How to customize the notification sound like Xiaomi: original tunes, custom ringtones and secrets MIUI

Xiaomi’s familiar notification motif is one of those sounds that instantly associate with the brand. A light electronic tune with a characteristic “beep-boop” has become the hallmark of Mi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, but not all users know how to return it after a reset, update to the current version or replace it with an alternative. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to customize notification sounds, from standard MIUI functions to hidden chips for experienced users.

The problem is that after updating the firmware or switching to a new model (for example, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13T), factory sounds can disappear from the list of available ones. In addition, MIUI often limits the choice of tunes depending on the firmware region, we will show how to circumvent these restrictions, where to download the original Xiaomi sounds in high quality and how to install them without root rights.

Why Notification Sounds on Xiaomi Are Different: MIUI Versions and Regional Features

If you’ve ever compared the notification sounds on Xiaomi Mi 11 and Redmi 9A, you might notice that they’re not the same — even though they’re the same MIUI firmware.

• 🎵 Global sounds are universal tunes for all regions (e.g., the standard "Mi Drop"), and can be found in firmware marked Global.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese exclusives, unique sounds only available in firmware for China, often with a more "futuristic" sound.
• 📱 Model-dependents are special tunes for flagship series (Xiaomi 12S Ultra, MIX Fold) that are not found on budget devices.

The sounds may also vary depending on the MIUI version:

• MIUI 12 – a new sound package with softer notifications is introduced.
• MIUI 13/14 – dynamic sounds are added, which are adapted to the theme of the design.

Important: After upgrading from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, old sounds may disappear from the system – they must be restored manually.

To find out which version of the audio package is installed on your device, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check the firmware region. If it says China, you have access to exclusive Chinese tunes.

Where to download the original Xiaomi notification sounds in high quality

If you lose factory sounds after resetting or updating, you can get them back by downloading the official files.

For download from the official repository:

1. Go to miuirom.xiaomi.com.
2. Select your model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+).
3. In the Downloads section, find a file marked ringtones_and_notifications.zip.
4. Download and unpack the archive – the sounds will be in the folder MIUI/notification.

⚠️ Warning: Don't download sounds from dubious sites that offer "Xiaomi unique tunes." Often, these files contain malicious code or inserts. Use only official sources or trusted communities like 4PDA.

💡

If you want sounds from a particular model (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), look for the theme of that model on 4PDA and look for files that are tagged “Stock Sounds” on it.

How to install notification sound on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Installing custom notification sound on Xiaomi is different from the standard Android process. Here are three working methods, depending on your task:

Method 1: Using standard MIUI settings (without root)

If you want to use the downloaded sound as a notification:

1. Place the sound file (.ogg or.mp3) in the Ringtones or Notifications folder on internal memory.
2. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound of notifications.
3. Your file will appear in the list. Select it and save the changes.

Method 2: Replace system sounds (ADB required)

To completely replace the standard MIUI sounds with custom ones:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Download/mi_notification.ogg /system/media/audio/notifications/




chmod 644 /system/media/audio/notifications/mi_notification.ogg




reboot

Where mi_notification.ogg is your file, pre-renamed according to the original system sound name.

Method 3: Through the Themes app (for dynamic sounds)

In MIUI 13/14, notification sounds can change along with the theme of the design:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Select a theme marked Dynamic Sounds (e.g. Mi Space or Crystal).
3. Apply the theme – the notification sounds will be updated automatically.

Download the sound in.ogg or.mp3| format

Check the file name (without spaces and Cyrillic) |

Backup of original sounds |

Connect the debugging to USB (for ADB-method)-->

Xiaomi's Secret Sounds: How to Include Hidden Melodies

MIUI firmware has hidden notification sounds that don't appear in the standard list, so you can activate them:

• 🔍 Use the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available at 4PDA) that provides additional options, including audio packets.
• 🎛️ Enter the code ##36446337### in the engineering menu, then go to Hardware Testing → Audio → Notification Sounds.
• 📁 Manually add files with the names mi_drop.ogg, mi_bubble.ogg (these are standard hidden sounds) to the /system/media/audio/ui/ folder.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro) have an exclusive charging sound that can be enabled via ADB:

adb shell settings put global charging_sound_enabled 1

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files via ADB or root may cause firmware to crash. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Notification Sound Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Sometimes the notification sounds don't work properly, disappearing, playing with a delay, or being replaced with a standard beep.

If the notification sound is completely gone after the update, try:

1. Reset the sound settings: Settings → System → Resetting the settings → Resetting the sound settings.
2. Clear the cache of the Sound Settings app (Settings → Applications → App Management → Sound settings → Clear the cache).
3. Install the patch via MIUI bootloader (available on 4PDA).

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If the notification sound only works in some applications (for example, WhatsApp, but not Telegram), the problem lies in the notification settings of a particular messenger, not in the system settings.

Castomic notification sounds: the best alternatives to standard

If you’re bored with Xiaomi’s factory sounds, here are 5 proven alternatives that will fit perfectly into the MIUI ecosystem:

• 🎶 Mi Drop (Remix) is a modified version of the standard sound with a deeper bass.
• 🔊 Pixel Notify is a notification sound from Google Pixel adapted for MIUI. Suitable for Xiaomi 13 and later.
• 🌌 Sci-Fi Alert is a futuristic melody similar to the sounds from Xiaomi MIX Fold 2.
• 📱 iOS Glass is a minimalist sound in the style of the iPhone, but with a characteristic "mi-sounding".
• 🎹 Retro Game is an 8-bit melody for retro gamers (ideal for POCO F5).

To set custom sound as default notification:

1. Download the file and rename it to notification_custom.ogg.
2. Place it in /sdcard/Media/Audio/Notifications/ (create it if it isn’t).
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Select a new sound in Settings → Sound and vibration → Notifications sound.

For advanced users: If you want custom audio to be played only for specific applications (e.g., Telegram and Gmail separately), use the Notification Sounds app from Google Play.

How to return notification sounds after resetting or firmware

Once reset to factory settings or flashed through Fastboot, all custom and even some system sounds may be lost.

1. Check the firmware region: If you flash Global instead of China, the Chinese exclusive sounds will disappear. To get them back, you need to check out the Chinese version of MIUI.
2. Restore from backup: If you backupdated through Settings before reset → Additional → Backup, restore the Sounds and Vibration section data.
3. Download the original sound package: Find the 4PDA theme of your model (e.g., "Redmi Note 11 Pro+ sounds"). Download the miui_sounds_ archive{model}.zip. Unpack it in /system/media/audio/ via Root Explorer or ADB.

Use the MIUI patch:

XDA Developers

MIUI_Sound_Restore.zip

TWRP

⚠️ Warning: If the notifications are quieter after the sound is restored, check the settings for Settings → Sound → Amplification. In some firmware MIUI, this setting is reset after the update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about notification sounds on Xiaomi