select Set as a ringtone (or Use as a call on some versions of MIUI).
5. Confirm the choice in the window that appears.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Speed: You don’t have to manually copy files to folders.
• 🎶 The ability to pre-listen to the track before installation.
• 🔄 Automatic cropping: MIUI will prompt you to select a track fragment (usually the first 30 seconds).

⚠️ Warning: If the Set as Rington option is not in the track menu, update the Music app via Google Play or check the permission settings (the app may not be allowed to access storage).

Method 4: Third-party applications for customizing calls

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party apps, which offer advanced features like editing sound, downloading ringtones from the Internet, creating unique tunes based on effects, and we tested several popular apps and selected the best options for Xiaomi users.

Top-3 applications for call replacement:

How to install ringtone through Zedge:

1. Download and install Zedge from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go to the Ringtones section.
3. Find the sound you like (you can search or view categories).
4. Slip on the sound, then press Download (download).
5. After downloading, press Set as ringtone (set as ringtone).
6. Select Phone ringtone (phone call) and confirm.

💡

If you downloaded the ringtone through Zedge but it didn't appear in the MIUI settings, check the Zedge folder in internal memory. Sometimes files are saved there instead of the standard Ringtones folder.

Method 5: Advanced adjustment through ADB (power-user)

If you like experimentation and want to get full control of audio files on your Xiaomi, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).This method allows you to install custom ringtones even for system notifications that are not normally available for change through standard settings. Attention: this method requires basic knowledge of working with the command line and enabled debugging on USB.

Before proceeding, make sure that:

• 🔧 Debugging is enabled on USB (Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI → 7 times tap on version → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
• 💻 The ADB and Fastboot drivers are installed on the computer (you can download from Google’s Minimal ADB and Fastboot or Platform Tools).
• 📂 Your audio file is prepared (.ogg format is preferred for system sounds) and is located in the accessible folder.

Instructions for installing ringtone through ADB:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB and allow debugging (a request will appear on the phone screen).
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Make sure your device is listed.)

1. Copy your audio file into the system folder with ringtones:

adb push C:\path\to\your\ringtone.ogg /sdcard/Ringtones/

1. Set the rights to the file:

adb shell chmod 644 /sdcard/Ringtones/ringtone.ogg

1. Reset the device:

adb reboot

1. After the reboot, your ringtone should appear in the MIUI settings.

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of ADB can cause system failures. Don't change system files in /system folders without a backup! If you're not sure what you're doing, you better use one of the previous methods.

Problem Solving: Why is the ringtone not installed?

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the added ringtone does not appear in the settings or is not played when calling, we have collected the most common reasons and ways to solve them:

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Reset audio settings: go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset audio settings.
• 📱 Check permission settings: Make sure that the Settings or Music app is allowed to access the storage (Settings → Apps → Permissions).
• 🔊 Test on another file: try setting the standard sound from MIUI as the ringtone to rule out hardware problems.

💡

If the ringtone is not installed, 90% of the time the problem is in the file format or location. Always check that the file is in the Ringtones folder and has a supported extension (.mp3,.m4a).

Bonus: How to create a unique ringtone?

Want your Xiaomi to play a really unique sound when you call? You can go beyond simply replacing the ringtone and create a personalized tune with special apps or online services. Here are some ideas:

1. Creating a ringtone from a voice or surrounding sounds

Apps like Voice Ringtone Maker let you record your voice, laugh, or whatever sound you want, and convert it into a ringtone, and it's a great way to make a call really unique, like writing down a phrase from a favorite character in a movie or a natural sound (sea noise, birds singing).

2. Generation of melody from text

Services like Text-to-Ringtone convert text into a musical sequence, you type in any word or phrase, and the algorithm creates a melody based on it, which is an interesting option for those who like experimentation.

3.Ringtones with effects

In Ringtone Maker or Audacity (on PC), you can add effects like echoes, reverberations, changes in pace or tone to the track, for example, you can make your ringtone sound like an 8-bit tune from old video games.

4. Dynamic ringtones

Some apps (like Dynamic Ringtone) allow you to create ringtones that change depending on the time of day, day of the week, or even the weather, such as cheerful music in the morning and calm music in the evening.

An example of creating a ringtone from a voice:

1. Download Voice Ringtone Maker from Google Play.
2. Press Record and record the sound (for example, say, "Masha is calling you!").
3. Cut the recording to the desired length (optimally - 5-10 seconds).
4. Add effects (optional): change the pace, add background.
5. Save the file and set it as a ringtone through the app menu.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions