How to install video ringtones on Xiaomi: 3 working ways + problem solving

Video ringtones on Xiaomi are not just melodies, but full-fledged multimedia alerts that make incoming calls brighter and more memorable. Unlike standard audio signals, video ringtones can include animations, clips from movies or even personal recordings. However, not all users know that MIUI does not support this feature directly by default, it needs to be activated by workarounds.

In this article, we will discuss three proven methods of installing video on a call: through hidden MIUI settings, using third-party applications and manual editing of system files (for advanced users), special attention to the nuances for different models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14, as well as common errors that may not play video. If you want your smartphone to stand out from others, read on.

1. Can I put a video ringtone on Xiaomi officially?

The short answer is no, but with reservations: standard MIUI firmware (including versions 14 and 15) does not have a built-in function for assigning video as a ringtone.

  • πŸ“± Hidden settings MIUI: Some firmware versions allow you to activate the experimental function through the engineering menu.
  • πŸ› οΈ Third-party apps: Software like Video Ringtone Maker or Zedge emulate video ringtones, but with limitations.
  • πŸ”§ Manual editing of system files: for root-access users (risky, but gives full control).

It is important to understand that Xiaomi deliberately limits this feature for several reasons:

  1. Performance: Video consumes more resources than audio, which can lead to lags on weak devices (e.g. Redmi 9A).
  2. Autonomy: Playing video drains the battery faster, especially on the back of the battery AMOLED-screen.
  3. Legal nuances: The use of protected content (clips from movies, music) in ringtones may violate copyright.
πŸ“Š Have you ever tried to install a video ringtone?
Yeah, it worked.
Yeah, but it didn't work.
No, but I want to try.
No, I'm not interested.

If you're ready to experiment, move on to the next section. For those who prefer stability, we'll also show you how to make audio ringtones from video (saving only the audio track).

Method 2: Activation of Hidden Function in MIUI (without root)

This method works on MIUI 12-15 and is suitable for most models, including Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 11 and POCO F5. The point is to enable the experimental mode through the engineering menu. Importantly, after updating the firmware settings can reset, and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the Phone app and dial the combination: ##4636## This will open the testing menu.
  2. Go to Usage statistics β†’ click on the three dots in the top right corner β†’ select Settings.
  3. Scroll down to Video Ringtone and activate the switch, and if you don't have one, your firmware doesn't support the function.
  4. Go back to the basic settings of the phone, open Settings β†’ Sounds and Vibrations β†’ Rington. Now the list should show video files from the gallery.

The engineering menu is now available (#4636##)

MIUI version at least 12

Video file in MP4 format, up to 15 seconds

Battery charge above 30% (to avoid failures)-->

If you don't have Video Ringtone, don't despair. Your model may need a different approach. For example, on the POCO X5 Pro, this method only works after resetting the network settings (see Problem Solving).

⚠️ Note: Not all video formats are supported. Optimal settings: Resolution: up to 720p (High resolution can slow down: MP4 or MKV codeced H.264. Duration: no more than 20 seconds (otherwise the playback will be cut off).

Method 2: Use of third-party applications

If the hidden function is not activated, third-party utilities will come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular applications and selected two of the most reliable ones:

AnnexSupport for MIUIFeaturesCons
Video Ringtone MakerYes (including MIUI 15)Video clipping, volume setting, MP4/MOV supportAdvertising, 15 seconds limit in the free version
ZedgePartially (works through workarounds)Large library of ready-made video ringtonesRequires manual installation through file manager
Ringtone MakerYes (but custody rights are required)Simple interface, 3GP supportXiaomi is not always working properly due to MIUI limitations

Instructions for Video Ringtone Maker:

  1. Download the app from Google Play.
  2. Open it and give access to the files and media.
  3. Select the video from the gallery and cut it to the desired length (recommended 5-10 seconds).
  4. Press Save as Ringtone and select the Video Ringtone option.
  5. Go to Settings β†’ Sounds β†’ Rington and select the saved file.

πŸ’‘

If the video is not played when you call, try re-encoding it to MP4 format with a bitrate of 1000-1500 kbps via the CapCut or VLC app.

For Zedge, the process is more complicated:

  • πŸ“₯ Download your favorite video ringtones in the app.
  • πŸ“‚ Move the file to the Ringtones folder (create it at the root of internal memory if it doesn’t exist).
  • πŸ”„ Reboot your phone – video should appear in the ringtone list.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Ringtone Maker) may not show videos in the ringtones list due to restrictions MIUI. In this case, use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to manually assign a file through the Open with the Open with Menu" β†’ "Sound settings".

Method 3: Manual installation via ADB (for advanced)

This method requires ADB-It's a command line user that can get around the limitations. MIUI, But it's risky: the wrong commands can cause system failures. We recommend it only for devices with the bootloader unlocked.

What you need:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
  • πŸ“± Included debugging by USB (Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β†’ 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ Debugging by USB).
  • πŸ“ Video file format MP4, renamed videoringtone.mp4 and placed in a folder /sdcard/Ringtones/.

Teams for ADB:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Ringtones/videoringtone.mp4 /system/media/audio/rings/




chmod 644 /system/media/audio/rings/videoringtone.mp4




mount -o ro,remount /system




exit




exit

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. The video should appear in the ringtones list. If not, check the file permissions or try a different format.

What if the ADB issues a β€œPermission Denied” error?
This means you don’t have root rights.The alternative is to use Magisk to gain root access or try the method with third-party apps (Section 3).

5. Why Video Ringtones Don't Work: Top-5 problem-solving

Even after the video is installed correctly, we've collected some of the most common causes and ways to address them:

Problem.Reason.Decision
Videos are not shown when you callThe format is not supportedRecode to MP4 (H.264) with a bitrate of 1000 kbps
There's sound, but no image.Limitation of MIUI on background processesTurn off battery optimization for the Phone app (Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Phone β†’ Battery β†’ Without restrictions)
Video played with lagsHigh resolution or weak processorReduce resolution to 480p or trim duration
Rington resets after rebootingMIUI cache errorClear the cache of the Phone app (Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Phone β†’ Storage β†’ Clear the cache)
The video does not appear on the ringtones listFile in the wrong folderTransfer the file to /sdcard/Ringtones/ or /sdcard/Notifications/

If none of these methods worked, check to see if your antivirus or optimizer (such as Security or Clean Master) blocks access to files. Also, on some firmware (such as MIUI Global for Redmi Note 10), video ringtones are disabled at the kernel level – in this case, only the firmware to the custom version (such as xiaomi.eu) will help.

πŸ’‘

On devices with AMOLED-Video ringtones consume up to 20% of battery power in a single call (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro.

6.The Alternative: How to Make an Audio Rington from Video

If video ringtones seem too resource-intensive, you can only extract the soundtrack from the video and use it as a normal ringtone, which saves battery power and eliminates playback problems.

Method 1: Mi Video Editor (built into MIUI)

  1. Open the Video app (or Mi Video Editor).
  2. Select video β†’ click Edit β†’ Audio.
  3. Click Extract audio and save the file in MP3 format.
  4. Transfer the file to the Ringtones folder and assign it to the audio settings.

Method 2: Online Services

Use a website like Online Audio Converter:

  • πŸ“€ Download video from your phone.
  • πŸ”„ Choose the format MP3 or M4A.
  • ⬇️ Download the audio file and install it as a ringtone.

The advantage of this approach is versatility: audio ringtones will work on any device, including iPhone or Samsung, if you decide to change your smartphone.

7. Compatible with different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi devices are equally well supported video ringtones, and we tested the feature on 10 popular models β€” the results in the table:

ModelMIUIMethod 1 (Hidden Settings)Method 2 (Annexes)Method 3 (ADB)
Xiaomi 14 Pro15βœ… It's working.βœ… It's working.βœ… It's working.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+14❌ It's not working.βœ… It's working.βœ… It's working.
POCO F514βœ… It works (after resetting the network)βœ… It's working.βœ… It's working.
Xiaomi 11T13❌ It's not working.βœ… It's working.βœ… It's working.
Redmi 10A12.5❌ It's not working.⚠️ Reproduction lags❌ Not tested.

On budget models (such as the Redmi 9C or POCO M4), video ringtones can be slowed down due to a weak processor.

  • 🎞️ Use video with permission 360p–480p.
  • ⏱️ Shorten the duration to 5 seconds.
  • πŸ”‹ Turn off energy saving mode during calls.

On flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) problems usually do not arise, but it is worth keeping an eye on MIUI updates - sometimes after updates, the function stops working.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video ringtones on Xiaomi

Can I put a video ringtone on Xiaomi without root?
The most reliable way to do this without root is to use the Video Ringtone Maker app or activate the hidden function through the engineering menu (section 2). MIUI It is not available, so there may be bugs.
Why does a video ringtone only work once and then reset?
This is a well-known MIUI problem related to media caching. Solutions: Clear the phone app cache and settings. Move the video ringtone to /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/ (create it manually) Disable battery optimization for system applications.
How to make the video ringtone play on the whole screen?
By default, the video is shown in a small window.To stretch it: Use the aspect ratio video 16:9 or 18:9 (In the Video Ringtone Maker app, select the Full Screen option when saved. Some firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu) can edit the file. framework-res.apk force-scale. ⚠️ WARNING: Stretching a full screen video can lead to cropping important elements (such as subtitles or logos).
Video ringtones work, but without sound.
The problem is usually with codecs or audio settings: Recode the video to MP4 with an AAC audio track (via VLC). Check if the notification sound is turned off in Settings β†’ Sounds β†’ Media Volume. If you use Zedge, download the video with the sound (some files in the library are visual only).
Can I put a video ringtone on the SIM-card (for individual contacts)?
No, MIUI doesn't have that feature. Video ringtones will be shared across all incoming calls. Alternative: Assign different audio ringtones to contacts (via Contacts β†’ Change β†’ Ringtones). Use apps like Contact Ringtone, but they don't support video.