How to change the sound when connecting charging on Xiaomi: the full guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are famous for their functionality and deep customization of the MIUI and HyperOS interface. One element that users often want to personalize is the system sound, which signals the start of the battery charging process. Standard tunes can seem boring, too quiet or just annoying, so there is a need to replace them with more pleasant or informative audio files.

Unlike setting the ringtone to an incoming call, changing the charging sound on Xiaomi requires a deeper immersion in the system settings, which is because the audio file is part of the system resource package, not just a separate memory record, but there are several proven methods to bypass standard limitations and set your own sound.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to replace the system sound of the power connection, we will go from simple methods available to every smartphone owner to more complex manipulation of the file system. You do not need to be an IT expert to perform these actions, just follow the instructions carefully.

Features of the sound system MIUI and HyperOS

Understanding Xiaomi’s shell sound notification architecture is the first step to successful modifications. MIUI (and its successor HyperOS) uses a specific system sound storage structure different from pure Android. Files are not scattered across folders, but are often packed or strongly tied to system processes.

Charging sound is technically a system notification, but it has a unique identifier in the system code. When you connect a USB cable or wireless charging, the operating system reads the event and plays the file in the corresponding path. If the file is damaged or missing, the sound may not be played at all.

⚠️ Note: Making changes to system files can lead to unstable interface operation. Before starting any manipulations, it is strongly recommended to create a full backup of data to be able to roll back changes in the event of a failure.

Importantly, with the release of new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), Google is tightening security policies by restricting app access to system partitions, making some old methods unworkable, requiring the use of more modern tools or superuser rights.

Using design themes to change sound

The easiest and safest way to change the charging sound is to use the built-in Themes app, which developers often include their own set of system sounds, including lock, notification and charging melodies, in their theme packages, a method that does not require root rights and is safe to guarantee the device.

To start, open the Themes app on your smartphone. In the search box, type in a query like "Sound mod," "System sounds," or just the name of the desired tune. The theme description often tells you what sounds it changes, and you want themes marked "System" or "Notification."

Once you download and apply the theme, the charging sound will change automatically, but there's a caveat: The themes often change the whole set of sounds at once. If you like the visual style of the current theme but don't like the sound, this method may not be ideal, because you have to change the design of the interface.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the Profile section».
• 🔍 Search for the keywords “Charging sound” or “System audio».
• 📥 Download your favorite theme and apply it by selecting only the System Sounds component».
• 🔄 Check the result by connecting the charger to the connector.

Not all themes support changing the charging sound; some packages only change wallpaper and icons; read other users' comments and author's descriptions carefully before downloading.

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If the theme has not changed the sound, try to select “Apply” only for the Sound item in the theme settings, leaving the remaining components unchanged.

Manual Replacement through MiXplorer File Manager

A more advanced method involves using a specialized file manager, such as MiXplorer, which has advanced file system access rights, allowing you to work with system directories without having to have root rights (although in some cases they may be required).

The idea is to find the original charging sound file and replace it with your own audio file with the same name. The system will think it's playing the regular file, but it'll actually play your melody. You'll need the melody file in.ogg or.mp3 format to work.

The original file must first be found. It is usually located along the path /system/media/audio/ui/ or /product/media/audio/ui/. The file name can vary, often WirelessChargingStarted.ogg or ChargingStarted.ogg. Copy this file to a secure location as a backup.

Then prepare your audio file. It is advisable that it be short (no more than 3-5 seconds) and have the same format as the original. Rename your file exactly as the original system file is called. Then replace the original with your version via MiXplorer.

Using ADB to Replace System Sounds

For users who don’t want to risk file system stability or don’t have root rights, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging is a great solution, which allows you to “overlap” system files without actually replacing them in the system partition, which is safe and reversible.

To start, you need to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI build number. Then, in the “Additional” menu, turn on “Debugging over USB.” Connect the phone to your computer and install the ADB drivers.

Prepare the audio file of the sound you want. Let's say you want to replace the start sound. The file should be called the same as the system file, for example, ChargingStarted.ogg. Put this file in the folder on the computer where the ADB is installed.

Run a command to rewrite the file. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type:

adb push ChargingStarted.ogg /system/media/audio/ui/ChargingStarted.ogg

However, since direct recording in /system is often prohibited, the overlay or temporary replacement method is used if the phone is rooted. If root is not allowed, you can use the command to install the ringtone through the media scanner, but for system charging sounds this works worse. A more reliable way without root through ADB is using special scripts-setters of sounds that create an overlay partition.

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB Check the syntax of commands carefully. A mistake along the way can cause the file to not be written, or, in the worst case, you will lose access to some features of the media system before rebooting.

If you own the superuser rights, the command via ADB shell with root rights will allow you to directly replace the file. Enter adb shell, then su, and after obtaining the rights, copy the file from internal memory to the system directory.

Application of Root rights and system modifiers

The most flexible and complete control of the sound system is provided by the presence of Root (superuser) rights, and once you have them, you can use powerful tools like SystemUI Tuner or full-access file managers like Root Explorer or Solid Explorer (with root access enabled).

With root rights, you can not only replace files, but also edit system sound tables. There are special modules for Magisk that allow you to select charging sounds from the built-in library or download your own through a user-friendly interface, without having to dig into folders manually.

One of the popular methods is to use System Sounds for Magisk, and when you put it in storage, you have a folder where you want to put your audio files with certain names, and then you reboot it and it picks up the new sounds.

• 🔓 Get root permissions through Magisk (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• 📦 Install a module for system sound management.
• 🎵 Download a high-quality audiophile in format OGG (bitrate 128-320 quid).
• ⚙️ Restart the device to apply changes.

Unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights voids the warranty and can disrupt banking applications (although this costs through Magisk Hide).Be prepared for possible risks before starting the process.

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Root rights offer the maximum customization opportunities, but require caution and an understanding of the security risks of the system.

Volume setting and troubleshooting

Once a new sound is installed, users often find it either too quiet or not playing at all, due to separate volume channels in Android. Charging sound is often tied to the System Sounds or Notifications channel, rather than the main media library.

Check volume settings. Press the audio buttons and expand the menu by pressing a gear or three dots. Make sure the System or Interface Sound slider is not kept to a minimum. On some Xiaomi models, the charging volume can be adjusted separately in the advanced audio settings.

If the sound wheezes or is interrupted, it may be that the file has an unsupported codec or too high resolution.Convert the file to a standard.ogg (Vorbis) at a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz. This is the most compatible format for Android system sounds.

⚠️ Note: Use of audio files from DRM-protection (from paid streaming services) is not possible. The file must be free of digital rights and be in the local memory of the device.

Also, in Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode, the charging sound can be switched off programmatically, and check if these modes are activated if the silence is maintained after all the manipulations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)