How to change the ringtone on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Smartphone personalization is not just a way to stand out, but a necessity when multiple phones ring in the same room. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO device owners often face a limited set of standard sounds that get bored quickly. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools to replace audio files with incoming calls, messages and notifications.

The installation process can be confusing because of the specific features of the Android file system and the specific requirements of the shell. The standard ringtone can be replaced with any track from your library, whether it is a music composition, voice recording or sound effect.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can change a tune, from simply selecting from a list to creating a custom ringtone with precise audio clipping, and learn how to customize individual sounds for different subscribers and understand why sometimes a selected track is not displayed in the list.

Standard method through sound settings

The easiest and most reliable way to change the melody is to use the built-in system settings menu, which works on all current firmware versions, including the latest HyperOS. The action algorithm is intuitive and does not require a connection to a computer or install third-party programs.

To start, you need to go to the main settings menu of the smartphone, find the section responsible for the audio, and select the type of call, the system will offer a list of preset compositions, among which you can listen to each before use. Note that Xiaomi’s standard tunes often have a prefix"Mi_" or"Xiaomi_" file-name.

If you find the standard set too boring, the interface allows you to immediately go to the selection of local files, and by clicking on the corresponding button, you will be taken to the file manager, where you can select any audio file stored in the device's memory, which is a basic functionality that every user should know.

• 🎵 Open Settings and go to the Sound and Vibration section.
• 📞 Click on Rington (or Call Melody) to select the overall call sound.
• 🔊 In the list that opens, select Select a melody from files or a similar item at the top of the screen.
• 💾 Find the desired track in the phone memory and confirm the choice with the OK button or Apply.

Using the Themes app to search for ringtones

Xiaomi's ecosystem offers a powerful customization tool, the Themes app, which is not just a wallpaper catalog, but a full library of multimedia content, including thousands of free and paid ringtones, and the advantage of this method is that you don't have to search and download files manually from the Internet.

There's a separate category inside the app that's about sounds, and you can listen to tracks online, sort them by popularity or novelty, and then you pick a song you like, and the system automatically downloads it and offers you to set it to a call, SMS or alarm, which is especially useful for those who don't want to understand file formats.

It’s worth noting that some themes can contain whole packages of sounds that are used in conjunction with icons and fonts. If you only want a melody, check the description carefully before downloading, and there are often promotions in the app that allow you to download premium content for free.

How to Put Music on a Call through File Manager

Often users download music from social networks or messengers, and these files do not appear in the standard list of ringtones. To use such a track, it must be moved to the system folder or correctly selected through the Explorer, this method gives full control over the audio files.

Modern versions of Android require folder structure to properly display media files in the system settings. If you just downloaded mp3, it can lie in the Download folder, but the system doesn't see it. The solution is to move the file to a special Ringtones directory in internal memory.

Use the standard Explorer (or File Manager) to navigate the file system. Find the downloaded track, click on it and select the installation option. If this option is not available, simply copy the file to the root of the internal memory or the Ringtones folder, after which it will appear in the general list of tunes.

It is important to take into account technical limitations. the file must be in MP3, M4A or WAV format. Video files or secure tracks from streaming services (Spotify offline mode or Yandex.Music) cannot be installed without special conversion and removal of protection, which may violate license agreements.

Customization of individual melodies for contacts

One of the most useful features is the ability to assign a unique tune to a particular subscriber, which allows you to know who is calling without taking the phone out of your pocket, and in the MIUI shell, this feature is implemented as conveniently as possible and does not require third-party applications.

There are two ways to set up a personal call: through the contact menu or directly during the incoming call (if you can make it), the first option is more reliable. Open the Contacts app, find the right person, and go to the card editing.

In the advanced contact settings, you'll find the Melody field. The default is "Default"; click on it, and a standard audio selection window opens where you can assign any track from memory or system library to that person.

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Use quiet but distinct tunes for important contacts (family, work) to keep a call in a noisy place, and louder or longer for others.

Creating a ringtone from any song: cropping and conversion

Putting a song on the phone is not always a good idea, as the opening can be too long or quiet. The optimal ringtone lasts from 15 to 30 seconds and has a bright, recognizable introduction.

You don't have to plug in a computer. Google Play or GetApps (Xiaomi store) has a lot of free cutter apps, like MP3 Cutter or Ringdroid, which let you visually select the desired piece of audio and save it as a separate file.

After pruning, save the file as MP3. Some advanced users use online conversion services if the phone doesn't support the right codec, but 99% of the time, a standard MP3 is enough. The main thing is not to make the file too heavy, although modern smartphones can handle any bitrate.

⚠️ Attention: When cutting a track, keep an eye on the smoothness of the transitions. A sharp onset (click) can be annoying. Most editors have a Fade In feature that should be applied to the beginning of the ringtone.

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A high-quality ringtone should be loud, start immediately with the main melody and last no more than 30 seconds, so as not to waste battery power.

The solution: why not put the melody

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the selected file does not become a ringtone or appear in the list, most often the problem lies in access rights or file format. Android systems strictly monitor security and can block the reading of media files from some folders.

Check to see if Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode is on, as this will vibrate the phone even if the melody is set correctly, and make sure the file is not corrupted and playable in a regular music player.

If you upgraded your firmware, the sound settings might reset. In rare cases, cleaning the Topic app cache or Sound through the application management menu helps. Remember that some system sounds (such as the alarm clock) may have their own separate settings, independent of the call.

⚠️ WARNING: If you use third-party launchers or deep system modifications, the standard Setup Path is → The sound can be redirected to the launcher menu, in which case, look for the sound settings in the Phone or Contacts app itself".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)