How to set your ringtone on Redmi: Complete guide

Changing the standard ringtone to your own track is the first thing that many owners of new smartphones do Xiaomi i Redmi. Standard sounds preset by the manufacturer often seem too intrusive or simply get boring over time. However, the interface of the shell MIUI (or the new HyperOS) has its own characteristics, due to which a simple ringtone change can turn into a real quest for an unprepared user.

The main difficulty is that the system does not always automatically see music files downloaded from the Internet or transferred from a computer in the melodies selection menu. You may need to not only copy the file, but also name it correctly, place it in a specific folder, or use third-party tools. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from standard settings to advanced tricks with the file manager, which are guaranteed to work on your device.

Regardless of the model of your smartphone, be it budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14, the logic of working with audio files remains the same. We'll look at step-by-step algorithms that will help you personalize your device in a few minutes. Forget about boring standard sounds - let's make your phone unique.

Preparing an audio file and format requirements

Before changing settings in the menu, you need to make sure that the audio file itself is ready for use. The system Android on devices Redmi is quite format-friendly, but for correct operation it is better to use universal standards. The most preferred format is MP3, since it is supported by all firmware versions without exception.

However, you can also use the formats WAV, OGG or M4A. If your music is stored in a rare format, for example FLAC or APE, the system may not display it in the list of available ringtones, although it will be able to play it in the player. In this case, it is recommended to convert the file in advance.

It is also important to pay attention to the duration of the track. For a call, it is better to choose a fragment from 15 to 30 seconds long. Songs that are too long may be cut off by the system or sound incorrect when repeated. In addition, make sure that the file is not protected by DRM copyright, as such tracks often do not work as system sounds.

⚠️ Attention: If you download music from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), the files are often saved in hidden folders with long names. For convenience, move the desired track to the root folder Music or Ringtones in the internal storage.

Sound quality also plays a role. There is no point in setting a file with a bitrate of 320 kbps as a ringtone if the smartphone speaker is physically unable to transmit the entire frequency range. The optimal choice would be a file with an average bitrate of 128–192 kbps - this will save space and provide sufficient volume.

The classic method through the sound settings

The most obvious way is to use the standard settings menu. This method is suitable if your file is already in the correct directory and the system sees it. Go to the main menu and select Settings. Next, find the section Sound and vibration.

In the menu that opens you will see the item Phone call (or simply "Call"). By clicking on it, you will be taken to the list of available ringtones. At the top of the list there are usually standard sounds Xiaomi, and below are custom tracks. If you see your file in the list, just select it and press OK.

However, it often happens that the list of custom ringtones is empty, even if the music is in memory. This is due to the fact that the media scanner has not been updated or the file is in the wrong folder. In this case, the standard method will not work, and you will have to switch to manual file management.

For owners of new firmware HyperOS the interface may be slightly different. The path may look like Settings → Sound and vibration → Ringtone. The logic remains the same: the system looks for audio files in strictly defined directories.

• 🎵 Make sure that the media and ringer volume is not set to minimum before checking.
• 📂 Check if the file has been moved to SD card if the phone does not see it in the internal storage.
• 🔄 Reboot the device after copying the file to update the media database.

Manual installation through a file manager (Explorer)

This method is the most reliable and works in 99% of cases when the standard menu does not see the file. You will need the built-in application Explorer (File Manager), which is available on every Redmi. Open it and go to the internal storage.

Find the folder where your music file is located. Most often this is Download, Music or the folder of a specific messenger. Highlight the desired track with a long press. In the bottom menu or through the three dots in the corner, select the option Copy or Move.

Now the most important thing: you need to find or create a special folder for ringtones. Go to the root of the internal memory and find the folder named Ringtones. If it is not there, create a new folder and name it that way - Ringtones (case is important, it is better to use the Latin alphabet).

Internal memory → Ringtones → Insert file

Once the file is in this folder, return to the sound settings (Settings → Sound and vibration → Phone call). Your track should now appear at the very top of the list of custom ringtones. The system automatically scans this directory with each change.

Setting individual ringtones for contacts

A unique feature of smartphones Android is setting different ringtones for different people. This allows you to find out who is calling without taking your phone out of your pocket. To do this, open the application Contact or Phone and go to the list of all contacts.

Select the desired subscriber and open his card. Find the field Melody (or "Ringtone"). By default it is set to "Default". Click on it and the same melody selection list will open as in the general settings. Select the previously prepared track.

Please note that for this function to work, the contact must be saved in the phone memory or account Google, and not on the SIM card. Contacts on the SIM card have limited functionality and often do not allow you to assign individual sounds.

Setting type	Where is changed	Priority
General ringtone	Settings → Sound	Low (for everyone)
Contact ringtone	Contact card	High (interrupts the general)
Do not disturb mode	Settings → Sound	Blocks everything except selected ones

If you want calls from loved ones to go through even in Do Not Disturb mode, add them to the list Favorites and set up exceptions in the corresponding menu. This is a critical feature for those who do not want to miss emergency calls.

⚠️ Attention: If you delete a contact from the phone book, the melody assigned to it will be reset to the general one. When restoring the contact, the setting will have to be repeated again.

Problem solving: why the phone does not see music

Sometimes, even after following all the instructions, the file does not appear in the list. The most common reason is a failure to index media files. The system simply “does not know” that a new file has appeared in the folder Ringtones . Try restarting your smartphone - this will restart the media scanning service.

Another possible reason is an incorrect file extension. Make sure that the file actually has the extension .mp3. Sometimes files look like song.mp3.txt, if extensions are hidden in the system. Enable the display of extensions in the Explorer settings to check this.

The problem may also lie in access rights. If you're using a third-party file manager, make sure you give it permission to access your storage. Built-in explorer Xiaomi usually does not require additional permissions.

Secret folder for notifications

For notification sounds (SMS, instant messengers), create a folder called Notifications (via "o") in the root of the internal memory. The logic is the same as with ringtones.

In rare cases, clearing the cache of the Media Storage application helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, search for "Media storage" (or Media Storage) and clear the cache. After that, restart the phone again.

Using third-party applications for installation

If you don’t want to mess with folders, you can use specialized applications from Google Play. There are many utilities, such as Ringdroid, MP3 Cutter and Ringtone Maker or SuperRingtones. They automate the cutting and installation process.

Such applications not only allow you to select a file, but also offer a convenient visual editor for trimming a track. You can precisely specify the beginning and end of the call, add a fade-in/fade-out effect so that the call starts and ends smoothly.

When you first launch the application, you will ask for permission to access files and change system settings. This is necessary so that the app can independently register the path to the file in the system sound registry. After installing a ringtone through such an application, it will appear in the standard settings menu.

• 🛠 Applications allow you to create ringtones from video files, extracting an audio track from them.
• ⚙️ Some utilities can set different sounds for alarms, notifications and calls in one interface.
• 📉 Using third-party software may display advertisements, be careful when pressing buttons.

Remember that installing applications from unverified sources may carry risks. Download utilities only from the official store Google Playto avoid malware that can slow down your operation Redmi.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I install a ringtone directly from Spotify or Yandex.Music?

No, you cannot directly install a track from a streaming service. These apps use protected data streams and the files are not saved in clear text on the device. You need to first download the track in MP3 format through third-party services or record it, and then set it as a ringtone.

Why were my ringtones reset after updating MIUI?

With major firmware updates, the system may reset user sound settings to factory settings. This is normal behavior. You will have to re-specify the path to the files in the folder Ringtones through the sound settings.

How to make the ringtone sound only through the speaker and not through the headphones?

You cannot systemically separate the output channels for a call. If headphones are connected, the call will sound through them. The only option is to turn off Bluetooth or remove the headphone plug before an incoming call.

Is it possible to set video instead of sound for a call?

On standard firmware MIUI/HyperOS this function is not provided. You can install a video ringtone only using third-party applications that create the illusion of a video call, but this does not always work stably and consumes more battery.

Where can I find the Ringtones folder if I connected the phone to the computer?

When connected via USB in file transfer mode, the folder Ringtones is located in the root of the internal storage, on the same level with the folders DCIM, Download and Music. If it is not there, create a text document and rename it to Ringtones (without the .txt extension).