How to install your music on the Xiaomi ringtone: 5 proven ways

Are you tired of the standard ringtones on Xiaomi and want to install a favorite song or a unique sound? Unlike many Android smartphones, MIUI shell devices have features when changing ringtones - the system often blocks the addition of user files through standard settings. In this article, we will discuss all working methods, including circumventing restrictions, for Redmi, POCO and Mi models based on MIUI 13/14 and Android 12/13/14.

The problem is that Xiaomi artificially restricts the choice of tunes to only pre-installed options, which is done to “optimize performance,” but in practice, users are faced with the need to use third-party applications or hidden system functions, and we tested all methods on current firmware and selected those that work without root rights and complex manipulation.

Important: Some methods may differ depending on the MIUI version and phone model. If your Xiaomi is released before 2020, check out the alternatives section - older devices often require a different approach.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the installation of its music on the ringtone?

Since version 12, MIUI has been actively restricting users' access to system folders, including the one where ringtones are stored.

• 🔒 Xiaomi follows Google’s trend to restrict access to system partitions to prevent accidental file damage.
• 🎵 License Agreements: Some preinstalled tunes may be copyrighted, and their replacement with pirated content creates legal risks for the company.
• 📱 Performance optimization: scanning user folders for ringtones can put more strain on the processor (especially on Redmi’s budget models).
• 💰 Monetization: The Mi Store sells themed sets of tunes, and locking homemade ringtones stimulates purchases.

In practice, this means simply copying. MP3-The Ringtones file isn't enough -- the system won't see it. But you can get around the limitations, and then we'll show you how.

Method 1: Use of the standard Music application (MIUI 14)

The simplest method that works on most modern Xiaomi devices (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13) is suitable for files of.mp3,.m4a,.wav formats up to 30 seconds.

1. Place your audio file in any folder on your phone (such as Downloads or Music).
2. Open the standard Music app (Icon with Note).
3. Find your track in the library and tap it for playback.
4. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Install how" → "rington".
5. Confirm the choice in the window that appears.

⚠️ Note: If the "Set as" item is missing, then your version MIUI It doesn't support this method. Go to the next one.

Cut the track to 30 seconds (use the MP3 Cutter app)

Rename the file in Latin (without spaces and special characters)

Check the format (.mp3 or.m4a is recommended)

Make sure the file is not protected by DRM

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Method 2: Copy a file into a hidden Ringtones folder

This method requires a file manager with access to system folders (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer) suitable for MIUI 12-14, but some devices may require additional configuration.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use the file manager on the device itself.
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/ Create a Media folder (if not), and inside it, an Audio folder. Inside Audio, create subfolders: Ringtones (for calls), Notifications (for notifications), Alarms (for alarms).
3. Put your audio file in the Ringtones folder.
4. Reboot the phone.
5. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Phone Rington – your file should appear in the list.

🔹 If the file is not displayed:

• 📌 Check the file extension (should be.mp3 or.m4a).
• 📌 Make sure the file is not hidden or protected from the record.
• 📌 Try renaming the file to a short name (for example, my_ringtone.mp3).
• 📌 Some firmware requires moving the file to /system/media/audio/ringtones, But it requires root rights.

Method 3: Ringtones from Google Play

If previous methods didn’t work, use third-party utilities. We tested 5 popular apps and selected the best ones:

🔹 How to use it (as illustrated by Ringtone Maker):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select an audio file from your phone’s memory.
3. Cut the track (optimally 15-30 seconds).
4. Press "Save as ringtone."
5. In the window that appears, select "Install as the default ringtone".

💡

If the ringtone is not played when you call after installing it through the app, check the sound settings in Settings → Sound and Vibration → Phone Rington. Sometimes MIUI resets the choice to standard sound after rebooting.

Method 4: Use ADB (for advanced users)

This method requires connecting your phone to a PC and using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for all versions of MIUI, but can seem difficult for a beginner, but it is guaranteed to work even on locked firmware.

🔹 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🎵 Audio file format.mp3 or.ogg, renamed in Latin (for example, custom_ringtone.mp3).

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy your audio file to the platform-tools folder (where ADB is installed).
3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder with ADB: cd C:\platform-tools
4. Execute the command to copy the file to the system folder: adb push custom_ringtone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/
5. Install the correct permissions: adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/custom_ringtone.mp3
6. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI folder /system If the adb push command gives an error read-only file system, pre-run:

adb shell mount -o rw,remount /system

💡

The ADB method is the only reliable way to install a ringtone on Xiaomi with custom firmware or heavily modified versions of MIUI, where standard features are disabled.

Method 5: Alternative solutions for older Xiaomi models

If your smartphone is released before 2019 (e.g. Redmi Note 5, Mi A2, Mi 8), standard methods may not work due to an outdated version of MIUI or features of the iron platform.

• 📁 Manual copying through TWRP: Install custom recovery TWRP. Load into recovery mode (Off. → Hold the Power. + Vol+). Connect your phone to your PC and copy the file to /system/media/audio/ringtones. Set permits 644 (rw-r--r--).
• 🔄 Retrace to the old version MIUI: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 4X) ringtone shift worked in MIUI 9-10, but it stopped after the update. You can return the old firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🎧 Using Live Wallpapers: Some wallpapers with sound (e.g., from the Zedge app) allow you to assign a custom tune as a background sound that will be played when you call.