How to put a melody on a call in Xiaomi 9S: 5 working ways

Why are the standard ringtones Xiaomi 9S not satisfied with users?

The Xiaomi 9S (also known as the Mi 9 SE in the global version) comes with a standard set of incoming tunes, but many owners want to personalize the soundtrack. The reasons range from wanting to stand out in the crowd to needing to quickly identify the call by a unique sound, for example, businessmen often set different tunes for work and personal contacts, and creative people prefer author's compositions.

However, not everyone knows that MIUI (branded shell Xiaomi) has limitations on the format and duration of audio files for ringtones. Standard methods through the settings menu do not always work, especially if the file is downloaded from the Internet or has a non-standard extension. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to install any melody on a call - from basic to advanced, including bypassing the system limitations.

It is important to note that after the update MIUI 14 audio interface has changed. If your Xiaomi 9S runs on the old version of the firmware (for example, MIUI 12 or Android 10), some menu items may differ.

Method 1: Installation of the melody through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for those who want to select a tune from a preset list or add a file already in the phone's memory.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the item Melody of the call (in some versions – Sound of notifications → Melody of the call).
4. At the top of the screen, click on Local Melodies or Add (if the option is available).
5. Select an audio file from the device's memory. Supports.mp3,.m4a,.ogg and.wav formats.

If Local Melodies are not available, then your version of MIUI does not support it. In this case, move to Method 2.

The file should not be longer than 30 seconds.

Format: MP3 or M4A (recommended)

File size: up to 5 MB

The file name without special characters (e.g., "ringtone.mp3")

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⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 When selecting a local file, the system can automatically crop it to 20 seconds. To avoid this, use third-party applications (see Method 4).

If you want to assign a unique tune for a specific contact:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Select the contact you need and click Edit.
3. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call and specify the file.

Method 2: Transfer the file to the Ringtones system folder

If the standard method didn't work, you can manually add a melody to the system folder that MIUI scans when searching for ringtones, which requires access to the file system, but does not need root rights.

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi 9S computer-to-computer USB-cable and activate file transfer mode (MTP).
2. On your computer, open the phone's internal memory and find the Ringtones folder. If you don't have one, create it in the root directory.
3. Copy the prepared audio file into this folder (see the requirements in the checklist above).
4. Turn off the phone and restart it.
5. The file will now be available in the Melody of the Call menu.

Alternatively, use a file manager on your phone (e.g., Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer):

• 📁 Open the app and go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/).
• 🔍 Find or create a Ringtones folder.
• 📤 Move the audio file over there.
• 🔄 Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: If the file does not appear in the ringtones list after rebooting, check it for availability DRM-Files downloaded from streaming services (e.g. Spotify or Yandex Music) are often protected and will not be played as ringtones.

Method 3: Using the Zedge app to download ringtones

Zedge is one of the most popular free tunes and wallpaper downloads, offering a huge library of audio optimized for Xiaomi smartphones, and the advantage of this method is that you don't have to manually edit files or search the Internet.

How to set a tune through Zedge:

1. Download Zedge from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go to the Ringtona tab.
3. Find your favorite tune (you can use search by genre or keyword).
4. Click on the sound and select Set as a ringtone.
5. Confirm your choice in the system window.

Zedge automatically trims files to a permissible length and converts them to a supported format.

• 🔊 Pre-listen to melodies before installation.
• 📥 Download sounds for further use.
• 🎵 Assign different ringtones for calls and notifications.

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If Zedge does not offer the “Install as a ringtone” option, check the application permissions in Settings → Apps → Zedge → Permissions and enable storage access.

The downside is that it's dependent on the Internet and it's free, but for most users, it's a compromise for convenience.

Method 4: Applications for audio trimming and conversion

If your audio file is not suitable in format or duration, it can be prepared using specialized applications, such as Ringtone Maker or MP3 Cutter.

• 🎛 Cut the track to the desired length (recommended 15-30 seconds).
• 🔄 Convert format to.mp3 or.m4a.
• 📊 Adjust volume and add feiding effects.

Instructions for using Ringtone Maker:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select an audio file from your phone’s memory.
3. Move the sliders to select the beginning and end of the fragment.
4. Click Save and select Set as a ringtone.

In Xiaomi 9S, when trimming through the Ringtone Maker, it is recommended to set the bitrate not higher than 192 kbit / s, otherwise the file may not play as a ringtone.

Method 5: Assigning a Melody through ADB (for Power Users)

If none of these methods worked, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for advanced users because it requires a command line, and the advantage is that you can set any file as a ringtone, even if MIUI can't see it.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi 9S: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)

After rebooting, the file will be available in ringtone settings, which is especially useful if:

• 📵 MIUI Can't see the Ringtones folder.
• 🔒 The file has a non-standard extension (for example,.flac).
• 🛠 You need to install a ringtone on a custom firmware device.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Incorrect commands can disrupt the system, do not change system files outside of Ringtones, Notifications or Alarms folders.

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ADB is the most reliable way to install a ringtone on the Xiaomi 9S if standard methods don’t work, but it requires technical skills and can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Problem Solving: Why is the melody not set?

If you followed the instructions but the ringtone never appeared in the settings, check out the following points:

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📲 Update MIUI last-minute.
• 🛠 Reset the sound settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the sound settings.

In rare cases, the culprit may be battery optimization, which suspends the applications responsible for playing ringtones, to rule out this factor:

1. Find the application that installed the ringtone (such as Zedge) and turn off optimization for it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about ringtones on Xiaomi 9S