How to set a custom tune for contact in Xiaomi: all the ways

Are you tired of confusing calls from different people because everyone has the same tune? Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models) have a built-in feature that allows you to assign a unique ringtone to any contact. This not only makes it easier to identify the caller, but also adds personalization to your device. However, many users do not know where to look for this setting - especially after the MIUI update, when the menu moves to other sections.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to set a customized tune to a contact, from standard settings to circumventing restrictions on some firmware versions, how to add a custom ringtone (including songs from the player), why the settings sometimes don’t save, and what to do if the feature suddenly disappeared after an update, and a hidden trick for MIUI 14+, allowing you to assign different tunes to calls and messages from one contact.

Preparation: What Melodies Can Be Used

Before assigning a ringtone, it's important to understand what audio files your Xiaomi supports.The default MIUI system offers a limited set of standard tunes, but you can extend it:

• 🎵 Standard ringtones MIUI — preset melodies in.ogg format or.mp3, optimized for the duration of the call.
• 🎶 Music from the player - any tracks in formats.mp3,.m4a,.wav (but not all versions) MIUI support.flac).
• 📱 Downloaded files – ringtones downloaded from the Internet (for example, from Zedge sites or from the Internet). Mobile9).
• 🔊 Recordings from a voice recorder – if you saved the voice message as an audio file (maximum duration – 30 seconds).

Please note the technical limitations:

• 🕒 The ringtone duration should not exceed 30 seconds (the system will automatically trim the file).
• 📏 The optimal file size is up to 5 MB (large files can slow down playback).
• 🔇 Rington volume is adjusted separately from media sound in the Sound and Vibration settings.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with a MIUI 13) when selecting a custom ringtone, there may be a "File not supported" error, due to codec restrictions, the solution is to convert the file to.mp3 128 kb/s bitrate.

Method 1: Assigning a melody through a contact menu (MIUI 12–14)

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi devices, and the instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions).

Steps:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Find the right contact in the list and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and choose to change.
4. Scroll down to the ringtone block (or Rington on English firmware).
5. Slip on the current tune - a list of available ringtones will open.
6. Choose one of the options: 🔘 Standards -- tab. MIUI or by default. 🎵 Custom – tab Local or Music (here files from the device memory will be displayed).

Save.

If your audio file is not listed, make sure it is in the Ringtones or Music folder on the internal drive. On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13.5 for Xiaomi 12), the system scans only those directories.

The file folder is located in the root directory of internal memory.

The file format is.mp3 or.m4a

Duration does not exceed 30 seconds

The file is renamed to Latin (without Cyrillic and characters)

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Method 2: Using the Music app for custom ringtones

If you want to connect a song from a player but it's not on the available ringtones list, use the built-in Mi Music audio player, which works even on the POCO F3 and Redmi K40 with lightweight firmware.

Algorithm:

1. Open the Music app (note icon) 🎵).
2. Find the track you want to use as a ringtone and tap it.
3. In the player that opens, press three points (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Use as a ringtone (or Set as a ringtone in English).
5. The system will offer options: 🔔 The Melody of the Call – for All Contacts. 👤 Melody for contact – here you can select a specific contact from the list.

Ready.

If you don’t have a Use as a ringtone option, upgrade the Mi Music app via Google Play or install an alternative player (like VLC) that supports this feature.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) 11 Lite) after assigning a ringtone through Mi Music, the melody can be reset after rebooting. /sdcard/Media/Audio/Ringtones.

💡

If the contact you need is not on the list when selecting a ringtone through Mi Music, first add it to Favorites in the Contacts app.

Method 3: Manually Adding Ringtones Through File Manager

For power users who want full control of ringtones, there is a file manager method, which is especially useful if you download a tune from the Internet or create it yourself.

Instructions:

1. Download or prepare an audio file (for example, my_ringtone.mp3).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer).
3. Create folders along the way: /sdcard/Media/Audio/Ringtones If the Media or Audio folder doesn’t exist, create them manually.
4. Put your file in the Ringtones folder.
5. Restart the device (this is required to update the media library).
6. The file will now be available in the ringtones list when editing the contact.

Alternative paths for some versions of MIUI:

/sdcard/MIUI/ringtone

This folder is used by the system to store standard tunes, and adding custom files to it also works.

Method 4: Assign different tunes to calls and messages (MIUI 14+)

The latest versions of MIUI 14 offer the ability to assign individual tunes for calls and SMS of one contact, a feature hidden in the depth of settings and not working on all models (tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi Note 12).

How to set up:

1. Open Contacts and select the contact you want.
2. Tap Change. → Scroll down to the ringing melody.
3. Under the ringtone selection field, a new item will appear - Message Melody (or Notification tone).
4. Click on it and select a separate tune for notifications from that contact.
5. Save the changes.

If nothing helps, try resetting the Contacts app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the contact and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. ⚠️ Note: This will delete all the app settings, but the contacts themselves will remain (they sync with your Google or Mi Account account).

Alternative methods: third-party applications

If you don't like the built-in MIUI, you can use third-party apps that offer more options, like assigning different tunes to your work and personal contacts or creating sound profiles.

Top.-3 ringtone-calling:

• 🎛️ Zedge is the largest database of ringtones and notification sounds with the ability to assign to contacts.
• 🔊 Ringtone Maker - allows you to crop any audio files and save them as ringtones. Supports the.flac format.
• 📞 Contacts+ — Alternative contact app with advanced tune settings.Link: Google Play.

How to assign a tune through Zedge:

1. Install and open the application.
2. Find your favorite ringtone in the Ringtones category.
3. Select Set as contact ringtone.
4. In the list of contacts, select the right one and confirm the choice.

Third-party apps have the advantage of bypassing MIUI restrictions and allowing you to use files of any format (including.flac and.aac), but be careful with permissions: some programs request access to contacts and call history.

FAQ: Frequent questions about tune-ups on Xiaomi