Changing the standard ringtone on Xiaomi smartphones often raises questions among users, especially after updating the shell MIUI or switching to a new version HyperOS. The settings interface can change, hiding familiar menu items, which leads to confusion when trying to put your favorite song on a call. Many device owners are faced with the fact that the downloaded track simply does not appear in the list of available melodies.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the working methods of how to install music for a call on Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO. You will learn about system limitations, features of the file system, and methods for bypassing standard locks. Read carefully to quickly personalize your device without unnecessary nerves.
First, it is important to understand that the process of changing the ringtone depends not only on the phone model, but also on the version of the operating system Android. We will look at universal methods that are suitable for most current firmware.
Preparing an audio file and format requirements
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your audio file meets the technical requirements of the system. Not every downloaded track can be recognized by the phone as a valid ringtone. Most often, problems arise due to an unsuitable format or too high bitrate.
The optimal format for calls on Android is MP3 with a bitrate of up to 320 kbps. The system also works correctly with WAV and OGGformats. If your melody is in format FLAC or M4A, the phone may ignore it when trying to install it through the standard menu.
Pay attention to the duration of the track. Songs that are too long may be cut off by the system or may not be played in full during an incoming call. It is recommended to use excerpts lasting from 15 to 30 seconds to create a dynamic and recognizable signal.
⚠️ Attention: If the file was downloaded from a messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp), it may have a hidden extension or be located in a protected cache folder. Before installation, be sure to check the file name and make sure it ends with .mp3.
To edit the track, you can use the built-in voice recorder or third-party audio editors. This will allow you to cut exactly the moment of the song that you like and save it in the desired format.
Use online converters or applications like "MP3 Cutter" on your phone to quickly trim the song and save it in the correct format before installation.
The classic method through the system settings
The most obvious, but A method that is not always obvious in implementation is the use of the built-in settings menu. In new versions of the shell MIUI the path to this menu may be slightly changed compared to older versions of Android.
First, open the application Settings on your smartphone. Scroll down the list to the Sound and vibrationsection. This is where all the parameters related to the audio of your device are concentrated.
Click on the item Ringtone. A list of standard ringtones preinstalled by the manufacturer will open. To add your track, you need to click on the plus icon + or the button Add ringtone, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the top menu.
- 🎵 Select "Select local ringtone" in the menu that opens.
- 📂 The system will prompt you to select an audio file from the device memory.
- ✅ Click on the desired song and confirm the selection with the "OK" button.
After confirmation, the selected track will become the active ringtone for all incoming calls. If you do not see the add button, you may have a reduced version of the firmware installed for a specific region.
Installation through the "Explorer" or "Music" application
If you find it through the settings the desired file fails, you can go the other way - start playing the file directly and assign it as a ringtone. This method often works more reliably, since the system immediately sees the path to the file.
Open the standard application Explorer or Musicinstalled on your Xiaomi. Find the folder where you saved the downloaded melody. Most often this is the folder Download or Music.
Click on the file to start playing. In the player interface, find the menu button (three dots or the settings icon). The drop-down list should contain an item Set as ringtone or Use as ringtone.
Click on this item. The system will automatically redirect you to the sound settings menu, where the selected track will already be activated. This method saves time and eliminates errors in searching for a file in deep settings.
☑️ Checking the file before installation
In some cases, the Music application may ask for permission to access the phone. Be sure to provide this permission, otherwise the ringtone setting feature will not be available.
Manual copying to the system Ringtones folder
There is a more advanced method that will ensure that your ringtone appears in the general list of ringtones. It consists of manually copying the file to a special system directory.
Open Explorer and go to the internal memory of the device. You need to find a folder named Ringtones. If there is no such folder, create it manually in the root of the internal memory.
Copy or move your audio file to this folder. After this, restart your phone. When turned on, the system will scan media files and automatically add the contents of the folder Ringtones to the list of available ringtones.
Copy path: /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/This method is especially useful if you want the melody to be available for selection not only for you, but also for other users of the device (if any), or if the standard menus are buggy.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete or rename system files in the folder Ringtonesif you are not sure of their purpose. This may lead to the disappearance of standard system sounds.
Make sure that the file name is written in Latin. Cyrillic names sometimes cause encoding errors in older versions of Android, and the file may appear as "Unknown Track".
Setting individual ringtones for contacts
One of the most useful features is the ability to assign a unique ringtone for a specific person. This allows you to find out who is calling without taking the phone out of your pocket.
Go to the application Contact or Phone and open the card of the desired subscriber. Click on the edit button (pencil icon) or find the field Ringtone directly in the card.
Click on the current ringtone value. A standard melody selection window will open, where you can select both the system sound and the music you previously installed. Select the desired track and save the changes.
| Setting type | Where to find | Application |
|---|---|---|
| General ringtone | Settings → Sound | For all unknown numbers |
| Contact ringtone | Contact card | Only for a specific person |
| SIM card ringtone | Settings → SIM cards | For calls to a specific SIM card |
| Notification sound | Settings → Sound | For SMS and messengers |
Remember that if the subscriber has hidden his number, a general ringtone will be triggered for it, and not an individual setting. This is a security limitation of the telephone network.
Why doesn't a custom ringtone work?
If you assigned a ringtone to a contact, but it doesn't play, check to see if duplicate contacts are merged. Sometimes the phone stores two profiles of one person, and the setting is applied to only one of them.
Problem solving: why the melody is not set
Users often encounter a situation where all actions are performed correctly, but the melody is not installed or is reset to standard after a reboot. There may be several reasons, from access rights to regional firmware features.
One of the common problems is the lack of permissions for the application through which you are trying to install sound. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the player or explorer you are using and check the section Permissions.
Make sure access to data-i="140">or Memory or Files and media. Without this right, the application cannot change system audio settings. In new versions of Android, this right is called "Access to all files".
- 🔒 Check the access rights in the application settings.
- 📁 Make sure the file is not located in the Android/data folder (access is limited in Android 11+).
- 🔄 Reboot the device after copying the file.
It is also worth considering that some Chinese firmware versions (China ROM) may have differences in the menu structure compared to global versions (Global ROM). In such cases, using third-party applications may be the only solution.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and layout of menu items may vary depending on the specific model (Mi, Redmi, POCO) and Android version. If you do not find the described item, use the search in settings.
If standard methods do not work, try moving the file to the root folder of the internal memory or using a third-party ringtone manager from Google Play.
Using third-party applications for settings
When built-in tools MIUI do not cope or seem too inconvenient, specialized applications from the store come to the rescue Google Play. They have advanced functionality for managing sound profiles.
A popular solution is the application Zedge or SuperRingtones. They allow you not only to download ready-made collections of sounds, but also to install your own files with advanced settings, such as sound fading or rhythm vibration.
After installing such an application, give it the necessary permissions. Then use the app's built-in file manager to select your track. Usually the process is intuitive: select a file → the "Install" button → select the type of signal (ringing, notification, alarm).
Some applications require root access for full functionality, but they are not needed for a normal ringtone change. Standard storage access rights are sufficient.
Security of third-party applications
Download ringtone applications only from the official Google Play store. Third-party sites can distribute malware under the guise of useful utilities.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did the ringtone go back to standard after rebooting the phone?
This can happen if the ringtone file was moved or deleted. Make sure that the audio file is stored in the internal memory in a stable folder (for example, Ringtones), and not on a removable SD card, which may not have been mounted correctly upon boot.
Is it possible to install video instead of audio for a call?
With standard means Xiaomi you cannot install video for a call. This requires third-party applications like "Video Caller ID", which uses the camera and screen to display video when there is an incoming call, but this does not work as a system ringtone, but as an overlay.
How to return the factory ringtone if I deleted the original files?
It is impossible to delete system ringtones through a regular explorer without root access. If they disappear, most likely the settings have gone wrong. Go to Settings → Sound → Ringtone and select any of the options offered by the system. For a complete recovery, you may need to reset your phone.
Why is the list of ringtones empty when selecting a melody?
Check the file format. The system may not see files in formats other than MP3. Also make sure that there are no hidden files in the music folder (with a dot at the beginning of the name) that the system ignores.