How to Set Your Melody to a Call in Xiaomi: 5 Working Ways

Are you tired of the standard ringtones on your Xiaomi and want to set your favorite song or unique tune to an incoming call? This task seems simple, but users often have difficulties: where to store audio files, why the melody does not appear in the list, how to circumvent the limitations of the system. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the ringtones on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from basic settings to advanced methods using file managers and third-party applications.

It is important to understand that the process may differ depending on the version of MIUI (Xiaomi shell) and the device model. We took into account the features of the latest firmware versions (MIUI 14/15) and tested the instructions on devices from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Pro. If you use the older version of MIUI (up to 12.5), some menu items may be called differently - in this case, pay attention to alternative methods at the end of the article.

Before you start, prepare an audio file: it should be in.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format, and its duration should not exceed 30 seconds (otherwise the system can crop the melody), the optimal bitrate is 128-192 kbit / s for balance between the quality and the size of the file.

1. Method through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in tools, which is suitable for most Xiaomi models and does not require the installation of additional applications.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the Melody of a Call (or Rington in some versions of MIUI).
4. At the top of the screen, click on Local Melodies or Add (plus icon).
5. Select an audio file from your device memory. If it's not listed, make sure it's in the Ringtones or Notifications folder.

If your file is not displayed, check its format and storage folder. MIUI scans only certain directories by default:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ — ring-melodies;
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Notifications/ — notice-in;
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Alarms/ — alarm-box.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ The system may not show files downloaded via Telegram or messengers. Move them to one of the specified folders manually.

Once you select a tune, click Save or OK. Now it will be used for incoming calls. To check, call your device from another phone or use self-call mode (#4636## → Testing → Call).

2.Use of a file manager for manual installation

If the standard method didn’t work, try manually placing the file in the right folder.This method is universal and works even on older versions of MIUI. You’ll need any file manager (for example, embedded Files or Solid Explorer).

Follow the instructions:

1. Download or prepare an audio file (for example, my_ringtone.mp3).
2. Open the file manager and go to the root folder of the device (/storage/emulated/0/).
3. Create a Ringtones folder if you don't have one. To do this, click Create a folder and type the name exactly as you want it to (registration is important!).
4. Move your audio file to this folder.
5. Restart the device (this is required to update the media library).
6. Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call Melody and select your file.

If the Ringtones folder already exists but the files are not displayed, try the following:

• 🔄 Rename the file in Latin (without Cyrillic and special characters).
• 📥 Make sure the file is not hidden (the file properties must have the "Visible" attribute").
• 🔍 Restart Media Storage App via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Show system-based → Media storage → Stop it.

⚠️ Note: On some devices with MIUI 15 Ringtones folder can be hidden by the system. To see it, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.

File in MP3/M4A/OGG| format

Duration up to 30 seconds |

Latin name with no spaces |

File moved to Ringtones| folder

Device rebooted.-->

3. Installation through the Music app (MIUI Music)

Little-known life hack: Xiaomi’s standard Music app has a built-in function for assigning tracks as ringtones, which is suitable if you want to use a snippet of a song without first cutting.

How to do this:

1. Open the Music app (note icon).
2. Find the track you want to use as a ringtone.
3. Click on the three dots next to the track title and select Use as.
4. In the menu that opens, select the Melody of the Call.
5. Cut the fragment (the first 30 seconds will be suggested by default) and save.

Advantages of this method:

• 🎵 No need to pre-cut the track in another application.
• 📱 Automatic save to Ringtones folder.
• 🔊 The ability to listen to a fragment before saving.

Note that if a track is DRM protected (for example, downloaded from Apple Music or Spotify), this feature may not work, in which case use the file manager method or convert the track to MP3 through online services.

💡

If you want to use a snippet of a song with precise timing, crop it in advance in the MP3 Cutter or Audacity app on PC, then upload it to your phone.

4.Applications for customization of ringtones

If embedded tools MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps, and they offer additional features like editing tunes, setting different ringtones for different contacts, timers, and more.-3 applications:

How to install ringtone through Zedge:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open Zedge and go to the Ringtona tab.
3. Choose your favorite tune and click Download.
4. After downloading, click Set as and select Call Melody.
5. Confirm your choice in the system window.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Zedge require permission to access storage and audio settings. Don't give them other permissions (e.g., don't give them other permissions, SMS or contacts) if requested without cause.

If you’re using Ringtone Maker, pay attention to the export format: choose Set as Ringtone, not Save to SD, otherwise the file won’t appear in the system settings.

5. Set different tunes for different contacts

MIUI allows you to assign unique ringtones to individual contacts, which is convenient if you want to know who's calling you without looking at the screen.

Method 1: Through the Contact Application

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
2. Click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call (or Rington) item.
4. Select a standard tune or click Add to download yours.
5. Save the changes.

Method 2: Settings (for contact groups)

If you want to assign unique tunes to groups (such as "Family" or "Work"), do the following:

1. Open Settings → Sounds and vibration → Call melody.
2. Select Configure for Contacts (not available on all models).
3. Create a group or select an existing one.
4. Assign a tune and save it.

Limitations of this method:

• 🚫 It doesn’t work for unknown numbers (they always use a standard ringtone).
• 🔕 On some devices with MIUI 15+ This feature is hidden in the bottom of the menu. Use the Settings Search (Search for settings at the top of the screen).
• 📵 If the contact is saved SIM-The individual melody may not work.

6. Problem Solving: Why the Melody Is Not Set

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the added melody is not displayed in the settings or is not played when calling.

If none of these methods worked, try the following:

1. Clear the Settings app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Storage → Clear the cache).
2. Check if the sound is turned off in Do Not Disturb (Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Do Not Disturb).
3. Update MIUI to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the system folders for ringtones may be different. In such cases, use applications like Ringtone Maker that create their own directories.

7.Alternative methods for older versions of MIUI

If you use Xiaomi with MIUI 11 or older, some menu items may be called differently and the functionality is limited.

Method 1: ES Conductor (for MIUI 9–11)

1. Install ES Explorer from Google Play.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
3. Go to /system/media/audio/ringtones/ (root rights required!).
4. Copy your file into this folder and set permissions 644 (r-w-r------).
5. Reset the device.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

If you have access to ADB, you can manually write the path to the melody:

adb shell settings put system ringtone /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/my_ringtone.mp3

After completing the command, restart the device.

Note that these methods require technical knowledge and can cause system failures, and we recommend that you upgrade to current versions of MIUI, where the process is simplified.

💡

On devices with MIUI 12.5+, it is better to use standard settings or applications from Google Play. root-access methods and ADB are only relevant for outdated firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the ringtone to Xiaomi