How to change a call on a Xiaomi phone: 5 ways to MIUI 12-14

The standard ringtone on Xiaomi can get boring, especially if it sounds like half of your acquaintances. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways to change it, from basic settings to install custom ringtone via MIUI or third-party apps, but not everyone knows where to look for these options, especially after updating the firmware or resetting the phone to factory settings.

In this article, we will explore all the current methods of changing calls on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (including the models from 2023-2026), learn how to set a melody from a standard set, download your music or even assign different ringtones for individual contacts, and why new tunes sometimes “disappear” after a reboot and how to fix it.

If you've never changed a call to Xiaomi or experienced errors when trying, this guide will help avoid typical problems. For example, many users don't know that to add custom tunes you need to use a MIUI file manager, not just download MP3 from the Internet. Others wonder why the installed ringtone is reset after the system update. We will explain the reasons and give working solutions.

Important: The instructions in this article are relevant for MIUI 12-14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions).If you have an older version (e.g. MIUI 11), some menu items may differ, as we will also mention separately.

1. Standard method: change the call through the MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in system options. It is suitable for most Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Here's how to do it:

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and go to the Sounds and Vibrations section. Here you'll see a few tabs -- we're interested in Calling. Slap on this to open the list of available tunes.

In MIUI 14, the interface has changed a little, with standard ringtones now categorized (Classic, Modern, MIUI) and you can listen to any tune by clicking on it, then confirm the choice with the OK or Ready button (depending on the firmware version).

Note that if you select a tune but it doesn't apply, check if Do Not Disturb (DND) or Meet profile is activated. These settings can block the change in the audio signals.

• 📱 For MIUI 12–13: Path—Putting → Sound → Call.
• 🔄 For MIUI 14: Path — Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Call.
• 🎵 Tip: Long-term pressing allows you to add a tune to your favorites for quick access.
• ⚠️ Limitation: In some regional firmware (e.g. India), the list of standard ringtones may be reduced.

2.How to Set Your Call Melody on Xiaomi

Standard ringtones get boring quickly, and many users want to play their music, and in MIUI, you can do this without third-party apps, but with one caveat: the file must be in a specific folder on the phone.

First, prepare the audio file:

1. Format:.mp3,.m4a,.wav (MP3) works best.
2. Duration: up to 30 seconds (long tracks will be cut).
3. Size: No more than 5 MB (otherwise the system may not display the file).

Now transfer the file to your phone. To do this, connect the device to your PC or download the melody directly to your smartphone (for example, from Telegram or VK Music). Then open Files (the standard Xiaomi file manager) and move the audio file to the folder:

Internal memory → MIUI → ringtone

If you don’t have a MIUI or ringtone folder, create them manually.

Then go back to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call and scroll down. Local Melodies (or My Ringtones) will show your file. Select it and save the changes.

Download the file in format MP3|Cut the track to 30 seconds|Move it to the folder. MIUI/ringtone|Reboot the phone (optional)-->

⚠️ Warning: If your file doesn't appear in the list, check its name - it shouldn't contain special characters (e.g., #,%,?). Rename the file to Latin (e.g., my_ringtone.mp3) and try again.

3. Different calls for different contacts

MIUI allows you to assign unique tunes to individual subscribers, which is convenient if you want to know who's calling right away, whether it's your boss, your relative or your courier.

Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want. Slip on it, then click Edit (pencil icon). Scroll down to the Call (or Melody) field and select one of the options offered:

• 🔊 Standard: A tune from the system list.
• 🎶 Local: Your custom ringtone (if added to the ringtone folder).
• 📵 No sound: Vibration instead of melody.

If you want to assign unique calls to contact groups (such as Family or Work), first create a group in the Contacts app, then repeat the steps above for each member.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi can assign different vibrations to your contacts, so select Vibration in the contact editor and create your template (e.g., three short signals for important calls).

4 Problems and Solutions: Why Xiaomi Calls Are Still Changing

Sometimes users find that the set melody is not applied or reset to the standard, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: The call is reset after the reset.

Solution: This is due to memory optimization in MIUI. To fix:

1. Transfer the ringtone file to internal memory (not to the SD- card).
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Files and turn off the option to Clear Cache when closed.
3. Restart your phone and check your call settings again.

Problem 2: The castom melody is not listed.

Solution: Make sure that:

• 📁 The file is in the correct folder: MIUI/ringtone.
• 🔍 The file name does not contain Cyrillic or special characters.
• 📱 The phone is not connected to the PC in File Transfer mode (disable USB- cable).

Problem 3: The call is playing, but very quiet.

Solution: Check:

1. Call volume (adjusted by the volume buttons in standby mode).
2. Do Not Disturb (DND) settings in Settings → Sounds and vibrations.
3. No dust in the dynamics (relevant for Redmi Note 11/12 and other models with a lower speaker).

💡

If you downloaded the ringtone from the Internet, but it is not played, try converting it to MP3 with a bitrate of 128-192 kbit / s. You can use online services like Online-Convert or the MP3 Cutter application from Google Play.

5. Third-party applications for changing the call

If you don't like MIUI's built-in tools, you can use third-party programs, which offer more options: downloading ringtones from the cloud, editing tracks, assigning tunes for SMS and notifications. Here are the top -3 of the tested applications:

1. Zedge (free, there's advertising)

• 🎵 More than 1 million ringtones, notifications and wallpapers.
• 🔍 Search by genres (rock, classics, electronics).
• ⚠️ Requires access to storage to download files.

2. Ringtone Maker (free)

• ✂️ Track trimming right in the app.
• 📁 Save to Ringtones folder (automatically recognized MIUI).
• 🎛 Volume and faed settings (smooth start/end).

3. Audiko (free of charge)

• 🎶 Creating ringtones from Spotify songs or YouTube.
• 📱 Synchronization between devices.
• ⚠️ Some functions are paid (e.g., watermark removal).

To install the ringtone through a third-party application:

1. Download and install the program from Google Play.
2. Select your favorite tune and click Set as a call.
3. Confirm permission to access the sound settings.

⚠️ Warning: Some apps (like Zedge) may request access to contacts or call history. waive these permissions - they are not needed to change the ringtone.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

While most of the instructions are universal, some Xiaomi models have nuances, and this is what owners of popular devices need to know:

Redmi Note 10/11/12:

• 🔊 These models have two speakers, but the call is played only through the lower one (the upper one is used for stereo sound in multimedia).
• 📁 The ringtones folder may be called Ringtones (with a capital letter) - check both options.

POCO F3/F4/F5:

• 🎵 In the POCO Launcher firmware, the path to call settings may be different: Settings → Sound → Phone Call.
• ⚡ These models support Dolby Atmos, but it doesn't affect the volume of the call.

Xiaomi 13/14 series:

• 🔄 In MIUI 14 for flagships added the option Adaptive sound — it automatically adjusts the volume of the call depending on the ambient noise.
• 📱 Ringtones are supported in OGG format (except MP3).

Outdated models (Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2):

• 📵 On Mi A1/A2 (with pure Android) the path to settings is: Settings → Sound → Phone Call.
• 🔧 Redmi 4/5 may require manual folder creation media/audio/ringtones.

💡

On models with IR- blaster (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the call may conflict with the remote control. If the melody is interrupted, turn off the infrared port in Settings → Connected devices.

7. Alternative methods: ADB and custom firmware

If you are a seasoned user and want more control over your audio settings, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or custom firmware like LineageOS. These methods are suitable for enthusiasts, but require caution.

Method 1: Installation of ringtones via ADB

This method allows you to add a melody to the system folder, where it will be protected from reset.

• 🖥 Computer with ADB and Fastboot installed.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).

Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb push C:\path\to\your\ringtone.mp3 /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/

Then restart the device.

Method 2: Castom firmware

Firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience offer advanced audio settings, including:

• 🎛 Adjust the volume of the call separately from the multimedia.
• 🔊 Supports FLAC and ALAC formats for ringtones.
• 📁 Ability to store tunes on the SD- card without restrictions.

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware will void the warranty and may result in the Mi Account being blocked (if the phone is linked to a Xiaomi account).Before you run the firmware, back up the data and unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing your call to Xiaomi