What is MIME type "audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf defines an audio file format used mainly on Nokia mobile devices.
It specifies files that include Extensible Music Format data. The format stores musical instructions alongside audio samples. It enables dynamic, interactive playback in a compact file size.

Main use case: Mobile ringtones and notification sounds.
Supports interactive and synchronized playback of sound events.
Optimized for low-memory devices with fast performance.

Files of this type usually have the extension XMF. This MIME type tells programs how to interpret and play the file’s content.
For more on MIME types, see the MIME type basics.

Associated file extensions

.xmf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.xmf

FAQs

What is the audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf MIME type used for?

This MIME type represents Nokia Mobile XMF files, a specific implementation of the Extensible Music Format. It was widely used on legacy Nokia mobile phones to create compact, polyphonic ringtones that combine MIDI-like instructions with actual audio samples for consistent playback.

Which file extension is associated with audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf?

The primary file extension for this MIME type is .xmf. You can view more details about this specific extension at xmf.

How do I configure Apache to serve XMF files correctly?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct headers for Nokia XMF files, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf .xmf.

Do modern web browsers support audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf?

No, modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari do not natively support this legacy mobile format. To play this audio on a website, you should convert the file to a standard format like audio/mpeg (MP3) or audio/wav.

What is the difference between this format and standard MIDI?

While both use sequencing data, Nokia Mobile XMF contains embedded instrument sounds (Downloadable Sounds or DLS). Standard audio/midi files rely on the user's hardware synthesizer, which varies by device, whereas XMF ensures the audio sounds the same on every phone.

How can I convert an XMF file to MP3?

Converting XMF is complex because it requires rendering the MIDI data using the internal instrument samples. You generally need specialized audio conversion software like Awave Studio or specific configurations in FFmpeg to render the file into a standard stream like MP3.

How do I add this MIME type to Nginx?

For Nginx, you can add the definition to your mime.types file or inside a types block in your server configuration: audio/vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf xmf;.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.