How to install or change the sound of notifications on Xiaomi: all the ways

Notifications on Xiaomi’s smartphone aren’t just signals of new messages or missed calls; they form the first emotional response to interaction with the device. Standard MIUI sounds can get boring after a couple of weeks of use, and quiet or too loud tunes can be annoying at the wrong time. But not everyone knows that setting notification sounds on Xiaomi goes far beyond the choice of three or four built-in options.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change notification sounds, from basic settings in the Sound and Vibration menu to install custom tunes through the file system. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14) and popular series of smartphones: Redmi Note, POCO, Xiaomi 11/12/13. You will also learn how to assign unique sounds for specific applications (for example, a separate signal for WhatsApp or Telegram) and what to do if the sound of notifications is lost after the update.

Despite the seemingly simple task, many people face typical problems: the sound does not change after choosing a new melody, notifications play at low volume or completely turn off in Do Not Disturb mode. We analyzed these cases and prepared a checklist of solutions that will help return the sound to work in 2 minutes.

1. Basic setting of notification sounds via MIUI menu

The most obvious way to change the notification sound is to use the standard MIUI settings, which works on all Xiaomi models, regardless of the firmware version, and does not require additional applications.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on your desktop) and go to the Sounds and Vibrations section, and here you'll see a few categories: Notification Sound, Call Sound, Alarm Sound, and more. We're interested in the first one.

Slip the notifications, you'll see a list of embedded tunes, depending on the MIUI version, there could be 10 to 20 of them, including a classic Mirage, Starry Sky or Electronic Signal. Choose your favorite and click OK, the sound will change instantly.

Notice the volume slider at the bottom of the screen, and sometimes users complain that the notifications are too quiet, even though the volume of the call is set to maximum, because in MIUI, the volume of the notifications and the volume of the call are adjusted separately, and make sure that the slider is in the extreme right position.

• 🔊 Standard sounds: Includes tunes from Xiaomi and several universal signals (e.g. Default or Quiet).
• 🎵 Added sounds: If you have previously downloaded custom tunes, they will appear in this section.
• 🔕 No sound: Disables the audible notifications (vibration will remain if turned on).

Important: Some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) may need to restart the device after selecting the sound to make the changes take effect, due to the features of optimizing MIUI for gaming smartphones.

2. How to set your notification sound (castomy ringtone)

Built-in tunes get boring quickly, and many users want to set their notification sound — whether it's a clip from a favorite song, a natural sound, or a unique signal — in MIUI, you can do this in two ways: through the file system or through third-party apps.

The first is manual installation, and you'll need a.mp3,.m4a or.ogg audio file that's no longer than 30 seconds long, and the optimal file size is up to 1MB, otherwise you may experience delays in playback.

Connect your smartphone to your computer or download the file directly to your device. Then move it to the Ringtones or Notifications folder on your internal drive. If you don't have those folders, create them manually. Then go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Notification Sound and select your file from the Added Sounds list.

If the sound does not appear on the list, check:

• 📁 The correct folder name (registration is important: Notifications, not notifications).
• 🎶 File format (supported only) mp3, m4a, ogg).
• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes MIUI Does not update the list of sounds in real time.

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To crop a song under notification, use apps like Ringtone Maker or MP3 Cutter, which let you highlight the most memorable snippet of a track and save it in the desired format.

3. Assigning unique sounds to individual applications

One of the most useful features of MIUI is the ability to assign individual notification sounds to each app, such as setting one signal for WhatsApp, another for Telegram, and a third for work email, which helps you quickly identify the source of the notification without looking at the screen.

To customize a unique sound:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (for example, Viber).
3. Slip on the Notification item.
4. Turn on the Sound switch (if it is turned off) and select the tune from the list.

On some versions of MIUI 13/14, the path may be different: Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. Here you will see a list of all applications with the ability to fine-tune sound, vibration and notification priority.

4.Notification sounds and solutions

Even after setting up the notification sounds correctly on Xiaomi, let’s look at the most common problems and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If the notification sound has disappeared after the update MIUI 14, try resetting the audio settings to the standard. → System and device → Resetting settings → Reset the audio settings. It won't delete your data, but it will return all audio settings to the factory.

Check Do Not Disturb mode | Make sure the volume of notifications is not at a minimum |Reboot the device |Reboot the application for which the sound is not playing |Reset the sound settings to standard-->

5. Features of settings on different versions of MIUI

The interface and location of the audio settings may vary depending on the version of MIUI. Let's consider the key differences for the most common firmware:

MIUI 12:

• 📱 The way to sound settings: Settings → Sound and vibration.
• 🔄 There is no separate section for custom sounds – files must be in folders Ringtones/Notifications.
• 🎛️ The volume of notifications and calls is divided.

MIUI 13/14:

• 📱 The path to settings: Settings → Sound and vibration (combined with vibration settings).
• 🎵 There is an opportunity to pre-listen to sounds directly in the menu.
• 🔧 Adaptive sounds – automatic volume control depending on ambient noise.

POCO Launcher:

On POCO smartphones with a proprietary shell, the path to settings may differ. For example, on the POCO X3 Pro, notification sounds are adjusted via Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Additional → Notification Sounds. There is also an option called Vibration at Notifications, which is not available in the standard MIUI.

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Xiaomi has introduced the “Adaptive Sounds” feature with MIUI 14, which automatically increases the volume of notifications in noisy environments. To turn it on, go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Adaptive Sounds and activate the switch.

6. Alternative methods: applications for sound management

If standard MIUI tools don't suit you, you can use third-party apps, which offer advanced features: creating sound profiles, assigning unique tunes to contacts, automatic rules for changing sounds depending on the time of day.

The most popular applications:

• 🎶 Zedge: A database of ringtones and notification sounds with pre-listenable. Supports custom tune downloads.
• 🔔 Ringo: Allows you to assign different sounds to calls and notifications from a single contact (e.g., a separate signal for messages and calls from your spouse).
• 📱 SoundAssistant (from Samsung, but runs on Xiaomi): Advanced audio profile management, including volume change schedule.

Before installing, check the app's permissions. Some programs request Notification Access, which can pose a privacy risk. We recommend using only high-ranking, proven Google Play apps.

⚠️ Note: Apps to change notification sounds may conflict with energy-saving features MIUI. If after installing such software, the sounds stopped working, add the application to the list of optimization exceptions: → Battery and productivity → Optimizing the battery → Select applications.

7. Resetting sound settings to factory

If, after experimenting with notification sounds, something goes wrong (e.g., all custom tunes are gone or the volume settings are lost), the easiest way to do this is to reset the audio settings, which will bring all the settings back to factory settings, but will not affect your personal data.

To drop the sounds:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset sound settings.
3. Confirm the action by entering the unlock password (if required).

After resetting, you will need to reconfigure:

• 🔊 The sound of notifications and a call.
• 🎵 Loudness for each type of signal.
• 🔕 Exceptions for the regime Do not disturb.

If the reset didn’t work, it could be a deeper problem, like corrupting system files, in which case only a complete reset (Reset all settings) or a flashing device will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about notification sounds on Xiaomi