How to install sound on SMS in Xiaomi Redmi: 3 ways + error correction

Getting SMS messages with a nondescript system signal is like skipping important notifications. This is especially annoying on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, where the default is often quiet and monotonous. Fortunately, MIUI has several ways to change the tune to SMS, from standard settings to custom ringtones, but not so simple: users often find that the sound is reset after an update or not applied to messages at all.

In this article, we’ll break down three working methods for customizing SMS audio on the Redmi Note 12/11/10 Pro, Redmi A2, POCO X5 and other models with MIUI 13/14/15. And also explain why changes sometimes don’t persist and how to fix them without resetting. If you want your phone to alert you to new messages with a unique tune from Spotify or recording a loved one’s voice, read on.

Why is there no separate SMS sound on Redmi?

Unlike many Android smartphones, Xiaomi does not share notification sounds for SMS and other applications (like WhatsApp or Telegram) by default, but rather the features of the MIUI shell, where the audio settings are centralized, which means that:

• 🔊 By default, SMS uses the general sound of notifications from the system.
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A Redmi 8) there is no separate item for SMS in the sound settings.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Settings can be reset – this is a well-known problem that Xiaomi is in no hurry to fix.

Fortunately, you can get around these limitations. Next, we'll show you how to make SMS a separate notification category and assign it a unique sound, even if your version of MIUI doesn't have one.

Method 1: Change the sound through standard MIUI settings

This is the easiest method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, but here’s a caveat: if you have a third-party SMS application (like Google Messages), the settings may differ.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the default Notifications (on some firmwares, this item may be called the Notification Sound).
4. Scroll down and find the Messages (or SMS) app. If it doesn't, use Method 2.
5. Click on Sound and select one of the standard tunes or add your own (more on that below).

If there is no Message in the application list, it means that your version of MIUI does not support separate settings for SMS, in which case you will have to use workarounds.

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To add your tune to the list, place the audio file (.mp3 or.m4a format, up to 30 seconds in duration) in the Ringtones or Notifications folder on the internal storage.

Method 2: Configure via the Messages app

If the standard method didn’t work, try changing the sound directly in the SMS app, which is suitable for Redmi with MIUI 14+, which uses Xiaomi’s proprietary Messages app.

• 📩 Open the Messages app (the envelope icon).
• 🔧 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
• 🔔 Go to the Notifications section.
• 🎵 Turn on the Sound switch (if it is off) and click on the Notification Sound bar.
• 🎶 Select one of the suggested tunes or click Add to upload your file.

Important: If you use Google Messages or another third-party app, this method will not work, in which case you need to adjust the sound directly in the app itself (usually in the Settings → Notifications section).

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If none of the above methods worked, there is still the option of installing third-party software, and we recommend two proven applications:

To set custom sound through Zedge:

1. Download and install the app.
2. In the search, type SMS tone or Notification sound.
3. Select your favorite sound and click Set as → Notification sound.
4. In the window that appears, select the Messages app (or Messages).

⚠️ Note: Some ringtone applications (e.g. Zedge) may request access to Notifications and Warehouse. Do not grant these permissions unless you are sure of the security of the application.

Why the sound of SMS does not change: 5 common causes and solutions

Even after all the manipulations, the notifications may still sound the same, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔇 Do Not Disturb Mode: Check if the mode is activated DND In the notification curtain or in the settings → Sound. → Don't disturb.
• 🔋 Battery Optimization Blocks Notifications: Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization, Find Messages App and Select Without Limits.
• 📵 SMS application removed from autoboot: C Settings → Annexes → Communications → Autoboot, turn on the option.
• 🔄 The Messages app cache is corrupted: Clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Communications → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📲 Third-party launcher interferes with notifications: Try temporarily switching to standard launcher MIUI.

If the problem persists, try resetting the notification settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top corner and select Reset Notification Settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

How to put your music on SMS: step-by-step instructions

If you don't like standard tunes, you can use any audio file from your phone.

1. Download or transfer audio files in.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format (maximum duration – 30 seconds).
2. Connect your phone to your computer or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
3. Move the file to one of the folders: Internal Storage → Ringtones (for ringtones), Internal Storage → Notifications (for notifications) Internal Storage → Alarms (for alarm clocks)

Reboot the phone.

Method 1

If you don't have Ringtones or Notifications, you can create them manually. Importantly, the folder name should be written exactly the same, capitalized and in English.

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Files in Ringtones and Notifications folders automatically appear in the MIUI sound list, but if you use a third-party SMS application (like Google Messages), you may need to select a file through the file manager right in the application settings.

Features on different Redmi models

Depending on the Redmi model and the MIUI version, the process of tuning the SMS sound may vary, and the key differences for popular devices are as follows:

Redmi with MIUI for POCO (e.g. POCO X3/X4) often uses Google Messages instead of the standard app.

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Click on the profile avatar → Notification settings.
3. Select the Sound and set the desired melody.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound of SMS on Xiaomi Redmi