Personalization of a smartphone starts with a unique sound experience. The owner of the new Xiaomi Redmi 9 immediately after buying is faced with the need to change the standard, often annoying system sounds to something more pleasant and personal. The MIUI shell installed on the device has a wide range of functionality, but the logic of the location of some settings can seem confusing for a beginner accustomed to pure Android.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to replace audio files, from simple installation through settings to advanced methods for specific contacts. You will learn how to bypass the system limitations that sometimes hide the right folders, and how to make your phone sound exactly how you want. The flexibility of customizing sounds in MIUI allows you to assign different tracks for alarm clocks, app notifications and incoming calls.
The installation process does not require root rights or a computer connection, all operations are performed directly on the screen of the gadget. However, there are nuances of working with the file system, which are important to know, so as not to search for music for half an hour. Below are proven algorithms of actions relevant to current versions of MIUI firmware 12, 13 and later.
Preparation of audio files and work with the file system
The first step is always to have the file you want to use. Music can be downloaded from the Internet, received via messenger or transferred from the computer. Xiaomi Redmi 9 uses the default Android folder structure, but the MIUI shell introduces its own adjustments to the mapping of paths. For the system to work properly, the best way to place files in the root directory or specially created folders.
System sounds are stored in secure partitions, so user files need to be placed in readable memory areas, most often internal storage. If you use a computer to transfer data, connect your smartphone with a USB cable and select file transfer mode (MTP). Once connected, a disk with the name of your device will appear on the PC screen.
For maximum convenience and to avoid confusion in the future, it is recommended to create a separate directory for ringtones, which will allow you to quickly find the desired file when choosing in the settings, without going through an endless list of tracks from the media library. Many users make the mistake of trying to choose a track directly from the browser download folder, where the files have strange names.
☑️ Preparation of files for installation
Note the file format. Although Redmi 9 supports many codecs, MP3 and M4A formats are the most stable for system calls. Heavy files in FLAC or WAV format may not appear in the selection list or work with a delay.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to rename system files in the folder /system/media/audio This can cause an interface error or loss of sound.
Installation of the melody through the standard settings menu
The most obvious and reliable way to change the sound of a call is to use the built-in settings menu.This method ensures that the selected track is attached to the sound profile and does not go off after the reboot. MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the version, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi smartphones.
You need to go to the sound management section first, and to do that, open the Settings app and look for Sound and Vibration, and that's where all the volume sliders and the composition selection are concentrated, and the system will offer some preset options, but we're interested in adding your file.
Click on Melody (or Call Sound) and the list of available tracks will open. At the top of the screen, there is usually a + button or a "Select a Melody from Files" option (sometimes hidden in a three-dot menu in the corner), and the file manager will open, where you need to find a previously prepared folder with music.
- 🎵 Open the settings and go to the section "Sound and vibration».
- 📁 Click on the "Call Melody" item and select the source of "Files».
- 🔍 Find the desired track in the list and confirm the selection by tick.
- 📞 Check the result by calling your number from another phone.
The important thing is that the audio settings can be divided into profiles (e.g., General, No Sound, Meeting) and make sure you change the melody for the active profile. If you have Do Not Disturb mode on, the phone will be silent, regardless of the composition you choose, and you can also set the vibration in this menu that will accompany the call.
Why can't the phone see the files?
Customization of individual melodies for contacts
One of the most useful features of a smartphone is the ability to assign a unique tune to a particular subscriber, which lets you know who is calling without taking the phone out of your pocket. On Redmi 9, the implementation of this feature depends on whether you use a standard Google or MIUI Dialer.
In most cases, the algorithm is the same: Open the Contacts app or Phone app. Find the person in the list and open the contact card. At the bottom of the screen or in the menu (three dots) there should be an option to "Set a ringtone" or "Default Melody." Click on it and select a track from the list.
However, sometimes the choice of the tune is hidden or inactive, this can happen if the contact is not stored in the memory of the phone or in the memory of the phone. SIM-It's synced through a restricted Google account, so try copying the contact to your device's memory.
| Type of contact | Where it's stored | Is the change of tune available? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone memory | Locally on the device. | Yeah, always. | Recommended option |
| SIM-map | On a SIM card chip. | Often not. | Better to copy it to your phone. |
| Google account | Google Cloud | Yeah, but with a delay. | Synchronization is required |
| Viber/WhatsApp | Inside apps | In the application settings | Separate sound tuning |
The messengers deserve special attention. For WhatsApp or Viber calls, the system phone book settings don't work, you have to go to the settings of the app itself, the Notifications section or the Calls section, and you have to select the sound from there. These are independent settings that don't overlap with the normal call.
Changes in notification and alarm sounds
The smartphone makes sounds not only when you call. Notifications about messages, letters and calendar events also require audio design. In the Xiaomi Redmi 9, there is a separation between the default notification sound and the sounds for specific applications. The basic setting is in the same Sound and Vibration menu.
To change the sound for all messages at once, look for the Notification Sound. The principle of choice is similar to setting the ringtone of the call. However, if you want the text from the bank to sound different than the message from your wife, you will have to configure each application separately. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status Bar → Notification Management.
The logic is different to setting the alarm clock, and it's not about setting the system, it's all about the Clock app. Open the Clock, select a specific alarm clock (or create a new one), and click on the sound icon, so you can have different tunes to pick up on Monday and weekends.
- 🔔 Notification system sound changes in general sound settings.
- 📱 The sound for a specific application is configured in the “Notifications” menu».
- ⏰ The alarm melody is set individually for each alarma in the app "Clock».
- 🔇 Don’t forget to check if the alarm clock is “no sound».
Users often encounter a problem when a new notification melody is not played back after installing it, in which case it is worth checking whether the notification volume slider is not worth the minimum, and some “heavy” audio files may not be handled correctly by the system notification player, so it is better for them to choose short and light tracks.
⚠️ Warning: When choosing an alarm clock sound, avoid abrupt start tracks at high volume if you have a maximum sound level.This can damage your hearing or speaker when you wake up abruptly.
Using the Themes app to upload sounds
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Themes app is the centerpiece of customization, allowing you to download not only wallpaper and fonts, but entire packages of sounds, and it’s an official and secure way to get quality, optimized ringtones that fit perfectly into the MIUI interface.
Run the Themes app on your desktop. In the bottom navigation bar, select the Sounds tab (or Ringtones) and here is a catalog of free and paid songs. You can listen to them before downloading, and the advantage of this method is that the system will cut the track to the desired length and convert it to the correct format.
Once the selected sound is downloaded, it will automatically become active or appear in the list of available tunes in the settings. The Themes app also allows you to create your own ringtones from the music stored in the phone's memory using the built-in crop editor.
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Use keyword searches in the Themes app (e.g., “nature,” “rock,” “classic”) to quickly find the sound style you want without manually flipping through hundreds of options.
It's worth noting that the Themes app requires an internet connection and a Mi Account to work properly. In some regions, the directory may be limited, but the basic sound set is always available. It's an official source that guarantees compatibility with your firmware version.
Elimination: If the melody is not set
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, Redmi 9 users sometimes face technical problems, the most common being that the phone forgets the set tune after rebooting or resets it to a standard one, often because the file has been moved or deleted by an antivirus, or the application through which the installation was performed has lost access rights.
Another common problem is that there's no sound when you call, although there's music in the settings. Check if Do Not Disturb or Silent mode is activated. Also make sure the media volume and the call volume are not twisted to zero. In MIUI, these sliders are separated, and users often confuse them.
If a file is corrupted or has an unsupported bitrate, the system can ignore it.Try converting the track to a standard MP3 128-320 kbps.It also helps to clear the cache of the Themes or Sounds app through the application management menu.
The path to clear the cache:
Settings → Applications → All Applications → Themes → Memory → CleanIn rare cases, it may be necessary to completely reset the audio settings, but this is an extreme measure. Usually the problem is solved by re-installing the file placed in the root of internal memory, bypassing the complex folder structures. The stability of the sound subsystem depends on the integrity of the files and the correctness of the file system.
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In 90% of cases, the problem with the installation of the melody is solved by moving the audio file to the root folder of internal memory and re-selecting it through the standard settings menu.