Personalization of a mobile device begins with small things, and one of the most noticeable changes is the installation of your own music fragment on an incoming call. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the features of the MIUI shell, which differs from standard Android by the logic of the file system and the settings menu. Standard tunes can get bored quickly, and the desire to stand out with a unique sound arises for most users immediately after buying a gadget.
The process of replacing an audio file does not require root rights or deep technical knowledge, but it has its own nuances, depending on the version of the operating system. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to replace a standard call, from built-in tools to advanced methods of editing tracks. You will learn how to bypass the limitations of the system and make your phone sound exactly the way you want.
To get started, you’ll need your smartphone, internet access to download files, and possibly a manager file if the built-in one doesn’t do the job. The current Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi models feature powerful multimedia capabilities that allow you to process sound directly on the device. Let’s look at the basic techniques that will help you quickly and efficiently change the audio accompaniment of incoming calls.
Audio file preparation and support formats
The first step before installing a ringtone is to find or create a suitable audio file. The Android-based MIUI supports most popular formats, but for stable operation it is better to use universal coding standards. The best choice is the MP3 format, which provides good sound quality with a minimum file size. WAV, OGG and AAC formats are also supported, but they can cause rare conflicts in older versions of firmware.
It is important to consider the length of the track, as too long songs can be cropped by the system or incorrectly displayed in the selection list. The optimal ringtone length is from 15 to 30 seconds, which allows you to hear the main motives of the composition without tiring the interlocutor with the expectation of a response. If you download music from the Internet, make sure that the source is safe, so as not to bring malware to the device along with the audio file.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using files with a bitrate above 320 kbps or a non-standard sampling rate, as the smartphone audio system may try to recode them on the fly, which will delay the start of playback of the call.
You can download files using the built-in Mi Browser browser or third-party apps from the Google Play store. After downloading, the file is usually saved in the Download or Download folder. If you plan to use a fragment of a popular song, it is recommended to crop it in advance, leaving only the most recognizable part, and this can be done directly on the phone with specialized editors, which we will talk about in the next sections.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and most integrated way to change a tune is to use the official Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi and Redmi devices, which allows you not only to change the visual design, but also to download ready-made sound packages created specifically for compatibility with your phone model. Open the application and go to the bottom menu, where you need to select the Sound or Ringtones tab.
Inside the sound store, there's a huge selection of free and paid songs, categorized as pop music, classics, nature sounds and effects. You can listen to any track before downloading by clicking on the play button. Once you select the right option, just click Download and then Apply. The system automatically installs the selected snippet for all types of calls or suggests you set them separately.
The feature of this method is the binding to the Mi Account account, which may be required to log in to the store. If you do not have an account, it will take no more than a minute to create it, and the advantage of using the built-in store is to ensure that the sound will be played correctly, without distortion and volume problems, since all files are pre-optimized by the company's engineers.
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The Themes app often hosts free handouts of premium audio packages - watch out for the "Free" banner on the store's home page.
Installation of ringtones through smartphone settings
If you've already downloaded a music file to your device's memory, you can install it through the standard settings menu. This method is classic for Android and works on all versions of MIUI. Go to the Settings menu, find the Sound and Vibration section, and select Phone Call. A list of available tunes will open, where the add-your-own file button is usually located at the top of the screen.
Clicking on the + icon or the Select from Files button will take you to the file manager. Here you need to find the folder where your audio file was saved (most often Music, Download or Bluetooth). Once you select the track, the system will suggest cropping it if the duration exceeds the permissible limits, or simply confirm the choice. By clicking OK, you will immediately hear (preview) and you can apply the settings.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the system does not see the downloaded file in the list. This can occur if the file is too deep in the folders or has an unsupported extension. In this case, it is recommended to move the file to the root directory or to the standard Ringtones folder.
☑️ Pre-installing check
It is important to note that on some global firmware versions, the path to audio settings may be slightly different: instead of “Sound and Vibration,” look for the section simply “Sounds” or use a search by settings by typing the word “rington” in, which will save time and allow you to quickly find the desired menu item, even if the interface was changed in the last update.
Working with File Manager and Folders
For advanced users who want to have full control over the sound design, working with the file system directly will be an indispensable tool. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi allows you to freely manipulate files, but requires compliance with a certain folder structure to automatically recognize content types. To make your file appear in the general list of ringtones without unnecessary actions, it must be placed in a special directory.
Open Explorer and go to the internal storage. You need to find or create a folder called Ringtones (for normal calls), Notifications (for SMS and notifications), or Alarms (for alarm clocks). If you move the audio file to these folders, after you reboot the phone, it will automatically appear in the appropriate selection lists in the audio settings, and you do not have to search it every time through the All Files menu.
There is also a MIUI/sound system folder where you can copy files to show them as system files, but this directory requires caution. Accessing it may require extended permissions to the file manager. The table below shows the matching of folders and sound types for proper sorting:
| Folder name. | Type of content | Where it's displayed | Requires a reboot. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringtones | Incoming challenge | Sound settings | Preferably. |
| Notifications | SMS, messengers | Notification settings | Yes. |
| Alarms | Alarm clock | Annex Clock | No. |
| UI | Systemic sounds | Topics -> Sound | Yes. |
When copying files, make sure that the names do not have special characters that can cause read errors in the Linux file system on which Android is based. Better use Latin or Cyrillic without exotic characters. If after moving files to folders they do not appear in the list, perform a full reboot of the device so that the system media scanner indexes the changes.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete or rename standard system files in the folder MIUI/sound, if you do not create their backup copies - this can lead to the disappearance of interface sounds or failures in the sound engine.
Creating a ringtone with MP3 Cutter
Often, a song you like is too long and you only need a part of it to call. Audio-cutting applications like MP3 Cutter or Ringdroid are ideal for this task. These tools allow you to visually select the desired snippet (waves) and save it as a separate file. Download any such application from the Play Market, since Xiaomi does not yet know how to edit audio files with built-in tools.
The process of creating a ringtone is as follows: open an app, select a track from the library. The screen will show a graph of the sound wave. By moving the beginning and end sliders, highlight a section that lasts about 20-30 seconds. Many applications allow you to add Fade in/Fade out effects so that the call starts and ends softly, without sharp breaks.
Why can the ringtone be interrupted?
Once you select a fragment, click Save. The app will prompt you to select the file type to be saved: specify Ringtone, Notification or Music. If you select Ringtone, the file will automatically move to the desired system folder and become available for selection in the phone settings, eliminating the need to manually search for the file in the explorer.
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The use of specialized cutters allows you to create a fragment that is ideally suitable for duration and volume, avoiding sharp start compositions.
Customization of individual melodies for contacts
One of the most useful features in Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to assign a unique ringtone to a specific contact or group of contacts, which allows you to know the importance of a call without looking at the screen. To implement this, open the Contacts app or Phone and find the desired entry in the phone book.
Click on the contact name to open the card, and select Default or Melody (depending on the version of MIUI, the interface may be called differently). In the menu that opens, select the sound source: you can take a standard melody, a file from the phone's memory or even sound from the Theme app. After choosing, save the changes.
Now, when that caller calls you, you'll hear the track that they assigned, which is especially useful for picking up calls from close family, work, or courier services. Note that if a contact has multiple numbers, the settings are usually applied to all numbers tied to that card.
In some versions of the shell, the Smart Ringtones feature is available, when the phone offers to choose music depending on the time of day or location, but this feature requires active subscription and operation of Mi cloud services. For most users, manual settings through the contact card are enough, which guarantees a stable result without dependence on servers.
Addressing issues and issues
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter difficulties, such as the ringtone may not play or sound too quiet, often because the call sound settings have turned off the call sound setting or the Do Not Disturb mode activated. Check the side curtain of the notifications and make sure the call volume slider is raised up.
Another common problem is that the file is visible in the list, but when you select it, the system gives an error. MP3 128kbps or M4A using online converters, also make sure that the file is not on SD-If the card has been removed or damaged, the system ringtones should be stored in internal memory.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the ringtone, the phone starts to glitch or the sound is completely gone, try resetting the sound settings in the menu "Advanced settings» → «Resetting settings» → «Reset the sound settings, it will not affect your personal data.
If you use third-party launchers or themes, they can override system settings, so try temporarily switching to a standard Classic theme and checking the call, which will help identify software conflict.