Smartphone owners often face the need to separate incoming calls, especially when the device is used for work and personal purposes. Xiaomi Redmi 9T model is equipped with a full module for two SIM cards, which makes the task of separating audiovisual response extremely relevant for many users. Standard settings allow you to flexibly manage the sound, but hidden features of the MIUI shell require a careful approach to activate all the features.
The challenge is that the system defaults to a single tune for all incoming calls, ignoring the separation of SIM card slots in the basic menu. To fix this, you need to use advanced contact settings or specific paths in the system audio settings. The correct configuration will allow you to instantly determine which number the call came to, just by sound, without looking at the lock screen.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the personalization techniques available, from simply installing ringtones for favorite contacts to deeply customizing profiles for each SIM card separately. You will learn how to avoid file conflicts and why some audio formats are not played by the system. Deep customization of the interface and sound is a key aspect of comfortable smartphone use.
Basic audio file preparation and formats
Before you start setting up calls, you need to make sure that your audio files meet the technical requirements of the Android operating system on which MIUI is based. The system is quite omnivorous, but for stable operation without delays and artifacts, it is better to use proven formats. The best choice is the MP3 format with a bitrate of 128 kbit / s, which guarantees high-quality sound through the built-in speaker.
Files should be stored in the device memory, not on an external memory card, if you want to avoid problems with their disappearance after restarting or removing the drive, Ringtones_Custom, Where you put all the prepared songs, this will simplify navigation when choosing a tune in the system menu and prevent confusion with system files.
Note the length of the track: too long tracks can be cut by the system or incorrectly repeated. The optimal ringtone duration is 15 to 30 seconds. If the file contains silence at the beginning or end, it is better to delete it with any audio editor, so that the call begins immediately after the signal is received.
⚠️ Note: Use of files with DRM-You can't protect them without first removing the protection, and the system just won't see them on the list of available tunes.
It is also important to consider that media volume and call volume are regulated separately, so make sure that before testing new tunes, the call slider is twisted to a sufficient level, otherwise you may mistakenly decide that the file is not working even though it is just quiet.
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Use short, rhythmic snippets of songs without sharp volume drops – this will provide better audibility in noisy places.
Customize melodies through the contact menu
The most reliable and commonly used way to set different sounds is to assign a particular tune to a particular contact or group of contacts, a technique that allows you to flexibly manage call notifications from certain people, regardless of which SIM card they are calling, but to implement the separation of SIM cards, we will need a slightly different logic of action.
To start, open the standard Contacts or Phone app and go to the list of all the entries. Find the right subscriber, click on their name to open the card, and select the edit option. At the top of the screen or in the three-dot menu, often hides the Add field or Special Features item where you can find the audio settings.
In newer versions of MIUI, the path may look different: when you open a contact, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Assign a ringtone. Here, the system will suggest you choose the sound source from the list of standard or from memory files, and at that point you choose a unique track for that person.
- 🎵 Open the Contacts app and select the required entry.
- ⚙️ Click on the menu (three dots) and find the item "Appoint ringtone».
- 📂 Select “Select from Files” and specify the prepared audio file.
- ✅ Save the changes and check the result with a test call.
However, if your goal is to separate sounds from SIM cards (for work and for home, for example), creating separate contact groups is the most effective solution. You can create a Work group and assign one tune to it, and Family group to another. Then distribute the contacts into these groups, which creates the illusion of separation by SIM card, if you give the number of one SIM only to work contacts and the other to personal contacts.
Direct assignment of ringtones to SIM-map
Xiaomi Redmi 9T owners often look for direct customization in the Sound and Vibration menu, expecting to see two separate items for the SIM 1 and SIM 2. Unfortunately, in some versions of the MIUI 12 and MIUI 12.5 firmware, this functionality may be hidden or implemented in an obscure way. Direct assignment allows you to set a default sound for all incoming ones if the contact does not have its own personal setting.
To find these settings, go to Settings of the device, then select the Sound and Vibration section. Scroll down to the Rington block. In some regions and interface versions, two items may appear here: "Rington SIM 1" and "Rington SIM 2." If you see them, the problem is solved by a simple selection of files.
If you only display one Rington, you activate the single sound mode for all calls, and then you click on the melody selection box, and you can see a switch or tab at the top of the screen that opens to select the SIM card, and if you don't, the system will force the sounds to sync.
| Parameter | SIM 1 (Main) | SIM 2 (Additional) | General settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rington type | Individual | Individual | System default |
| Source of the file | Memory of the device / Online | Memory of the device / Online | Only systemic. |
| Priority | High (if given) | High (if given) | Low (reserve) |
| Vibrosignal | Separately configured | Separately configured | Common pattern |
It's important to understand that the priority of settings in the system is as follows: the personal contact melody override the settings of the SIM card, and the settings of the SIM card override the overall system ringtone, which creates a flexible hierarchy of sound management.
☑️ Checking the sound settings
Use of Contact Groups for Separation
If the direct SIM-card split method in your firmware version doesn't work or is hidden by the operator, the most effective workaround is to use contact grouping, which requires an initial time to sort the phone book, but gives an excellent result in operation.
Create two main groups: for example, Simka 1 and Simka 2 (or Work and Personal), assign each group a unique, easily recognizable ringtone, then categorize all the numbers in your phone book into the appropriate categories, and now when you get a call, the system will play the sound tied to the contact group, not the SIM card.
To create a group, go to Contacts, click on the group management menu, and select Create a group. Give it a clear name. Once you have created a group, log in and add the contacts you want. Then, when you're inside the group or in the group settings, assign it a call melody.
⚠️ Note: When synchronizing contacts with a Google account (Gmail), locally created groups may not be saved or synced correctly.
This approach allows you to implement a complex logic of alerts, for example, you can set a quiet but long sound for the work group and a loud, short signal for the personal one, which increases the efficiency of responding to important calls and reduces the stress of constant notifications.
What if the group doesn't call?
Reproduction problems and their solution
Even after careful setup, users may find themselves in a situation where the set tune is not played, interrupted or replaced by a standard horn. Most often, the problem lies in the permissions of the Contacts or Phone application to the device's memory. After Android security updates, the system may restrict access to the file system.
Check permissions in Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Contacts (or Phone) → Permissions. Make sure that access to Memory or Files and Media is allowed. Without this right, the system will not be physically able to read the ringtone file at the time of the incoming call.
Another common cause is codec incompatibility: While MP3 is the standard, some files recoded from video or downloaded from questionable sources may contain errors in the file title, which can be used to convert the file to AAC format or re-encode to MP3 with standard parameters (44.1 kHz, 128-320 kbit / s).
- 🔍 Check the access rights of applications to the file system.
- 🔄 Convert the problem audio file to a standard format.
- 📁 Make sure the file is not moved or deleted from the source folder.
- 🔇 Check if the Do Not Disturb or No Sound mode is enabled».
Also worth mentioning is the Smart Response or Silence feature, which can block sound under certain conditions, such as when the phone is lying down screen or in your pocket, which is located in the Sound and Vibration section and can affect ringtone behavior.
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90% of ringtones problems are solved by checking memory access rights or converting a file to MP3 with a bitrate of 128 kbit / s.
Advanced settings through the engineering menu
For advanced users who don't have enough standard methods, there is an option to access hidden settings through an engineering menu, which allows you to change the system parameters of sound at a deeper level, but requires caution.
Enter ##6484## or ##4636## (codes may vary depending on the regional version of the firmware) and the CIT or Testing menu that opens will need to find the audio-related section (Audio or Sound) where you can adjust the volume levels for different scenarios, including Ringtone.
However, direct replacement of SIM card ringtones via this menu is usually not available, as it is designed for calibration of equipment, not for customization. However, here you can make sure that the audio channel is not silenced software. Changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable sound performance, so changing the values in the Level and Value columns without understanding their purpose is strongly discouraged.
If you accidentally knocked down your audio settings, you can return them to factory values through a phone reset or specialized applications to restore audio profiles. Always back up important data before interfering with system settings.