How to Put Your Melody on a Call in Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Tired of the standard ringtone on your Xiaomi and want to install your favorite song or unique sound? In this article, you will find all the current ways to change the ringtone, from basic MIUI settings to hidden features and third-party applications. We will analyze the nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), explain why some files do not appear in the list of tunes, and show you how to circumvent the limitations of the system.

Unlike the iPhone, where changing the ringtone requires buying from iTunes, Android-based Xiaomi offers more freedom, but even here there are pitfalls: for example, limiting the length of a track (usually up to 30 seconds) or supporting only certain formats (.mp3,.m4a,.ogg).

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

This is the simplest method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI 12-14 shell, suitable for installing both embedded tunes and downloaded files.

Open the Settings app and go to the Sounds and Vibrations → Call Melody. Here you will see two blocks:

• 🎵 Standard melodies – pre-installed ringtones in the system (for example, MIUI Ring, Bamboo).
• 📁 Local Melodies – Files you have added to the Ringtones folder on your device.

If your track doesn’t appear on the list, check:

1. The file format must be.mp3,.m4a or.ogg (not.wav or.flac).
2. The file size is optimally up to 5 MB (long tracks may not load).
3. Storage folder – the file must be in the internal memory → Ringtones (not in Downloads or Music).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3) post-update MIUI 14, you lose the ability to select custom tunes. This is a system bug, the solution is described in the crash section.

2.How to add your tune through the file manager

If the standard method didn't work, try manually placing the file in the correct folder, which is suitable for all versions of MIUI, including MIUI for POCO.

Follow the instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer).
2. Create a Ringtones folder at the root of the internal memory (if it's not there), and the path should look like this: /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones
3. Copy your audio file (for example, my_ringtone.mp3).
4. Reboot the device - after that the melody will appear in the call settings.

If the Ringtones folder is not displayed, turn on the hidden files in the file manager settings. On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+, this is done as follows:

• Open the Mi File Explorer.
• Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings → Show hidden files.

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If the melody doesn't appear after the reboot, check the folder's access rights. Sometimes MIUI resets them after updates. Corrects through any file manager with permission change (e.g. FX File Explorer).

3.Use of third-party ringtone apps

If the built-in methods don't work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue, and they allow you to:

• 🎛 Cut the tracks to the desired length.
• 🔄 Convert formats (e.g. from.flac to.flac.mp3).
• 📱 Set melodies directly from the app.

The best programs for Xiaomi:

Instructions for Zedge:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select the Ringtones section and find your favorite track.
3. Click Set as ringtone → select Phone ringtone.
4. Confirm installation in the system window.

4. Hidden MIUI features: How to set a tune through themes

Xiaomi hides some settings in the Topics section, where you can find unique ringtones that don't appear in the standard audio menu.

How to do this:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the section Sounds (include at the bottom).
3. Choose your favorite theme with tunes (like Nature Sounds or Retro Ringtones).
4. Click Apply – the ringtone will automatically be set as the main one.

The advantage of this method is:

• 🎶 The melodies are optimized for MIUI (No problems with length or format).
• 🔄 You can quickly switch between topics.

⚠️ Note: Some themes contain ads. If banners appear in the notification curtain after installation, delete the theme through Settings → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the data.

5. Problem Solving: Why the Melody Is Not Set

If none of these methods worked, check out these points:

Problem 1: The file does not appear in the list of tunes.

• 🔍 Check the file extension – it should be.mp3 (sometimes.m4a unrecognizable).
• ⏱ Make sure the track length is less than 30 seconds.
• 📂 Move the file to Ringtones folder (not in Notifications or Alarms).

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the user tunes were lost.

Problem 3: The melody plays with distortion.

• 🔊 Check the bitrate of the file - it should not be higher than 192 kbit / s.
• 🎧 Try to convert the track to.m4a via Audacity or online services.

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If none of the methods helped, try resetting the Settings app settings via Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙) → Warehouse → Clear the data. It'll bring all the audio settings back to factory, but it won't delete your files.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique nuances when changing ringtones.

Black Shark and some POCO may need to unlock the bootloader to fully access the audio settings.This is a risky procedure - it resets the phone and voids the warranty. On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ processor (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), unlocking can lead to an IMEI block - in which case the network can only be restored through a service center.

7.Alternative methods: ADB and root access

If you're ready to experiment, you can set the tune through ADB or root rights, and these are techniques that are suitable for advanced users.

Method 1: Through ADB (without root)

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC and connect your phone in USB Debugging mode.
2. Adb shell settings put system ringtone /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/your_song.mp3
3. Reset the device.

Method 2: Root (requires Magisk)

• Install Root Explorer.
• Copy the file to /system/media/audio/ringtones.
• Change the rights to 644 (rw-r----).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 with Android 13+ Changing system files through root can cause a bootloop.Before experimenting, backup through the root. TWRP.

FAQ: Frequent questions about ringtones on Xiaomi