Do you want to change the standard ringtone to Xiaomi, but can’t find a folder with ringtone? Or try to add your own music to the list of available signals, but the system does not see it? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO and Mi. The fact that the path to the system ringtone is hidden from the user, and the rules for placing custom tunes depend on the version of MIUI and the model of the device.
In this article, we will discuss: 1. Where the standard ringtones are physically stored in Xiaomi firmware (including the paths for /system/media/audio). 2. Where to put your melodies so that they appear in the sound settings. 3. Why some files don’t appear in the selection list, even if they are in the “right” folder. 4. Ways to circumvent restrictions MIUI for user ringtones (including: ADB-teams and third-party applications).
Important: The instructions are valid for MIUI 12-14 (including HyperOS), but some paths may differ on older versions (e.g. MIUI 10-11). If you have an Android One device (e.g. Mi A1/A2/A3), the mechanism for working with ringtones will be different, as we will explain below.
1. Where Xiaomi's standard ringtones are stored: system paths
The standard ringtones of a call, alarm and notification in Xiaomi are located in a secure system folder, accessed only with root or ADB permissions (without root rights, you can only view files, but not change them).
- 📁 The main ringtones folder: /system/media/audio/ringtones — Here are the standard ringing melodies (for example, Mi_Tune.m4a).
- 🔔 Notification sounds: /system/media/audio/notifications — signal SMS, messengers and other notifications.
- ⏰ The alarm clock sounds: /system/media/audio/alarms — tunes for the watch app».
- 🎵 UI-sound: /system/media/audio/ui — system signals (unlocking, charging connection, etc.).
On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), the path may look like /system/product/media/audio/ringtones – this depends on the Android version (starting with Android 10, Google introduced the division into /system and /product).
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to manually delete or replace files in system folders without a backup! this can lead to a bootloop (a looped reboot) or reset audio settings. If you need a custom tune, use the methods from Section 3.
To view the contents of the system folders without root, connect your phone to your PC and execute the command in ADB:
adb shell ls /system/media/audio/ringtones2.Why custom ringtones don't appear in settings
You downloaded the melody, put it in the Ringtones folder on the internal memory, but it's not in the audio settings? That's a typical MIUI problem, and here are the main reasons:
- 🔍 Wrong folder. MIUI Searches for ringtones only in certain directories (see section 4).
- 🎵 Inappropriate format. They only support.mp3,.m4a (AAC),.ogg and.wav..flac or.aac files without extension.m4a ignored.
- ⏱️ Too long a tune. MIUI • may not show tracks longer than 30 to 40 seconds (limit varies by model).
- 📱 Cache of media files. After adding a new file, you need to restart the phone or clear the cache of the application com.android.providers.media.
- 🔒 Limitations MIUI. On some firmware (especially Chinese) custom ringtones are blocked – required ADB-unlocker.
If your file meets all the requirements but still doesn’t show up, try:
- Rename the file to Latin (for example, my_ringtone.mp3 instead of my tune.mp3).
- Reduce bitrate (optimally - 128-192 kbit / s).
- Put the file in the root of the internal memory (not in the folder), then move it to the desired directory through the file manager.
3.Where to put your ringtones: the right folders for MIUI
V MIUI User tunes must be in strictly defined folders on internal memory (not on the user’s memory). SD-Here are the actual ways:
| Type of sound | The way to the folder | Example of a file |
|---|---|---|
| Ringtones (bell) | /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones | custom_ringtone.mp3 |
| Notifications | /storage/emulated/0/Notifications | sms_alert.ogg |
| Alarm clock | /storage/emulated/0/Alarms | morning_alarm.m4a |
| Interface sounds | /storage/emulated/0/UI (not on all models) | unlock.wav |
Important: folders should be called that (capitalized and in English)! If they are not, create them manually through any file manager (for example, Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer). Some firmware (for example, HyperOS) may need to reboot after adding files.
Example of structure:
/storage/emulated/0/
├── Ringtones/
│ ├── song1.mp3
│ └── song2.m4a
├── Notifications/
│ └── beep.ogg
└── Alarms/
└── wake_up.wav☑️ What to check before adding a ringtone
4. How to add a ringtone through ADB (if MIUI blocks)
On some firmware MIUI (Especially Chinese or global with limitations, custom ringtones may not show up even in the right folders. ADB-The team that forcibly updates the database of media files:
- Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (7 times press) → Additional → For developers).
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and do:
adb shell
su
chmod 777 /data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases/external.db
exit
exit
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/If ringtones still do not appear after that, try an alternative method - transferring the file to the system folder (requires root):
adb push custom_ringtone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/
adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/custom_ringtone.mp3⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without backup can cause a crash MIUI. Before experimenting, back up your backup via adb backup or TWRP.
5. Alternative methods: applications and circumvention of restrictions
If manual methods do not work, use third-party tools:
- 📱 Ringtone Maker (from Big Bang Inc.) allows you to crop tracks and save them directly to the Ringtones folder with the correct rights.
On devices with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70) the following trick can work:
- Download the melody through your browser.
- In the Share menu, select Set as a ringtone (if there is one).
- If you don’t have a point, use Zedge or Ringtone Maker.
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If you change ringtones frequently, create a MyRingtones folder at the root of the memory and add it to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
6. Features for Xiaomi on Android One (Mi) A1/A2/A3)
The Mi A series devices run on “pure” Android One, so the mechanism of working with ringtones is different:
- 📂 The folders for ringtones are the same: Ringtones, Notifications, Alarms, but they must be on internal memory (not on the computer). SD-map).
- 🔄 After adding the file, you need to manually start scanning the media: go to Settings → Memory. → Menu (three dots) → Scan. SD-map.
- 🚫 Android One has no system restrictions MIUI, Therefore, problems with the display of ringtones are less common.
- 🔧 To assign a tune to a specific contact, use the standard Google Contacts app (in the app). MIUI This is done through Xiaomi Contacts).
If you’ve updated Mi A1/A2 to Android 10+, you may need to reset your Media Store app settings (Settings → Apps → Menu → Reset settings).
7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even experienced users sometimes have problems with ringtones on Xiaomi, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The ringtone is in the folder, but does not appear in the settings. | Media cache not updated | Reboot your phone or perform adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED -d file:///storage/emulated/0 |
| The melody is cut off when playing | Too long a track. | Cut the file up to 30 seconds via Ringtone Maker |
| After the MIUI update, the ringtones disappeared. | Resetting media settings | Move your files back to Ringtones/Notifications folders and restart your device |
| You can't assign a ringtone to SIM-map | Limitation of Double SIM | Use Dual Apps to create a second Contact Profile |
Tip for POCO owners: If the ringtone has changed, check the settings of Settings → Sound → Media Volume. In some POCO firmware, the volume of the call is tied to the media channel.
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On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 13T or Redmi Note 13), Ringtones and Notifications folders can be created automatically when you first add a file. If they don't, create them manually.