How to change the sound of a message on Xiaomi: 5 working ways for all models

Are you tired of Xiaomi’s standard “jin-jin” that merges with other apps’ notifications? Or do you want to highlight messages from loved ones with a unique tune? Changing the sound of notifications on Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones seems like a simple task, but MIUI has nuances ranging from hidden settings to custom file restrictions. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways, from basic to advanced, including bypassing system locks.

It’s important to understand that MIUI interface changes with each version (currently MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 are relevant), and some features are regionally dependent. We tested the instructions on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models – all methods work, but older devices (such as Redmi 9A on MIUI 12) may need additional steps. If your smartphone is rooted or has custom firmware, note the special section at the end of the article.

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

The most obvious method is to use built-in system options, which is suitable for most users and does not require the installation of third-party applications.

1. Open the “Settings” (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the Notification Sound (in some firmware it may be called the Notification Melody).
4. Scroll down the list, and here are the standard MIUI sounds. Slip on your favorite to listen to, and tap OK to save.

⚠️ Note: In the latest versions MIUI 14/15 The list of system sounds has been reduced to 5–7 If you want more tunes, you'll have to use a custom file download method.

To change the sound for a particular app (like WhatsApp or Telegram), follow the same steps, but under App Sounds, you can assign unique tunes to each instant messenger or social network. Note that some apps (like Viber) ignore system settings and use their own sounds — they will have to change within the app itself.

2.Use of file manager for custom sounds

If there are few built-in tunes, you can add your own. MIUI supports files in.mp3,.wav and.ogg formats, but there are limitations:

• 🎵 The sound length is no more than 5 seconds (otherwise the system will cut it automatically).
• 📁 Files should be in the folder. /MIUI/sound/ringtones or /MIUI/sound/notifications.
• 🔊 The volume of the file must be normalized (otherwise the sound may be too quiet).

Instructions for adding custom sound:

1. Download or prepare a sound file (you can use services like MP3Cut for cropping).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
3. Copy the file to /MIUI/sound/notifications. If the folder is not available, create it manually.
4. Reset the device (required!).
5. Now your sound will appear in the list of notification sounds in the settings.

💡 Useful advice: If the folder /MIUI/sound It can be created through Total Commander with root rights or using the same. ADB-team:

adb shell mkdir /sdcard/MIUI/sound/notifications

After creating the folder, be sure to give it the rights to write (chmod 777).

3. Applications for changing the sound of notifications

If manual methods seem complicated, you can use third-party applications that offer ready-made collections of sounds and make it easier to install them.

How to set the sound through Zedge:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. In the search bar, type a query (for example, “iPhone message sound” or “telegram notification”).
3. Select the sound you like and click Set → Notification.
4. The app will redirect you to the MIUI settings where you need to confirm the selection.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Ringtone Maker) require permission to modify system files. On non-rooted devices, this can cause crashes - use them at your own risk.

4. Change of sound for individual contacts

You want your mom to say, "Mom, I'm home!" and your boss to say, "Attention!"? MIUI doesn't make that obvious, but it's possible.

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Select the desired contact and tap on the editing icon (pencil).
3. Scroll down to the Notification Sound (in some versions it is hidden under the Additional).
4. Select a tune from the list or add a custom sound (if it is already downloaded to the system).

🔍 Important: This function only works for SMS And calls. For messengers, VK) So, you can use individual sounds inside the apps, for example, Telegram:

1. Open a contact chat.
2. Slap on the name of the interlocutor → Notifications.
3. Select the Sound and specify the desired file.

5. Advanced methods: ADB and root access

If you're ready to experiment, you can go beyond standard settings, which are suitable for users with rooted devices or those who are not afraid of the command line.

Method 1: Replace system sounds with ADB

This method allows you to replace standard MIUI sounds with your own without root rights, but requires a connection to a PC:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 times tap to activate the developer mode, then Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb pull /system/media/audio/notifications This will copy the system sounds to your computer.
4. Replace the file you want (for example, miui_notification.ogg) Your sound (require to keep the original name and format!).
5. Return the file back: adb push your file.ogg /system/media/audio/notifications/miui_notification.ogg
6. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect replacement of system files can lead to a boothole (cyclic reboot).Before experimenting, make a backup of the folder /system/media/audio/notifications team:

adb pull /system/media/audio/notifications backup_notifications

Method 2: Manual editing with Root Explorer

If you have root access, the process is simplified:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Go to /system/media/audio/notifications.
3. Copy your audio file into this folder (be sure to set the rights to 644 or rw-r----).
4. Rename the file to match the name of the standard sound (e.g, miui_notification.ogg).
5. Reset the device.

💡

Using ADB or root access allows you to replace sounds globally, but requires caution. Errors can lead to notifications or system failures.

6. Features for custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)

If your Xiaomi runs on alternative firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the sound swap process may be different.

• 📱 In LineageOS, notification sounds change through Settings → Sound. → Notification sound. There's no "sound" division. MIUI» — list.
• 🔄 To add custom sounds, use a folder /system/media/audio/notifications (Root rights are required).
• 🛠️ Some custom firmware supports sound themes (e.g. Substratum) and can be downloaded from the Play Market and applied through the theme settings.
• ⚠️ On firmware without GApps (for example, LineageOS for microG), system sounds may not be available – they will have to be installed manually.

💡 Tip: If after installing custom firmware, the notification sounds disappeared completely, check the presence of files in the /system/media/audio. If necessary, copy them from the official firmware. MIUI through TWRP.

FAQ: Frequent questions about notification sounds on Xiaomi