Smartphone personalization isn't just a fashion homage, it's a way to make your device really comfortable. When you pick up Xiaomi or POCO, standard ringtones can seem boring or too quiet. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS provide ample customization options. You can choose a track from your built-in library, download your music, or even use audio from video files.
The process of installing a tune on Xiaomi and Poko has its own nuances, which depend on the version of the Android operating system and the shell. Sometimes users find that the downloaded file does not appear in the list of available ones, or do not understand how to assign different tracks to different contacts. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to change the ringtone, from simple methods to advanced settings through the file manager.
You'll need the audiophile itself to start with, and most of the time, users download music from the Internet or receive it via instant messengers, and it's important that the file has a popular format, like.mp3 or.m4a, because older formats like.wav may not be supported by some system components. Let's look at how to properly prepare and install the desired composition.
Preparation of audio files and work with folders
Before the system can offer you a new tune, the file must be in the right place. Unlike some other brands, Xiaomi and Redmi don't always automatically scan all folders for ringtones. The most reliable way is to put the file in the system directory.
Find the downloaded track, which is usually in the Download or Bluetooth folder. Copy or move this file to a folder called Ringtones. If you want to set the sound to the notification, use the Notifications folder, and for the alarm clock, Alarms. After moving the file, the system may take a few seconds to index, after which the track will appear in the general list.
⚠️ Note: Do not use files with DRM-protection (for example, tracks from streaming services in a closed format), as the system will not be able to play them as a system call.
If you don't see Ringtones or Notifications folders at the root of internal memory, create them manually. Names must be written in Latin, register-based (capital first letter), a standard requirement of the Android file system for correctly determining the type of media content.
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For quick navigation, enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings to see system folders if they have been hidden before.
Installation of ringtones through standard settings
The most classic and stable method of changing a tune is to use the phone's settings menu, which ensures that the sound will work correctly in all modes, including Do Not Disturb mode (if configured accordingly). Go to Settings and select Sound and Vibration.
Here you'll see a few categories: "Call Melody," "Notification Sound," and "Alarm Sound." Click on "Call Melody," you'll be placed on the list of available tracks. At the top of the list are usually standard MIUI tracks, and below are your user files, if you've done the actions correctly from the previous section. Select the desired track and click "OK" or check.
- 🎵 Thematic sounds: In some regions, special sets of sounds are available that change with the theme of the design.
- 🔊 Volume: Immediately after selection, check the call volume slider to avoid missing an important call.
- 📳 Vibrosignal: in the same menu you can adjust the vibration pattern, which will work in tandem with the melody.
Importantly, some global firmware versions may have slightly different interfaces, so if you don't find the right item, search by settings, type the word "rington" or "sound" into the search bar at the top of the settings screen, and the system will prompt you to go to the desired section.
Using the Themes app to upload sounds
Xiaomi's ecosystem offers a powerful built-in app called Themes, which is not just a wallpaper store, but also a huge library of audio content, and not only can you find full versions of popular songs, but also edited snippets that are perfect for calls.
Open the Themes app and go to the bottom menu by selecting the Sounds tab (or note icon) and it's the top of the charts, the newest ones, and the different genre categories. You can listen to the track right in the app. If you like the track, click the download button and then the Apply button. The system will automatically set this track as the main ringtone of the call.
The advantage of this method is that you don't have to search for files online and worry about formats. All the sounds in the Themes store are already optimized for your smartphone, and there are often exclusive sounds created specifically for new POCO models or Xiaomi flagships.
⚠️ Attention: Themes app requires an internet connection to download content. Make sure you use a secure connection, especially if you upload large files over a mobile network.
Also, in the Themes app, you can create your own ringtones from music that is already in your phone’s memory. To do this, select the option “Local” or “From Device Memory” in the “Sounds” section, select a file and cut it to the desired length directly in the editor.
Customization of individual melodies for contacts
One of the most useful features is the ability to assign a unique tune to a specific person, so you can know who's calling without looking at the screen, and you can do this through the standard Contacts or Phone app.
Open the contact list, find the right caller, and click on their name to open the card. At the top of the screen or in the menu (three dots in the corner), find "Appoint a ringtone." The standard audio selection window will open, where you can select a track from the system library or from the device's memory.
| Type of setup | Where to find out. | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| The common melody | Settings → Sound | Low (baseline) |
| Melody of contact | Contacts → Subscriber Card | High (interrupts general) |
| Melody. SIM-map | Settings → SIM-map | Medium (for two SIMs) |
If you have two on your smartphone SIM-So if you have a card, you can choose which SIM card to assign to that individual call, which is very convenient for separating work and personal contacts (SIM 1 SIM (2) and confirm the action.
☑️ Checking contact settings
Advanced configuration through file manager
Sometimes standard methods don't work, or you have to assign a very specific file that the system doesn't see, and in this case, a file manager comes to the rescue, and in Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, it's called Explorer or Files.
Find your audiophile in any folder. Press it and hold your finger to highlight. In the bottom menu that appears, select "More" (three dots) and find "Install as a ringtone." The system will transfer the file to the desired directory and suggest using it. This method is good because it bypasses some of the bugs of the settings interface.
If you don't have "Set as a Melody," you can go another way. Copy the file into the Ringtones root folder manually. Then reboot the smartphone. Once you turn on, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration. Your file should appear at the bottom of the system melody list, because Android scans that folder when you boot.
For users who like order, it is recommended to create a separate folder, such as MyRingtones, and put all your favorite tracks there, which will make navigation easier in the future, when hundreds of files for various purposes will accumulate in the shared download folder.
What to do if the file is not readable?
Solution and troubleshooting
Even if you follow the instructions, you can run into problems, like if the melody is set, but the call is silent or the standard horn is running, most often the problem is access rights or power saving settings, check if the phone is in "No sound" or "Do not disturb".
Another common situation is that after updating the firmware, all the sound settings are reset to standard. This is normal behavior of the HyperOS or MIUI security system. In this case, the installation procedure will have to be repeated. Also make sure that the melody file has not been deleted or moved by the memory cleaner.
- 🔇 Volume Check: Press Volume buttons and make sure the call slider (not media!) is not at zero.
- 📁 The path to the file: make sure that the file is in the internal memory, not the memory. SD-map, if any (on new Android access to the SD-System sound map is limited).
- 🔄 Reboot: banal, but effective advice – restart the device after installing a new tune.
⚠️ Note: On newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), applications have limited access to the file system. If you use a third-party player to set up a call, make sure you give it permission to access all files in your privacy settings.
If nothing works, try using a third-party ringtone application, like Ringdroid or something similar, which has special permissions and can correctly log files created on the system, bypassing some of the shell limitations.
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The main reason for the trouble installing a tune on new Xiaomi is the wrong file location. Always copy the tracks to the Ringtones folder in internal storage, not in the application folders.