How to turn on SMS on Xiaomi: from basic settings to hidden options

The situation when the owner of a modern smartphone Xiaomi or Redmi stops receiving audible notifications of new messages is one of the most common complaints of users. This can occur for a variety of reasons, from the accidental switch of the “Do not disturb” mode to the aggressive optimization of the MIUI system, which “kills” the background processes of messengers. The lack of an audible signal often leads to the omission of important business emails or personal messages, which creates significant discomfort in the daily use of the device.

Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi has implemented a complex multi-level notification management system in its MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, which interweaves the application’s settings, system resolutions, battery settings, and even regional features, which is why the standard “turn on sound in phone settings” approach often doesn’t work, and the user has to look for a solution in the depth of menus that he didn’t even know existed.

In this article, we will take a look at all the possible causes of the lack of SMS sound on Xiaomi devices, going from simple checks of mechanical buttons to fine-tuning system notifications through the engineering menu, you will learn how to customize individual tones for different contacts, why messages can come with a delay and how to return the sound if it is lost after the system update.

Basic diagnostics and physical switch verification

Before you delve into the complex software settings, you need to eliminate trivial errors that are often overlooked. First of all, check the side of your smartphone. On many Xiaomi and Poco models, the sound mode switch is located there. Make sure that the slider is not set to the "No Sound" position (the icon of the crossed-out speaker). If you see the bell icon, then the sound mode is active, but this does not guarantee the notifications work.

The second important aspect is the volume of media and notifications. In Android, these parameters are separated. Pressing volume buttons by default regulates the volume of media (video, games), but not system sounds. To check the volume of notifications, click on the volume button and tap the top or arrows down to expand the menu. Here you will see a separate slider for calls and a separate one for notifications. Make sure that the notification slider is raised to the maximum value.

You also need to look at connected Bluetooth devices. If your smartphone is paired with a smartwatch, headphones, or car radio, the notification sound can be automatically transmitted to them, remaining inaudible on the phone itself. Turn off Bluetooth temporarily and have someone send you a test text. If the sound comes up, the problem is redirecting the audio stream.

⚠️ Warning: If the Bluetooth sound is not activated after the Bluetooth shutdown, check to see if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated, in which the phone can block all sounds except calls from selected contacts, even if the volume sliders are twisted to the maximum.

Set up system notifications in MIUI and HyperOS

The MIUI shell has its own notification logic, which is different from stock Android. To make the sound work properly, you need to check the settings in the Sound and Vibration section. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Additional. Here it is important to make sure that you choose the standard ringtone for notifications, not the No file or silence. Often after updating the system, the sound profile settings can be reset to default ones, which leads to the sound disappearing.

Special attention should be paid to notification channels. In modern versions of Android, each application can have several channels (for example, “Personal Messages”, “Advertising”, “Groups”). Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Find your SMS application on the list (this can be “Messages”, “Mi Messages” or “Google Messages”). Click on it and make sure that the “Allow Notifications” switch is active.

Next, within the app settings, look for Categories or Notification Types. There may be a separate audio switch for incoming SMS. The system allows different types of events to be assigned to different sounds. Make sure that the incoming message category is set to a specific audio file, not No Sound. Also make sure that the "Important" option is turned on, as this increases the notification priority in the system.

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Use the Repeat Signal feature in the audio settings if you miss messages frequently.The phone will beep every few minutes until you read the notification.

Remember that HyperOS has made the settings interface more minimal, but it has retained all the functionality. If you can't find the right item, search by settings. Type the word "notifications" or "sound" in the search bar and the system will prompt you to go to the desired section, which is especially useful when menu items are renamed or moved to a new version of the software.

Configuration of the “Messages” application

After checking the general system settings, you need to look inside the application itself, which handles SMS. Xiaomi smartphones can use different applications by default: standard Mi Messages or Google Messages. The interface of the settings is different, but the logic remains the same. Open the message app, click on three dots in the corner (or profile avatar) and select Settings.

In the app settings menu, look for the Notifications section, where you should have detailed audio settings available. Make sure the Sound switch is activated. If you have Google Messages, click on "Additional" inside the notification section, where you can select a specific sound for new messages that is different from the system one, which makes it easy to distinguish SMS from instant messenger notifications like Telegram or WhatsApp.

The important thing is to check the app's permissions. If the Messages app doesn't have permission to work in the background or access the microphone (for voice input), it may not work properly. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Messages → Permissions. Make sure all necessary rights are granted. Also, under Battery (or Charge Savings), the app must have a "No Limits" mode for this, which will prevent the application from being "sed to sleep" by the energy-saving system.

If you use Mi Messages, look at the Smart Messages feature, which tries to classify SMS by highlighting confirmation codes and promotional mailings. Sometimes this feature crashes and blocks audible alerts for certain types of messages. Try turning this feature off in the app settings and check if there is a sound.

Do not disturb and in your pocket

One of the most insidious reasons for the lack of sound is Do Not Disturb (DND) mode. Unlike normal silent mode, DND can be set to schedule. For example, the phone can automatically switch to this mode at night or during meetings on the calendar. Check the settings in Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. Make sure the mode is off or set to skip notifications from the Mess app.

Another unique feature of Xiaomi is the In-Pack mode, which is designed to prevent accidental taps when the phone is in your pocket, but sometimes it can block audio notifications if the proximity sensor is contaminated or malfunctioning. If you are carrying your phone in a magnetic cover case, make sure the case opens completely and does not cover the top of the screen. → Screen. → Pocket mode.

There's also Pocket Mode in the context of blocking calls, but it can also affect notifications. If the phone is down, MIUI can mute the sound or turn on the vibration instead of the melody, believing that you don't want the phone to ring. Try turning the phone upside down and sending a test message. If the sound appears, the problem is with the device's positioning algorithms.

⚠️ Attention: Do Not Disturb mode may have exceptions. Check the Exception list in the settings of this mode. If the Messages app is not there, the sound is on when you turn on. DND It will not be done even if the volume sliders are active.

Problems with energy saving and background work

The aggressive MIUI energy saving system is often the main enemy of timely notifications. To save battery power, the system can completely stop the Message application process when the screen is off. As a result, the SMS only comes when you unlock the phone and open the application. To avoid this, you need to set up auto-start.

Open the Security app (green lightning icon) that is pre-installed on all Xiaomis. Go to Permissions → Auto Start. Find Messages in the list and turn on the switch. This will allow the app to run with the system. Next, in the same Security app, go to Battery and make sure there are no restrictions on Messages.

It’s also worth checking the settings under Apps → Permissions → Other Permissions. Here, find the Messages app and allow it to “Display on the Lock Screen” and “Display pop-ups.” Without these permissions, the phone can receive a “quiet” message without sound or visual accompaniment until you log in.

Remember, after every major MIUI or HyperOS update, the energy saving settings may be reset, so if the sound is gone immediately after the upgrade, first check the autostart points and battery limitations. This takes a couple of minutes, but often resolves the problem instantly.

Customization of individual tones for contacts

One of the most useful features in Xiaomi is the ability to assign unique SMS sounds to specific contacts, which allows you to immediately know who wrote to you without even looking at the screen. To set this up, open the Contacts app, select the right person from the list and click on their name to open the card.

In the contact card, find the default message sound (or just the message sound) and click on it and select a tune from a list or download yours from your phone's memory. Now, when that person textes you, you'll hear the selected sound, regardless of the phone's general settings, which is especially useful for highlighting messages from close relatives or important business partners.

Importantly, this setting only works if notification sounds are allowed in the general settings of the Messages app. If the global sound is off, the individual tone for the contact will also not be played. Also make sure that the contact number is saved correctly, with the country code so that the system can correctly identify the sender.

⚠️ Note: When changing the ringtone for contact, make sure the selected audio file is not corrupted and has a supported format (e.g., a supported audio file, MP3 or OGG). Low quality files or rare codecs may not be played.

Solving problems with third-party applications

Many users prefer to use third-party SMS applications such as Textra, Pulse SMS or QKSMS instead of the standard ones. In this case, Xiaomi system settings may conflict with the settings of the application itself. Make sure that your third-party application is selected in the default Android SMS settings. This can be checked in Settings → Applications → Default Application → SMS App.

Third-party apps often have their own notification engines. Go to the app’s settings (usually through the menu inside it) and find the Notifications or Notifications section. Check if the audio option is enabled and if the melody is selected. Sometimes, after an Android update, third-party apps lose the right to create notifications and need to request them again when they first start.

If you use SMS-synchronization apps (such as Microsoft Phone Link or Google Messages for Web), the sound can only come to one of your devices. In the settings of such applications, there is often an option “Do not not notify on your phone if the notification is sent to your PC” and check if it is activated if you want to hear the sound on your smartphone.

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Using third-party apps requires double-checking of settings, both on the Android system and within the application itself, and often the problem lies in the desynchronization of these two levels.

Additional settings and hidden functions

V MIUI There's a hidden menu that allows you to fine-tune the behavior of notifications, and although it's primarily designed for developers, there are some useful options for controlling sound. Clear the Messages app cache. Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Communications → Memory and click "Clear cache" This will not delete your correspondence, but will correct possible errors in the program.

Also worth mentioning is the Lock Screen Notifications feature: In some design themes or MIUI versions, the sound may not play if the screen is locked in a certain way (for example, when using Always On Display), try changing the theme to a standard one or turning off the Always On Screen for verification.

If nothing works, you can try resetting your app settings, which will bring all the resolutions and sounds back to factory values. Way: Settings → Apps → All apps → Three dots in the corner → Reset the app settings. After that, you'll have to reset the sounds and resolutions, but that often solves mysterious sound problems that last for months.

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