Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 6A often face the need to separate incoming calls. Using two SIM cards on the same device is standard practice, allowing you to separate work and personal contacts or use the tariffs of different operators. However, the standard setting, where both numbers sound the same song, creates confusion. You can’t know which number is being called until you look at the lock screen.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell on the Redmi 6A provides a wide range of customization capabilities for audio notifications, and ringtones personalization allows not only SIM cards to be distinguished, but also unique tunes to be assigned to specific subscribers from the phone book, which improves the efficiency of incoming communication management and eliminates the need to constantly check the display when calling.
In this guide, we will discuss the process of installing different tunes in detail, we will look at the standard system tools, work with the file system and the nuances that are specific to the Redmi 6A model with its Helio A22 processor, you will learn how to manage audio profiles so that each call is identified instantly.
Preparation of audio files and file system
Before you start setting system parameters, you need to make sure that the audio files themselves. 6A, It might seem boring or limited, and to create a really effective alert system, you'll need your own personalized alert system. mp3-files. It is desirable that they be short (up to the 30-40 seconds) and had a clear start so that the device speaker could reproduce the motive before responding to the call.
Files must be uploaded to the smartphone's memory.Redmi's internal storage 6A limited (the basic version has a limited version) 16 or 32 GB), so it's more rational to use a small dedicated folder. Create a directory with a name, for example, Ringtones_Custom This will make it easier to find the right tracks in the system menu for selecting the sound, since the file lists in the system are very simple. MIUI They are often overloaded with system records.
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Use audio files with a bit rate of no more than 128 kbit / s. This will reduce the load on the processor when reading and save space in memory without worsening the audibility of the call through the speaker.
It is important to consider the file format. Although modern versions of Android support many codecs, MP3 remains the most stable and compatible format for ringtones on MIUI. Using rare formats like FLAC or high-resolution WAV can lead to delays in playback start or increased power consumption in standby mode.
Basic setting of ringtones through the settings menu
The easiest and most reliable way to share tunes is to use the built-in audio settings menu. In Xiaomi Redmi 6A, this functionality is implemented logically, although hidden behind several layers of nesting. You do not need superuser rights or third-party apps if you follow the standard path.
To start, go to the main settings menu of the device. Find the section responsible for the audio. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 9, 10 or 11), it can be simply called "Sound and vibration." This is where the global switches that control the behavior of the speaker and the vibrator are.
- 📱 Open Settings and select Sound and Vibration.
- 🔊 Find the Rington section (or "Call Melody"). MIUI You will see a split into two tabs or two lists: «SIM-map 1" and «SIM-map».
- 🎵 Click on the desired SIM card number and select a track from the list or click the “Select Local Rington” button to download your file.
After selecting the melody for the first SIM, be sure to repeat the procedure for the second.The system divider in the menu allows you to set independent tracks. If you do not see the separation into SIM 1 and SIM 2, make sure that both cards are active and inserted into the device. On the switched-off slot, the customization of the individual call may not be available.
☑️ Checking the sound settings
Set up calls for specific contacts
Separating tunes by SIM card is only half the solution. It's much more important to know who is calling, no matter what number you call. Redmi 6A has a feature for assigning individual ringtones to each contact in the phone book, which takes precedence over the general settings of SIM cards.
To set up a personal call, open the Contacts or Phone app. Find the right subscriber in the list. When you go to the contact page, you will see an edit button or an optional action menu (three dots or a gear), and you will need to find the "Sound" or "Call Melody" item in the menu.
Here's a big nuance of the MIUI interface. When you choose a tune, the system can tell you to choose which SIM card that this rule will apply to, you can assign one track to call from that person to the first SIM, and a completely different one if they call the second SIM, which creates a two-tiered identity system: first you know "Who's calling?" and then "What number?"
| Type of setup | Priority | Coverage | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global ringtone | Low. | All unknown numbers | Low. |
| Rington for SIM | Medium. | All calls to a specific number | Low. |
| Contact ringtone | High-pitched | Specific subscriber | Medium |
| Group ringtone | High-pitched | Contact group (family, work) | Tall. |
Using this table, you can build a logical structure, like putting a disturbing melody on all calls. SIM-work cards, but for the boss, assign a calm but recognizable track through contact settings, which will allow you to respond to boss calls even in a noisy room, distinguishing them from ordinary work questions.
Use of contact groups for mass use
If you set up a tune for each of the hundreds of contacts in Redmi 6A manually, it takes a long time. MIUI allows you to create groups (for example, Family, Friends, Couriers), and assign a tune to a group, you automatically apply it to all the numbers on this list.
To create a group, go to the Contacts app, select the Group tab, and create a new one. Add the numbers you need. Once you create a group, go to the settings. There'll be a "Group Melody" item, and the track you select will play back when any member calls, overriding the standard SIM card settings.
⚠️ Attention: Changes to contact groups sync with your Google or Mi Cloud account. If you delete the group on another device, the audio settings may reset. Back up important contact lists.
This method is particularly useful for separating call types, such as setting a loud and long signal for the Relatives group to ensure that an important call is not missed, even if the phone is in another room. For the Advertising or Spam group, you can choose a quiet and short signal, or turn off the sound altogether if the lock function is not active.
What to do if the band's melody doesn't work?
Advanced methods: third-party applications and profiles
With the Xiaomi Redmi 6A, you can solve 95% of tasks, but more powerful tools are sometimes needed to control sound completely. The standard MIUI ringtone manager may have limitations on file length or coding format.
One effective solution is to use management applications such as Ringdroid or MP3 Cutter, which allow not only to crop tracks to the desired length, but also to immediately assign them to a contact or SIM card, bypassing the standard menu, this is especially true if the system player “does not see” the cropped file due to incorrect ID3 tags.
- 🛠 Download the application to work with audio files from a verified source.
- ✂️ Cut the desired fragment and save it as a new file.
- 📞 In the app, find the “Install How” button and select “Contact Rington” or “Rington” SIM».
Also worth mentioning is Quiet Mode and Profiles, which allows MIUI to automatically turn on certain audio profiles on schedule, for example, at night, both SIM cards can only receive an important call, and during the day, everything, and setting different tunes in conjunction with the schedule gives maximum comfort.
Typical problems and their solution
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, Redmi 6A users may encounter a number of difficulties. Often the problem lies not in the settings, but in the features of the file system or the conflict of programs. If after installing the melody the call remains silent or plays a standard horn, check the following points.
The first thing to look out for is access rights. The Phone or Contacts app must have permission to read the device's memory. Without that, it simply won't be able to find and play your file. Check this in Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Permissions.
⚠️ Note: If you use a microSD card to store tunes, make sure it is working and not in “Only” mode. USB». After restarting the smartphone, the system may not have time to mount the card, and the call will pass without sound.
Another common problem is volume. In MIUI, call volume, media volume, and alarm clock volume are regulated separately. Make sure that the call volume slider is not kept at a minimum. Also check if the Pocket mode is on in call settings, which can silence the sound if the proximity sensor is closed.
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If you don't have the sound after all the settings, restart the device completely, and this will reboot the audio drivers and apply new ringtone configuration files.
Optimizing energy consumption when using your tunes
Installing complex, heavy audio files on every SIM card and every contact could theoretically affect the battery life of the Redmi 6A. The budget Helio A22 processor and 3,000 mAh battery capacity require careful consideration of resources. While the impact of one ringtone is minimal, a set of factors matters.
Using high-quality files (320 kbps or higher) makes the processor more active in decoding the sound at the time of an incoming call. For ringtones, this is redundant. The optimal solution is to convert tracks to MP3 with a bitrate of 96-128 kbps. This will significantly reduce the file size and CPU load without a noticeable loss of quality for the phone speaker.
Also, avoid using live covers or visualizations that can run alongside the ringtone in some third-party launchers. On Redmi 6A, it's better to rely on a standard MIUI call screen that is optimized for minimal power consumption. Proper audio customization is a balance between personalization and device performance.