Where to find ringtone settings on your iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen — it looks like a gear icon. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics (on newer iPhones) or Sounds (on older models). The ringtone option sits near the top of this menu, labeled Ringtone.

When you tap Ringtone, you see a list of built-in sounds that came with your phone. Each one plays a preview when you tap it, so you can hear what it sounds like before you commit. The checkmark shows which ringtone is currently active.

Key Takeaways

  • Your ringtone settings live in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and you can change them in under a minute.
  • iPhone comes with dozens of built-in ringtones you can use without downloading anything extra.
  • You can set different ringtones for different contacts by opening their contact card and tapping Edit.
  • Custom ringtones you create or read must be added through a computer using Finder or iTunes, not directly on the phone.
  • The ringtone you set in Sounds & Haptics becomes the default for all calls except those from contacts you have customized.

Selecting a built-in ringtone

Tap any ringtone name in the list to hear a short preview. The sound plays through your phone's speaker so you can judge the volume and tone. If you like it, that ringtone is now active — there is no separate "save" or "confirm" button. If you change your mind, go back to the same menu and pick a different one.

The built-in ringtones are organized by name, not by category, so you may need to scroll through the full list to find one you like. Common options include Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, and Classic. Newer iPhones add options like Reflection and Waves.

Setting a different ringtone for a specific contact

If you want your best friend's calls to sound different from everyone else's, you can assign a custom ringtone to their contact. Open the Contacts app, find the person's name, and tap Edit in the top right corner.

Scroll down until you see Ringtone (it appears below their phone number). Tap it and choose from the same list of built-in sounds. When that person calls, their assigned ringtone plays instead of your default one. This works for text message alerts too — look for Text Tone in the same menu.

Adding custom ringtones from your computer

iPhone does not let you create or read ringtones directly on the phone. Instead, you must use a computer. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, open Finder, plug in your iPhone, and click your device name in the sidebar. Click the Music tab, then check the box next to Sync Music. On older Macs or a Windows PC, use iTunes instead of Finder — the steps are the same.

To add a ringtone file, you need an audio file in .m4r format (this is Apple's ringtone format). You can convert an MP3 or other audio file to .m4r using free online converters, or use GarageBand on your Mac to create a custom tone. Once you have the .m4r file, drag it into the Ringtones section of Finder or iTunes, then sync your phone. The ringtone then appears in your Sounds & Haptics menu.

Turning off the ringtone with silent mode

Your iPhone has a physical Silent/Ring switch on the left edge of the phone, above the volume buttons. Flip it toward the back of the phone to enable silent mode — you will see a red dot appear on the switch. When silent mode is on, your phone vibrates for calls but does not play any ringtone, regardless of which one you have selected.

Silent mode does not affect alarms, timers, or sounds from apps like music or videos — only calls and text alerts. If you want your phone to ring even in silent mode, that is not possible without turning off silent mode entirely.

Why your ringtone might not be playing

If you set a ringtone but do not hear it when someone calls, check three things first. Make sure the Silent/Ring switch is not flipped to silent mode. Check that Do Not Disturb is not turned on — swipe down from the top right corner to see your Control Center, and look for the moon icon. If it is highlighted, tap it to turn Do Not Disturb off.

Also check your Volume settings. Go back to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and look for the Ringtone and Alerts slider near the top. Drag it to the right to increase the volume. If the slider is all the way to the left, your ringtone plays at zero volume and you will not hear it.

Ringtones for FaceTime and other apps

The ringtone you set in Sounds & Haptics applies to regular phone calls only. FaceTime calls use a separate sound — to change it, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and look for FaceTime near the bottom of the menu. Tap it and choose a different alert sound.

Text messages, email, and other apps each have their own alert sounds in the same Sounds & Haptics menu. You can customize all of them independently, so your text alerts sound different from your ringtone, and your email alerts sound different from both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from my music library as a ringtone?

Not directly — songs in your library are usually too long and in the wrong format. You must convert a portion of the song to .m4r format using a computer, then add it through Finder or iTunes. Most people use the first 30 seconds of a song as a ringtone.

What happens to my ringtone if I update my iPhone?

Built-in ringtones stay the same after an update. Custom ringtones you added through your computer also remain, as long as you sync your phone after the update. If you did not sync, the custom ringtones may disappear.

Can I set a different ringtone for work calls versus personal calls?

Yes, by assigning ringtones to individual contacts. You can set one ringtone for all your work contacts and a different one for personal contacts. There is no way to create automatic groups that share a ringtone, so you must customize each contact separately.

Why does my iPhone ringtone sound quiet compared to my alarm?

Ringtone volume and alarm volume are controlled separately. Your alarm volume is set in the Clock app, while ringtone volume is in Sounds & Haptics. Check the Ringtone and Alerts slider in Sounds & Haptics — it may be lower than your alarm volume.

Do I need to buy ringtones, or are they all free?

All built-in ringtones that come with your iPhone are free. You can also create custom ringtones for free using GarageBand or convert your own audio files. Some websites sell custom ringtones, but you do not need to pay for them.