How to Put Your Song on the Rington in Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Are you tired of the standard ringtone melodies on Xiaomi and want to install your favorite song? It's easier than it sounds! In modern versions of MIUI 14/15, the process has become intuitive, but there are nuances that many people don't know about, such as why some tracks don't appear in the ringtone list, how to get around system limitations and what formats are supported.

In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to install custom ringtone, from standard settings to advanced methods using a file manager and third-party applications. You will learn how to properly prepare an audio file, where to store it on your phone, and why sometimes after updating MIUI, the melodies are reset. And also a unique life hack for Xiaomi owners with an unlocked bootloader that allows you to install ringtones longer than 30 seconds!

Whether you want to call a movie clip, a favorite song, or a unique notification sound, you can do it in 2-3 minutes after reading this manual, starting with the simplest method that works on 90% of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.

Method 1: Install ringtones through standard MIUI settings

This is a basic method that does not require additional applications to be installed.It is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/11 and POCO F5/X5. The main condition is that your audio file must be in the correct folder and have a supported format.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. The optimal formats are.mp3,.m4a or.ogg. The file size should not exceed 5 MB, and the duration should be 30 seconds (otherwise the system can crop the melody).
2. Move the file to the folder you want, connect your phone to your computer, or use a file manager (like Mi File Explorer), create a Ringtones folder in the root directory (if you don't have one), and put your track there.
3. Update your media library. After you copy the file, restart your phone or manually update your media scanner through Settings → Apps → App Management → Music → Storage → Clear the data.
4. Set the ringtone. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Phone ringtone. Your file should appear in the list of available tunes.

If the file is not displayed, check:

• 📁 Is the file properly named (without special characters and spaces: my_ringtone.mp3.
• 🔊 The file format is maintained? MIUI It may not recognize.wav or.flac.
• 📱 Ringtones folder is created in the root directory (not inside Download or Music)?

Transfer the file to the Ringtones| folder

Check the format (.mp3,.m4a,.ogg) |

Ensure the duration of ≤30 sec|

Update the media library (reboot/clean the cache)|

Check for the absence of special characters in the file name

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Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for the European region) may require additional permission to access files. If an error occurs when selecting a ringtone, go to Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Manage all files and enable access for the Settings app.

Method 2: Using the Music app to create a ringtone

If you don't want to manually transfer files, you can use the built-in Mi Music app (or Google Play Music if installed), which is convenient because it allows you to crop the track directly on your phone and automatically save it to the desired folder.

Instructions:

1. Open the Music app and find the track you want to use as a ringtone.
2. Click on the three dots next to the song title and select Use as a ringtone (or Set as a melody).
3. In the window that opens, cut the track (maximum 30 seconds) and press Save.
4. The system will automatically transfer the file to the Ringtones folder and suggest that it be used as a ringtone for a call or notification.

Advantages of this method:

• 🎵 No need to connect your phone to your PC – everything is done on your device.
• ✂️ Built-in editor allows you to precisely trim the desired fragment.
• 📲 Automatically save to the correct folder.

There are limitations, however, such as Mi Music, which does not allow you to install a ringtone longer than 30 seconds, and some formats (such as.flac) may not be supported. If you need to use a high-quality audio file, you should use Method 3 with a file manager.

Through standard MIUI settings|

With the Music | app

Using a file manager |

Through third-party apps (Zedge, Ringtone Maker)|

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Method 3: Install ringtones through file manager (for advanced)

This method is suitable for those who want full control of the process or are facing problems in standard settings. We will use Mi File Explorer (or any other file manager with root rights, if any).

Step-by-step:

1. Download or transfer the audio file to your phone (for example, to the Download folder).
2. Open Mi File Explorer and go to the file folder.
3. Hold your finger on the file, click More (three dots) and select Copy.
4. Go to the root directory (click Device Storage or /) and create a Ringtones folder if it isn't.
5. Insert the file into the folder and restart the phone.
6. After the reboot, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Phone Ringtony – your file should appear in the list.

If the file is not displayed, try the following:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the media scanner doesn’t update the database right away.
• 🗃️ Check that the Ringtones folder is in the root directory, not inside Android or MIUI.
• 📝 Make sure that the file name does not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces (use instead of spaces).

For users with an unlocked bootloader or root rights, there is an additional option to place the ringtone in the system folder, which will circumvent the restriction on the duration of the track.

1. Copy the file to /system/media/audio/ringtones/ (root rights required).
2. Set permissions 644 for the file.
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without root rights can cause a crash MIUI. If you are not sure about your actions, use standard methods (Methods 1 or 2).

Method 4: Third-party applications for ringtones (Zedge, Ringtone Maker)

If you need more flexibility — for example, creating a ringtone from a video, cutting a track to millisecond accuracy, or downloading ready-made tunes — use specialized applications.

Instructions for Zedge (the most popular option):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open Zedge and select the Ringtones section.
3. Find your favorite tune (you can use the search).
4. Click on the track and select Set as ringtone.
5. Confirm your choice in the system window.

For Ringtone Maker:

1. Import the audio file from the phone’s memory.
2. Cut the track using sliders (you can listen to the result in real time).
3. Press Save and select Set as ringtone.
4. The application will automatically transfer the file to the Ringtones folder.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Zedge) request access to contacts and storage. Before installing, check Google Play permissions and user reviews to avoid data leakage.

Method 5: Install ringtones via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable for those familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and wants to automate the process or install a ringtone on multiple devices at once. It is also useful if the standard methods do not work due to firmware limitations.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🎵 Audio file format.mp3 or.ogg, renamed to custom_ringtone.mp3.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux).
2. Check the connection by entering the command: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Copy the file to your phone: Adb push custom_ringtone.mp3 /sdcard/Ringtones/
4. Update: Adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///sdcard/Ringtones/custom_ringtone.mp3
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot
6. After the reboot, the ringtone will appear in the settings.

This method is particularly useful for:

• 🔧 Automating the installation of ringtones on multiple devices (for example, in a family or office).
• 🛠️ Ringtones Restore After Resetting Settings.
• 📱 Bypassing custom firmware restrictions.

@echo off


adb push %1 /sdcard/Ringtones/




adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///sdcard/Ringtones/%1




adb reboot

Save him like set_ringtone.bat and run with the file name as a parameter.

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Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the ringtone is properly installed, there can be problems, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

If none of these methods worked, try the following:

• 🔄 Reset the sound settings: go to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the sound settings.
• 📱 Check the firmware: on some beta versions MIUI There may be ringtones bugs. Install a stable version.
• 🛠️ Use an alternative launcher: Some custom launchers (like Nova Launcher) let you install ringtones through your settings.

💡

If the ringtone never appears in the settings after all the manipulations, try using the Ringtone Picker app from Google Play.It bypasses the limitations of MIUI and allows you to select any audio file on your phone as the ringtone of the call.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions