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I've created 2 folders on the root of the SD card,

  • Ringtones
  • Notifications

and placed one mp3 file within each. When I disconnect the DroidX from the USB cable and navigate to either "Settings" > "Sound"> "Phone ringtone", or "Settings" > "Sound" > "Notification ringtone", neither mp3 file shows up.

What am I doing wrong?

mre
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2 Answers2

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You don't need to make your own folders.

The proper file to put the mp3s is /system/media/audio/ - where you will find folders for /alarms , /notifications , and /ringtones

There are two things to keep in mind when doing this:

  1. If you are using full-sized .mp3's , you will put considerable strain on the system when it comes time to load one. In my experience, two minutes of mp3 works fine for an alarm, but such a file takes a few seconds to load, and will not make for a suitable ringtone, unless you trim the file first.

  2. You will have to re-do this every time you flash a new ROM.

An alternative to this -- is to have them in /sdcard/media/ -- But if you have an older device, having them in the root directory allows for better performance.

HTH!

rm-vanda
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  • Root directory? What root directory? Your method needs root and according to the Android developer documentation his directories are correct. What's "full-sized mp3" and why does it put a strain on the device. BTW I've never encountered any performance issue with MP3 ringtones. –  Aug 26 '12 at 16:21
  • I can't find the "system" folder on the root – mre Aug 26 '12 at 16:21
  • @mre rm-vanda refers to a folder which is only accessible if you have a rooted device. That folder is usually mounted read-only, so (without root) you cannot write there. To keep your own ringtones etc. even after ROM-updates, this method is rather discouraged. Instead, rather check Is there any documentation on the correct/expected directory structure of the external memory card?. – Izzy Aug 26 '12 at 16:40
  • Ah, yes, when you said "root of the device" - I didn't realize you meant the root of the sdcard.

    In that case, go for /sdcard/media/notifications and /sdcard/media/ringtones

     – rm-vanda Aug 26 '12 at 17:10
  • @RichardBorcsik Try putting a 4 minute mp3 as a ringtone on your /sdcard/

    Call your phone. See how long it takes for it to ring.

    =)

     – rm-vanda Aug 26 '12 at 17:12
  • @rm-vanda It rings without any noticeable delay. I don't think that it reads the entire file. That's unnecessary. –  Aug 26 '12 at 19:44
  • @RichardBorcsik - okay, okay- I was recalling my days with a G1 for that one. – rm-vanda Aug 26 '12 at 19:46
  • I think now /system is read-only, so youo must use /sdcard. But that isn't working for me either on 5.1.1. – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Dec 03 '15 at 12:44
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You probably found the correct location (if your "root of the device" refers to the root of your sdcard). For details on those directories, please check with Is there any documentation on the correct/expected directory structure of the external memory card?.

One thing which however may apply: For those files to become available with your settings, the Media Scanner must have been run and having them indexed. Usually this should happen automatically when your SD-card gets mounted; but it may be much delayed when you did not unmount/remount the card (and e.g. copied files directly on the device). In those cases, a little app like SDrescan, Scan Media, or SDSync (SD Card Update) might prove useful.

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