How to enable and configure SMS sound on Redmi smartphones

Modern smartphones, including popular models of the line Redmi i Xiaomi, often receive updates to the MIUI or HyperOS interface, which can reset user settings. One of the most common problems that owners of these devices face is the sudden disappearance of sound when receiving text messages. This can be critical if you are expecting an important confirmation code or a message from a loved one.

There may be several reasons for this: from the banal inclusion of silent mode to complex conflicts between system battery optimizers and messaging applications. In this article, we will analyze in detail every aspect of setting up notifications so that you can be guaranteed to return sound to your SMS.

We will look at both standard system settings and specific features of the MIUI shell, which often block background processes. You don't need to be a techie to perform these steps, just follow the steps carefully.

Testing basic sound profiles and control buttons

Before delving into complex application settings menus, you need to rule out the most obvious reasons for the lack of sound. Often, users accidentally switch the sound profile of their smartphone without noticing it. On the side of the body of any device Redmi there is a physical volume control button.

Press the volume up button. A slider bar will appear on the screen. Notice the bell icon next to the slider. If there is a crossed out circle or a vibration icon on it, it means that the phone is in the “Silent” or “Vibration Only” mode. Click on this iconto switch the mode to normal, where all sound notifications are active.

⚠️ Attention: In new versions of the shell MIUI, when you press the volume buttons, a menu appears with three sliders separately: for multimedia, calls and notifications. Make sure that you have not lowered the volume specifically for the category Notifications, since the multimedia slider (video, music) does not affect the sound of SMS.

It is also worth checking if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated. This mode blocks all incoming signals except those added to exceptions. Swipe down to open Notification curtainand find the crescent moon icon. If it is highlighted in the active color, tap on it to turn off the mode.

Setting notifications in the application system menu

If the global sound settings are fine, the problem lies in the permissions of a specific application. In the Android ecosystem, each app, including the stock app, has its own set of rules for notifications. These rules take precedence over general phone settings. Messages, has its own set of rules for notifications. These rules take precedence over general phone settings.

Go to the Settings section of your smartphone. Find the item Notifications and Control Center (in some firmware versions it may be called simply Notifications). In the list that opens, find the application Messages or Messaging. Click on it to open a detailed settings menu.

Here you will see a switch Allow notifications. Make sure it is activated. Below there will be a list of notification categories, such as “Incoming messages”, “Delivery” or “Spam”. Click the text for the "Inbox messages" category rather than the toggle next to it. This will open a deep menu where you can select a specific sound.

• 🔊 Make sure that in the item Sound a specific melody is selected and not set to "Mute".
• 📳 Check the setting Vibration alert —sometimes there is sound, but it is very quiet, and the user relies on vibration, which can also be disabled.
• 🔔 Activate the option Pop-up notificationsif you want to see the text of the message on the locked screen.

It is important to understand the difference between system sounds and application sounds. If you select a melody in this menu, it will be played specifically for SMS, regardless of what ringtone is set for the incoming call. This allows you to flexibly configure audio profile devices to suit your needs.

Specific settings of the "Messages" application inside the interface

In addition to the Android system settings, the application itself Google Messages or the proprietary MIUI application has an internal configuration menu. These settings may overwrite system settings, so checking them is required.

Open the application through which you send and receive SMS. Click on the three dots in the upper corner of the screen (or on the profile icon) to open the menu and select Settings. Next, go to the section Notifications.

The option Notification soundis often found in this section. If this value is set to “No” or “Silent”, then no manipulations in the main menu of the phone will help. Select a melody you like from the list provided. Also here you can configure the behavior of notifications for different SIM cards if your Redmi supports two numbers.

Path to settings:
Messages application → Settings → Notifications → Sound notifications

Pay attention to the “Additional” or “Other notifications” category. Sometimes system services separate important messages from advertising mailings. Make sure that the sound is turned on for all categories that are important to you. The latest Android updates have introduced the "Adaptive Notifications" feature, which can mute the sound if you often ignore messages from certain contacts.

The impact of energy saving and autorun on SMS delivery

One of the most insidious reasons for the lack of sound is the aggressive energy saving policy in the MIUI shell. The system may "put to sleep" the Messages application to save battery power, thereby preventing timely receipt of notifications and sound playback.

To fix this, return to the main Settings phone and find the Applications → All applicationssection. Find it in the list Messages. Inside the application menu, find the item Saving charge (or Activity control).

The default limit here is often "Smart Saving". Change this parameter to No restrictionsThis will allow the application to run in the background constantly and instantly respond to incoming data packets from the telecom operator.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling restrictions for a large number of applications can lead to faster battery drain. It is recommended to apply the “No restrictions” setting only to critical apps, such as instant messengers, phone and SMS.

Also check the section Autostart in application settings Make sure the switch is opposite. application Messages active. This ensures that the notification service will start immediately after turning on the phone, without waiting for the user to first manually open the application.

Setting up sound for individual contacts and groups

Devices Xiaomi i Redmi allow you to flexibly manage notifications not only globally, but also for specific subscribers. This is useful if you want to hear the sound of SMS only from your boss or family members, ignoring advertising mailings.

Open the application Contact or go to your chat history in the app Messages. Select the desired contact. In the contact card, find the item Notification sound or Special signal. Here you can assign a unique melody.

Setting type	Where it is located	Priority
Global sound	Phone settings → Sound and vibration	Low (overridden by contact)
Application sound	Application settings → Notifications	Medium
Contact sound	Card of a specific contact	High (highest priority)

If an individual sound is set for a contact, it will be played regardless of the general SMS settings. This explains situations where there is sound from some people, but not from others. Check your list of important contacts for the "Mute" setting.

Why may sound disappear after an update?

With major system updates (for example, moving from MIUI 13 to 14), application permissions are often reset to factory settings. The system automatically limits background work to save energy, which requires manual permission settings again.

Using third-party ringtones and file formats

The standard set of ringtones may seem boring. Users often want to set their own track in the format MP3 or OGG for SMS notification. On smartphones Redmi this process has its own characteristics related to the structure of the file system.

For your melody to be displayed in the list of available notification sounds, it is not enough to simply download it to the "Downloads" folder. Android scans certain directories to find ringtones. You need to move the audio file to the root folder of the internal memory with the name notifications.

If there is no such folder, create it manually through the file manager. The name must be written strictly in Latin and in lower case. After moving the file, it is recommended to restart the phone so that the system's media scanner updates the database of available sounds.

• 📁 Create a folder notifications at the root of the internal drive.
• 🎵 Copy your audio file there (preferably up to 30 seconds for speed).
• 🔄 Restart your smartphone to apply the changes.

When you select a sound in the settings, you will now see the “All” or “Local” tab, where your track will be displayed. This allows you to personalize the device and easily distinguish SMS from other types of notifications by their unique sound.

Diagnosing problems when there is no sound

If you Have completed all the above steps, but the sound still does not appear, perhaps the problem is hardware in nature or related to a deep system failure. In rare cases, the notification speaker may be disabled or damaged by software.

Try playing any audio file or video. If there is no sound at all, check to see if your phone is connected to a Bluetooth headset or speaker. Sometimes the phone automatically redirects the sound to an external device that is in another room or is turned off.

It is also worth checking the operation of the speaker through the engineering menu or test code. Dial the code ##6484## in your phone (works on most Xiaomi/Redmi). In the CIT menu that opens, select test Speaker or Receiver. If the speaker does not make sounds during the test, you need to contact a service center.

⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or the new HyperOS. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings, typing in keywords like “sound” or “notifications.”

As a last resort, resetting the application settings to factory settings may help. In the menu Applications → Messages select item Clear → Reset settings. This will not delete your text messages, but will return all sound and notification settings to their original state, which often eliminates software conflicts.

Why does the SMS sound only work when the screen is unlocked?

This is a classic symptom of the power saving mode. The system "kills" the application process when the screen is off. Solution: set the battery mode to “No restrictions” for the “Messages” application in the application settings.

Is it possible to set different sounds for SMS from different SIM cards?

Yes, in the standard Google Messages application on dual-SIM Redmi this is possible. Go to Application Settings → Notifications. There will be separate items for SIM 1 and SIM 2, where you can set unique melodies for each card.

How to return the standard sound if I deleted system files?

If the standard melodies are missing, clearing the cache of the "Multimedia Storage" application will help. Go to Settings → Applications → Show all → Find “Media storage” → Clear cache. Then restart the phone.

Does Do Not Disturb mode affect SMS from favorite contacts?

Yes, if you configure exceptions correctly. In Do Not Disturb mode, go to its settings and select "Exceptions" → "Messages". There you can enable sound for contacts from the “Favorites” group or for repeated calls/messages.

Why did the notification sound disappear after updating Android?

When updating the Android version, notification channels are often reset. Go to Settings → Applications → Messages → Notifications and re-enable the sound for the “Incoming messages” channel, as it may have been automatically disabled by the system.