How to return the original sound of Xiaomi notifications: instruction 2026

You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but the notification sounds seem too quiet, unusual or absent at all? Perhaps after the MIUI update, reset or install custom firmware, system tunes have replaced with standard Android sounds. This problem is familiar to many users - especially those who are used to branded signals "Mi Drop", "Bamboo" or "Mi Ring".

In this article you will find 4 working ways to return the original Xiaomi notification sounds, including hidden system files, third-party apps, and manual replacement through ADB. We'll also look at why sounds may disappear after updates, how to save them when you reset, and what to do if notifications are late. MIUI 14/15 HyperOS (2026 year).

Why Xiaomi Notification Sounds Are Different From Standard

Xiaomi's signature sounds are part of the company's branding, but they're not always available out of the box.Here are the main reasons why your smartphone might use other people's tunes:

• 📱 Regional firmware: Global (Global) and European (EEA) version MIUI Often replace original sounds with neutral Android tunes due to licensing restrictions.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: After a major update (for example, with a MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) system sound files may be reset or replaced.
• ⚙️ Custom firmware: Third-party software (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) almost never includes Xiaomi branded sounds.
• 🎵 Manual User Changes: You or the previous device owner may have manually replaced the sounds through settings or file manager.

Interesting fact: in Chinese versions of firmware (China ROM) Xiaomi sounds are always saved, as they are designed for the domestic market, which is one of the reasons why some users prefer to install China ROM despite the lack of Google services.

⚠️ WARNING: If you’re using a smartphone with HyperOS (the new shell from Xiaomi for 2026 models), some old sounds MIUI This may not be available, but you will need to manually download files.

Method 1: Recover sounds through MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest method is to check for hidden system sounds that can be turned off by default.This guide is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones on MIUI 12-15 or HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Select Notification Sound (or Default Sound in new versions).
3. Scroll down the list – there may be hidden folders with original Xiaomi sounds (like MiUI or Xiaomi).
4. If there are no such folders, click Add Sound and select the file manually (more on this in Method 3).

On some firmware, Xiaomi sounds are hidden in the /system/media/audio/notifications folder, but access to it is only possible through the root-rights file manager or ADB. If you don't have root, move on to the next method.

Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure there are no hidden folders with original tunes in the sound settings

Download the archive with Xiaomi branded sounds (links below)

Connect your smartphone to your PC to transfer files if necessary)-->

Method 2: Install original sounds through third-party applications

If you don't have the right tunes, you can add them manually.

• 📲 Audio files in.ogg or.mp3 (You can download it here).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager, Solid Explorer, or File Manager) FX File Explorer).
• 🔗 Connection to PC (optional, for convenience).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the archive with Xiaomi sounds (for example, MiUI_Sounds.zip) Unpack it on your PC or directly on your phone.
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode or use the file manager on your phone.
3. Copy the sound files to /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ – for calls /storage/emulated/0/Notifications/ – for notifications /storage/emulated/0/Alarms/ – for alarm clocks
4. Reset the device (required!).
5. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Notification Sound and select the added files.

If the sounds don’t appear on the list, check out:

• 🔊 File format (should be.ogg,.mp3 or wav).
• 📁 Correctness of the path (folders) Ringtones/Notifications It must be the root of internal memory).
• 🔄 File rights (if copied via PC, make sure files are not blocked).

💡

If the sounds are playing too quiet, check the volume settings in Settings → Sound and vibration → Volume. Sometimes the system notifications are muted by a separate slider.

Method 3: Replace system sounds through ADB (for advanced)

If you want to completely replace the system notification sounds with the original rootless MIUI, you can do it via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works on most Xiaomi smartphones but requires a PC connection.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-tool.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔊.ogg sound files (can be taken from archive) MIUI or download here).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Execute a command to copy the notification sound (example for a file) mi_drop.ogg): adb push mi_drop.ogg /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/mi_drop.ogg /system/media/audio/notifications/ chmod 644 /system/media/audio/notifications/mi_drop.ogg mount -o ro,remount /system exit exit
4. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you are not sure about your actions, use Method 1 or Method 2. Also make sure that the audio files have the correct resolutions (chmod 644).

Method 4: Using MIUI themes to restore sounds

Few people know, but the original sounds of Xiaomi are often part of official MIUI themes. If you don't want to manually copy files, you can install a theme that contains the right tunes. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the popular or recommended section.
3. Find a theme marked Official or MIUI (e.g., “Default”, “Mi Fan”).
4. Set the theme and apply it. The notification sounds should update automatically.

If the sounds haven't changed, check:

• 🔄 Whether the topic has been fully applied (sometimes a reboot is required).
• 🎵 Are the themes in the settings (Settings) included → Topics → Settings of topics → Sounds).

Original MIUI (Mi Drop, Bamboo)

Standard Android (Pixel, Samsung)

No sounds (vibration only)

Your custom tunes

Other-->

Problem Solving: The sounds don’t work or play with a delay

If after all the manipulations, the notification sounds are still not played or play late, check the following points:

• 🔕 Silent Mode: Make sure not to activate Do Not Disturb (Settings) → Sound and vibration → Don't disturb).
• 📵 Battery optimization: Some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) may not play sounds due to background limitations. Add these to exceptions: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto Start and Battery Optimization.
• 🔊 Notification volume: A separate slider for notifications may be at a minimum. → Sound and vibration → Loudness.
• 🛠️ Failures MIUI: If the sounds are gone after the update, try resetting the sound settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the sound settings.

To diagnose the delay of sounds:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check if the beta version of the firmware is installed (they often contain bugs).
2. Run Safe Mode (hold the shutdown button → Reboot in Safe Mode) If it sounds normal, the problem is with the third-party app.
3. Check the free space on the device (less than 1 GB can cause lags).

💡

If the notification sounds are playing with a delay of more than 2 seconds, it is likely to blame MIUI optimization to save battery.

How to save notification sounds when resetting or updating

When you reset or update MIUI, user notification sounds often disappear.

1. Backup: Copy Ringtones, Notifications, and Alarms folders to your PC or cloud. Use Mi Mover or Google Drive for backup media.

Restore sounds after resetting

• Move the files back to the appropriate folders (see Method 2).
• Reset the device.
• Block system sound updates (root only): adb shell su chattr +i /system/media/audio/notifications/* This command will make files immutable even for the system.

If you plan to install custom firmware, save the original Xiaomi sounds in advance – most unofficial software does not.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi notification sounds

Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization

If the problem persists, check the notification settings inside the app itself (for example, Telegram has a separate notification sound setting when the screen is locked).