The quickest way to change your ringtone

Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then Ringtone, and pick a new sound from the list. That's it — the change takes effect when ready for incoming calls. You don't need to restart your phone or do anything else.

The built-in ringtones come with your iPhone and are always available. If you want to use a song from your music library instead, or a sound you've created yourself, the process is slightly different and involves a computer or a third-party app — we'll cover that below.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are changed through Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and the change happens when ready.
  • You can preview any ringtone by tapping it before you confirm your choice.
  • To use a song from Apple Music or your own audio file as a ringtone, you need either a Mac or PC with iTunes, or a third-party app like GarageBand.
  • Different contacts can have different ringtones if you assign custom sounds to them individually in the Contacts app.

Using the built-in ringtones that come with your iPhone

Apple includes about 25 ringtones on every iPhone. To browse them, go to Settings on your home screen, scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Ringtone. You'll see a list of names like Alarm, Beacon, Chime, and Marimba. Each one plays a short preview when you tap it.

The checkmark next to a ringtone shows which one is currently active. When you tap a different ringtone, it plays the full sound so you can hear what incoming calls will sound like. Once you tap it, that becomes your new ringtone — there's no separate "save" or "confirm" button needed.

If you want to go back to the original ringtone your iPhone came with, that's usually Marimba. You can switch back anytime using the same Settings path.

Creating a custom ringtone from a song you own

If you want to use part of a song as your ringtone, you'll need to create an audio file that's 30 seconds or shorter. The easiest way depends on what device you have access to.

On a Mac with GarageBand installed: Open GarageBand, import your song, trim it to 30 seconds or less, then export it as an M4R file (GarageBand's ringtone format). Plug in your iPhone, open Finder, go to your iPhone's Files section, and drag the M4R file into the Tones folder. The ringtone will appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone within a few seconds.

On a Windows PC: You'll need iTunes installed. Import your song into iTunes, right-click it, select "Get Info," go to the Options tab, and set the start and stop times so the song plays for 30 seconds or less. Then right-click the song again and select "Create AAC Version." Right-click that new version, select "Show in Windows Explorer," rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, then plug in your iPhone and drag it into iTunes' Tones section. Sync your iPhone and the ringtone will appear in Settings.

On an iPhone without a computer: Use an app like GarageBand (free from the App Store) or Ringtone Designer (paid). These apps let you record audio or trim songs directly on your phone and save them as ringtones without needing a computer.

Assigning different ringtones to specific people

You can set a unique ringtone for individual contacts so you know who's calling without looking at your phone. Open the Contacts app, find the person's name, tap Edit, scroll down to Ringtone, and choose a different sound from the list.

This works with both built-in ringtones and any custom ringtones you've created. When that person calls, your iPhone will play their assigned ringtone instead of your default one. You can assign different ringtones to as many contacts as you want.

Why your ringtone might not be changing

If you've changed your ringtone in Settings but your phone still plays the old sound, check whether your iPhone is in Silent mode. Look at the left side of your phone — if the mute switch (a small toggle above the volume buttons) is pushed down toward the back of the phone, your iPhone is silenced and won't play any ringtone at all, only vibrate. Push the switch up to turn sound back on.

If your phone isn't in Silent mode but you still don't hear the new ringtone, restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off the phone. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. After restart, go back to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and confirm your choice is still selected.

If you're using a custom ringtone you created and it's not showing up in the Ringtone list, the file may not have transferred correctly. Try plugging your iPhone into your computer again and repeating the transfer process, or use a ringtone app instead.

The difference between ringtone, notification sound, and text tone

Your iPhone has separate sound settings for different types of alerts. Ringtone is what plays when someone calls you. Notification sound is what plays for app alerts like email or calendar reminders. Text tone is what plays when you receive an iMessage or SMS text.

You can set these to different sounds so you know what kind of alert you're getting without looking at your phone. Text tone is in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone. Notification sounds are usually set per app — go to Settings, find the app's name, tap Notifications, and look for Sound options there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Apple Music as my ringtone?

Not directly. Apple Music songs are protected by copyright and can't be converted to ringtones through the normal process. You can record yourself singing or humming part of the song and use that recording as a ringtone, or use a third-party app that specializes in creating ringtones from streaming music.

What's the maximum length for a custom ringtone?

Ringtones must be 30 seconds or shorter. If your audio file is longer, you'll need to trim it using GarageBand, iTunes, or a ringtone app before you can use it on your iPhone.

Will changing my ringtone affect my alarm sound?

No. Your alarm sound is separate from your ringtone and is set in the Clock app. Changing your ringtone won't change what sound your alarms make.

Can I use a ringtone I downloaded from the internet?

Yes, if it's in the right format (M4R for iPhone). read the file, then either use a ringtone app to import it, or follow the iTunes or GarageBand process above to add it to your phone.

Why do I only hear a vibration when someone calls, even though I set a ringtone?

Your iPhone is in Silent mode. Check the mute switch on the left side of your phone — it should be pushed up (toward the front) so the orange stripe doesn't show. If the switch is down, your phone is silenced and will only vibrate, not play sound.