How to change the ringtone on Xiaomi phone: all the ways (including hidden)

Are you tired of the standard ringtone on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, but don’t know how to change it? You may have tried to go to the settings, but didn’t find the right item — or new tunes just don’t save. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to change the ringtone, including the little-known MIUI chips that work even on the latest firmware (MIUI 14/15).

The problem is that Xiaomi’s interface changes a lot: what worked on the Redmi Note 9 might not work on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. We’ve taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions, from basic to advanced, and we’ll also explain why some users don’t see downloaded tunes on the selection list and how to fix it.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

This is the most obvious method, but even it raises questions for beginners. On different versions of MIUI, the path to call settings may differ, and we will describe both options.

For MIUI 12/13/14/15:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Slip on the ringing melody (or the ringing sound on some models).
4. Choose one of the standard tunes or tap + (if available) to add yours.

On older versions (MIUI 11 and below), the path is different: Settings → Sound → Call Melody. Here you can also choose from pre-installed options or download your file.

⚠️ Note: If your tune is not on the list, even after downloading to the phone's memory, check the storage folder. → Ringtones (or) MIUI → ringtone on some firmware).

2. How to set your ringtone (from files)

You want to put your favorite song or unique sound on the phone, and you need to prepare the file properly and place it in the right folder.

File requirements:

• 🎵 Format:.mp3,.m4a,.ogg or.wav (works best) MP3).
• 🕒 Duration: no more than 30 seconds (otherwise it will be cut automatically).
• 📁 Size: up to 5 MB (on some models the limit is stricter - 2 MB).
• 🔊 Loudness: Normalize the sound so there is no distortion.

How do I add:

1. Copy the file into the phone’s memory (for example, via Explorer or PC).
2. Move it to the Internal Storage → Ringtones folder. If it's not, create it manually.
3. Reboot your phone (sometimes you have to!).
4. Go to the call settings (see the first section) - your file should appear in the list.

If the melody is not displayed, try an alternative method:

1. Install any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Find your audio file, click on it and choose Use as → Call Melody.
3. Confirm the choice – the system automatically copies the file to the desired folder.

3. Hidden MIUI settings: how to access additional ringtones

Few people know, but MIUI has dozens of additional tunes hidden that don't show up in the standard list, so you need to activate the developer mode and turn on one option to see them.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to the main settings menu, open Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find the USB Debugging option and turn it on (this is temporary).
4. Now go to the call settings - hidden tunes marked MIUI Hidden will appear in the list.

⚠️ Note: After the debugging is enabled USB You may see a "Debugging enabled" notification on the lock screen, and to remove it, turn off the debugging after selecting the ringtone.

These tunes are part of Xiaomi’s system files, and they can’t be deleted or changed, but they take up minimal space and are optimized for the speakers of the smartphone.

4.Use of third-party apps to change ringtone

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware), you can use apps from Google Play. We tested 5 popular programs and selected the best ones.

How to install ringtone through Zedge:

• 🔍 Launch the app and find your favorite tune (can be filtered by category).
• 📥 Press Download (download).
• 🔊 After downloading, install the tap as → The ringing melody.
• 📱 Confirm your choice in the system window.

💡

If the ringtone is not used after installation through the app, restart the phone. Sometimes MIUI does not update the list of sounds in real time.

5 Problems and Solutions: Why the Call Melody Hasn't Changed

Even after all the manipulations, the ringtone may not change. We have collected the TOP-5 causes and ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: The melody is not saved after the selection.

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – it often helps.
• 📂 Check if the file is in the correct folder (Ringtones or Notifications for notifications).
• 🛠️ Reset the sound settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the sound settings.

Problem 2: The list only contains standard ringtones, and your files are not displayed.

• 📁 Make sure the file has the correct extension (e.g,.mp3, not.mp3.mp3).
• 🔍 Check if the file is hidden (the attribute "visible" should be in the properties").
• 📱 Update the firmware: on older versions MIUI There are bugs with reading user files.

Problem 3: The melody is playing, but very quiet.

• 🔊 Check the volume of the call (slider in the sound settings).
• 🎛️ Increase the volume of the file in the audio editor (for example, in Audacity).
• 📵 Make sure that the "Do Not Disturb" or "Silent Mode" mode is not activated".

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 14 resets the Ringtones folder. To fix, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Conductor → Rights. → Memory and allow access.

6 How to put different tunes for different contacts

You can assign a unique ringtone to each contact, so you know who's calling without looking at the screen, and that works for both standard and custom tunes.

Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts (or Phone) application.
2. Select the desired contact and tap Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call (or Notification Sound).
4. Select a tune from the list or click Add to upload yours.
5. Save the changes.

If the item Melody of the call is missing:

• 📱 Update the Contacts app via Google Play.
• 🔄 Reinstall the update for the system application Contacts in the settings.
• 📂 Make sure that the contact number is indicated (without it, the option may be hidden).

💡

In some models (for example, POCO F4) Personalized contact melodies only work if they are saved to a Google account, not on a Google account. SIM-map.

7. Alternative methods: ADB and system tweaks

For advanced users who are willing to dig through system files, there are two other methods: they require an unlocked bootloader or root rights, but give full control over the sounds.

Method 1: Replace system ringtones with ADB

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging via USB.
2. Download ADB Tools and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Enter the command to copy your file to the system folder: adb push your file.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/
4. Change the access rights: adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/your file.mp3
5. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Editing media_profiles.xml (root-only)

• 📄 Open the file. /system/etc/media_profiles.xml In a text editor (e.g., Root Explorer).
• 🔍 Find the line with <Ringtone/> and add a path to your file.
• 💾 Save the changes and reboot.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop!

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the ringtone to Xiaomi