How to set your melody on a call on a Xiaomi smartphone: all working ways

Want to stand out from Xiaomi’s standard tunes and set your favorite song or unique sound on your call? Unlike iPhone, where the process is intuitive, MIUI-based smartphones often hide this feature behind multiple layers of settings — or even block it in new firmware versions. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways, including bypassing the restrictions for the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and other models from 2022-2026.

The problem is, MIUI 13/14 He is actively promoting the proprietary Themes app, where most users are offered to download ringtones from a limited library. MP3-The file is there, but you need to know where to look, and we tested all the methods on the current firmware and found the nuances for different versions of Android. 11 before 14).

Important: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi 10 for Europe), some menu items may be called differently. This article provides ways for Russian-language MIUI – if necessary, adapt them to your interface language.

1. Standard method: through sound settings

The most obvious method is to download the tune through the Settings → Sound and Vibration menu, but it doesn’t work on all models: for example, on the POCO F5 with MIUI 14, this path can be blocked.

  1. Prepare the file: the melody should be in.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format, up to 30 seconds long (otherwise the system will cut it automatically), the optimal bitrate is 128-192 kbit / s.
  2. Put the file in your phone’s memory: Create a Ringtones folder at the root of your internal storage (not on the phone’s backend). SD-map!) and move your audio file there. Alternatively, use the Media folder. → Audio → Ringtones.
  3. Update your media library: After copying the file, restart your phone or use a file scanning app (like Files by Google).
  4. Choose a tune: 📱 Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration → The ringing melody. 🔍 In the list of available ringtones, find the section "Local" or "My tunes". 🎵 Select your file and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite) may not have a Local section, which means the manufacturer has blocked the standard way – go to alternative methods below.

📊 What tune do you want to set?
Favorite song
Vote recording
Sound from the game/film
Special signal (for example, for work)
Another option

2.Using the MIUI file manager

If the standard path didn’t work, try to get around the restrictions through the built-in Explorer, which is suitable for MIUI 12-14 and doesn’t require superuser rights:

Algorithm of action:

  1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
  2. Go to the Category section → Audio.
  3. Find your prepared file and hold your finger on it to call the context menu.
  4. Select Set as → Call melody.
  5. Download ADB Tools (like the official Google package) and unpack it.
  6. Copy the file to the system folder: adb push C:\path\to\your\file.mp3 /sdcard/Ringtones/

Critical nuance: on some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi 12T with MIUI 14), the /sdcard/Ringtones/ folder can be protected. In this case, use the alternative path: /storage/emulated/0/Media/Audio/Ringtones/.

What if the ADB can’t see the device?
1.Make sure Xiaomi drivers are installed USB Drivers (you can download it on the official website). 2. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original). 3. In the Developer menu, enable Configuration USB → File transfer (MTP). 4.Reboot the phone and PC.

5. circumvention of restrictions through the "Subjects" appendix

The manufacturer deliberately complicates the installation of custom ringtones so that users can download them from the branded Theme store.

How to upload your ringtone to "Themes":

    💡

    The Themes app is the only official way to install custom ringtone on new Xiaomi firmware without root rights. If this method does not work, only workarounds (ADB or third-party applications) remain.

    6. Problem Solving: Why the Ringtone Is Not Installed

    If none of these methods worked, check out these common causes:

    Problem.Reason.Decision
    The file is not displayed in the settingsWrong folder or formatPlace the file in /sdcard/Ringtones/ and restart the phone
    File corrupted errorUnsupported bitrate or encodingConvert the file to MP3 with a bitrate of 128 kbps via Audacity
    There is no "Local" section in the settingsFirmware restrictionUse ADB or third-party apps
    Rington's cut offIt's too long.Cut the track to 20–25 seconds in Ringtone Maker

    ⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.5+ The local melodies section may be missing, due to Xiaomi's policy of promoting its own theme store — ADB root-right.

    FAQ: Frequent questions about installing ringtones on Xiaomi

    Can I install a ringtone longer than 30 seconds?
    Technically, yes, but the system will automatically cut it to 30 seconds when you select it in the settings. To avoid cropping, use apps like Ringtone Maker, where you can manually specify the start and end of the track. On some firmware (like POCO X4 Pro), the limit is 15 seconds.
    Why does it not appear in the settings after copying a file to the Ringtones folder?
    The file is incorrectly formatted (for example,.wav instead of.wav.mp3). Ringtones folder is not created in the root of internal memory, but in the SD-The media scanner hasn't updated the database, so you can either restart the phone or use the adb shell media scan command. Your firmware has disabled local ringtones (relevant to some regions, such as India).
    How to Set Different Melodies for Different SIM-map?
    If your Xiaomi supports two of your SIM-Cards (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+), You can assign unique ringtones to each: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks. SIM-map, SIM 1) Tap the ringtone and select the file you want. Repeat for the second one. SIM-map. 🔹 Important: This method only works if the ringtones are already loaded into the system (through any of the methods described above).
    Can I install a ringtone without a computer?
    Yes, all the ways in this article except ADB, You don't need a PC. You're the easiest: 📁 Use the built-in Explorer (Files) → Audio. → Set up how). 🎵 Install the Zedge or Ringtone Maker app from Google Play. 🎨 Upload the file through the Themes app (if available). For models with strict restrictions (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), you may need to flash it to a custom version. MIUI (For example, xiaomi.eu, where the locks are removed.
    How to get back Xiaomi’s standard ringtones after experimentation?
    To reset the call melodies to factory settings: Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody. Select any standard ringtone from the section "MIUI" or "Default." To reset completely, delete all files from the folder. /sdcard/Ringtones/. 🔹 If you have removed the system melodies through ADB or root, they can only be restored by re-flashing.