Are you tired of the standard ringtones on your Xiaomi and want to set your favorite song or unique sound to an incoming call? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones with a MIUI shell - despite the wide possibilities of customization, it is not always obvious how to add a custom tune. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways, from built-in tools to bypass the limitations of the system.
It's important to understand that the procedure differs depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the phone model. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, the algorithm will be identical, but on older devices like the Mi 9, additional actions may be required.
1. Standard method through MIUI settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in tools, which works on all devices with MIUI 12 and later, but has a limitation: you can only choose from pre-installed ringtones or files in the Ringtones folder.
Here's the step-by-step instruction:
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the section Sound and vibration.
- Select the item Melody of the call.
- At the top of the screen, click on Locals – all available sounds will be displayed here.
- If your file is not displayed, make sure it is in the Internal Storage/Ringtones folder (create it manually if necessary).
⚠️ Attention: MIUI non-format.m4a and.flac for ringtones.mp3 or.ogg with a bitrate not higher than 192 kbps, otherwise the sound may be played with distortions.
File format — MP3 or OGG|Bitreit ≤ 192 kbps|Duration ≤ 30 seconds|File moved to Ringtones folder|Name without special symbols-->
2.Use of a file manager for manual installation
If the standard method didn’t work, try adding a tune through the file system, a method that works for Xiaomi with any version of MIUI, including older builds.
Follow the algorithm:
- 📁 Connect your phone to your PC or use the built-in File Manager.
- 🔍 Find the Internal Storage folder (Internal Memory).
- 📂 Create a folder with the name Ringtones (if it is not available).
- 🎵 Place the prepared audio file (see requirements above).
- 🔄 Reboot the device - after that the melody will appear in the list of available.
💡 Useful tip: If the Ringtones folder doesn't appear in the settings, check if it's hidden.In the file manager, turn on the display of hidden folders in the menu (three dots). → Settings → Show hidden files).
Why is the melody not displayed in the settings?
Installation through the Music app
Few people know, but the built-in Mi Music player (or Google Play Music on some models) allows you to assign tracks as ringtones, a method that is especially convenient if you want to use a snippet of a song.
Instructions:
- Open the Music app and find the track you want.
- Click on three dots next to the song title.
- Choose Use as a ringtone (or Assign to a call).
- Confirm the selection – the system will automatically crop the track to 30 seconds and save it to the Ringtones folder.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) this item may not be available, in which case use alternative players like Poweramp or VLC, which support a similar function.
Mi Music|Google Play Music|Poweramp|VLC|Spotify|Other-->
4. Third-party applications for flexible settings
If built-in methods don't work, look for specialized utilities that allow you to:
- 🎛 Assign different tunes for individual contacts.
- 🔊 Adjust the ringtone volume regardless of system settings.
- 🎵 Use fragments of songs without cropping.
- 🔔 Create sound profiles (work/home/night).
Top.-3 tested applications:
| Annex | Features | Reference | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zedge | A large library of ringtones, wallpaper and notifications, supports custom melodies. | Google Play | The commercial is free. |
| Ringtone Maker | An audio editor with cropping and normalization function, exports directly to the system settings. | Google Play | The interface is in English. |
| MP3 Cutter and Ringtone Maker | A simple tool for cropping tracks and assigning them to calls/SMS. | Google Play | Restriction on the length of the track in the free version. |
🔹 Important: When using third-party apps, give them permission to access files and audio settings. Without that, they won't be able to apply the melody. → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Permits.
5. Assigning different tunes to SIM-map
If your Xiaomi supports two of your SIM-Cards: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro, you can set unique ringtones for each of them, and it's convenient to distinguish between personal calls and workers.
How to do this:
- Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody.
- At the top of the screen, select SIM-map, SIM 1 SIM 2).
- Set the right tune for each card separately.
- To save the changes, press Ready or go back.
📌 Key takeaway: This feature is only available on dual-physical devices SIM-On the one-model models. SIM eSIM (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite) option will not be available.
💡
If you travel frequently, assign a locally colored tune to a second SIM (such as the country’s national music) to help quickly identify calls from local operators.
6. Solving problems with reproduction
Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the custom melody is not played or played with distortions. Let's consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The melody is not displayed in the list. | Wrong folder or file format | Place the file in /Internal Storage/Ringtones in MP3 format. |
| The sound is interrupted or distorted | Too high bitrate | Convert the file to a bitrate of ≤ 192 kbps using Audacity. |
| The melody is reset after rebooting | MIUI cache error | Clear the Settings app cache (see spoiler above). |
| It doesn't work on a specific contact. | Conflict with the “Contacts” appendix | Assign the melody directly in the contact card (open contact → Edit → Call melody). |
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI China may have additional restrictions, such as blocking ringtones from changing for system applications, in which case only switching to global firmware or using Magisk to circumvent restrictions will help.
7. Alternative methods for advanced users
If you are willing to take drastic measures, consider these options:
- 🛠 ADB-commands: You can manually write a path to the file in the system settings using the adb shell.
- 📱 Magisk modules: Modules like Ringtone Changer can bypass restrictions MIUI. Requires root rights.
- 🔄 Castom firmware: LineageOS or Pixel Experience has no restrictions MIUI — You can set any tunes without additional actions.
💬 Example ADB-ringtone:
adb shell settings put system ringtone /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/my_tone.mp3⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or Magisk can cause a system crash if the commands are entered incorrectly. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.