How to put your tune on SMS in Xiaomi Redmi: 3 ways + FAQ

Receiving SMS messages on Xiaomi Redmi comes with a standard audio signal that quickly gets boring. Fortunately, the MIUI shell makes it easy to replace it with any tune from built-in ringtones to favorite tracks from the phone’s memory. But not everyone knows where these settings are hidden: new versions of MIUI have changed the path to them, and some Redmi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 or Redmi 10C) require additional setting of access rights.

In this article you will find 3 Proven ways to set your tune to SMS, including bypassing restrictions MIUI We'll also look at why sometimes the sound doesn't change, how to return standard notifications, and what to do if the sound settings are "gray" (inactive). MIUI 12/13/14 and Redmi models from Redmi 9A Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

1. Standard method: through "Sound settings"

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for most Xiaomi Redmi models and do not require third-party applications.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the default Notification option (in some versions of MIUI it is called Notification Sound).
4. In the list of available tunes, select your favorite or click Add Rington to upload your file.

If there is no Add ringtone, then your version of MIUI limits the choice of user files, in which case move to the second method.

Update MIUI to the latest version (in older versions of the bug with sounds)

Make sure that the melody file is MP3 or M4A (WAV is not supported)

Check that the file weighs no more than 5MB (MIUI restriction)

- Turn off Do Not Disturb mode (it can block notifications)-->

Important: In MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12 Pro and later, the path may be different. If you don't find the default Notifications section, try:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points (menu) → Default Notifications

2. Through the settings of the application "Messages"

MIUI allows you to customize notification sounds separately for each application, including standard Messages, which works even if the general audio settings do not allow you to select a custom tune.

Instructions:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Notifications. → The sound of notifications.
4. Select one of the suggested tunes or click Add to upload your file.

If the Add button is inactive, MIUI blocks access to user files, so the solution is to use the third way with the file manager.

Standard signal MIUI|Your music from memory.|Silence (no sound)|The sounds of nature (rain, waves)|Another option-->

Note: On Redmi 11 Prime and Redmi K50 in some regions (e.g. global firmware), the Notification Sound section may not be available, in which case resetting the Messages app settings will help:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Messages → Storage → Resetting settings

3. Advanced method: through the file manager

If MIUI doesn’t allow you to choose a custom tune, you can bypass the restriction by putting the file in the system folder, which works on all Redmi models, but requires root rights or the use of ADB (for power users).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the melody in.mp3 or.m4a format (maximum 5MB).
2. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
3. Move the file to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/ If the ringtone folder is not available, create it manually.
4. Reboot the phone.
5. Your tune will now be available in the sound settings.

Warning: Not all Redmi models allow you to add files to system folders without root.Redmi Note 10 Pro and later may require the use of a file. ADB-team:

adb shell


su




cp /sdcard/Download/my_tone.mp3 /system/media/audio/notifications/




chmod 644 /system/media/audio/notifications/my_tone.mp3

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If you don't want to mess with ADB, use Google Play's Ringtone Maker app, which allows you to crop tracks and save them straight to MIUI system folders without manual copying.

4. Why doesn't the melody change to SMS?

Sometimes users find that when they change their settings, the notification sound remains the same, and here are the main reasons and solutions:

Critical feature of MIUI: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi 9T with firmware for India) have notification sounds tied to regional settings. If you use global firmware but you chose India region when setting up, some of the features may be blocked. The solution is to change region to Settings → Additional → Region to Russia or Europe.

5. How to bring back the standard SMS sound

If you are not satisfied with the experiments with melodies, you can return the factory sound of notifications in a few steps:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Default notifications.
2. Select the first tune in the list (usually called MIUI or Default).
3. If standard sound is not on the list, reset settings: Settings → Apps → Application Management → Messages → Storage → Reset settings

On the Redmi Note 11 and later, standard sounds can be hidden to bring them back:

Delete all user files from /MIUI/ringtone/

- Reboot the phone.

- Reset the Messages app settings

- Update. MIUI last-minute-->

Attention: ⚠️ On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) Resetting the app Messages can delete the entire history SMS. Before reset, make a backup through Settings → Memory. → Backup.

Alternative solutions: third-party applications

If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit you, you can use third-party apps to manage notification sounds.

• 🎵 Zedge is a database of ringtones and notification sounds with the ability to pre-listen. MIUI 14 without conflict.
• 🔊 Ringtone Maker – allows you to crop any song from your phone’s memory and set it as a SMS sound.
• 📱 Notification Sounds – a special application for setting notifications with support for Android 13.
• 🎶 Musicolet – player with the function of assigning tracks to notifications (works even without the Internet).

When using third-party applications, consider:

• Some programs require permission to change system settings (issued manually in Settings → Applications → Special Access).
• On MIUI 14, applications may need additional display resolution over other windows.
• After installing a new sound through a third-party app, restart your phone so that the changes take effect.

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The app side is a good option if MIUI limits the choice of tunes, but they can conflict with system notifications, so check all sounds (alarm clock, calls, alerts) after installation.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you change your tune to SMS, users often make the same mistakes, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: Never rename system sound files in a folder /system/media/audio/ This can result in the loss of all notifications or a phone reboot cycle.If you want to remove a standard sound, copy it to a safe place first.

Error 1: Selecting a tune that is more than 30 seconds long. MIUI cuts off notification sounds to 5-10 seconds, so long tracks won't play fully.

Error 2: Using.wav or.flac formats. MIUI only supports.mp3,.m4a and.ogg. If your file is in a different format, convert it through Online Audio Converter.

Error 3: Pattempt to change the notification sound while the phone is in Do Not Disturb mode. Even if you select a new melody, it won't play until you disable DND. Check this in Settings → Sound → Do Not Disturb.

Error 4: Copy files to the wrong folder. For example, some users mistakenly put tunes in /MIUI/alarm/ (for alarm clocks) instead of /MIUI/ringtone/. Always check the path!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions