How to change your ringtone on iPhone

Your iPhone comes with a default ringtone, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Whether you want something fun, familiar, or totally unique, changing your ringtone is a simple way to make your phone feel more like your own. In this guide, we’ll show you how to change your ringtone, add custom tones, and assign different sounds to your contacts.

At Asurion, we help millions of people fix, learn about, and get the most out of their tech. Here’s our simple guide to updating your iPhone ringtone.

How to change your ringtone on iPhone

Your iPhone comes with a variety of built-in ringtones. Here’s how to choose a new one.

1. From your Home Screen, tap the Settings app..
2. Scroll down and select Sounds & Haptics (on older models, it may just say Sounds).
3. Tap Ringtone. You’ll see a list of available tones. Tap any one to hear a preview and select it as your new ringtone.
4. That’s it—your new ringtone is set.

How to set a custom ringtone on your iPhone

Want something a little more personal? You can buy tones or upload your own.

Buy tones from the iTunes Store

1. Open the iTunes Store app.
2. Tap More > Tones.
3. Browse or search for a tone, then tap the price to buy.
4. Once downloaded, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to select it.

Import custom ringtones using a computer

To use your own audio file as a ringtone, you’ll need a computer:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later).
2. Create or choose an audio file under 40 seconds long and save it as an .m4r file.
3. Drag the file into the Tones section in iTunes or directly onto your device in Finder.
4. Sync your iPhone, then go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to set it.

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How to assign a ringtone to a contact

You can set a different ringtone for friends, family members, or even your boss.

Open the Contacts app

Open the Contacts app or the Phone app and go to the Contacts tab.

Select the contact and set their ringtone

1. Tap the person’s name.
2. Tap Edit in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Ringtone, then pick a tone. Tap Done to save.

Now you’ll know who’s calling just by the sound of your phone.

Troubleshooting ringtone issues

If your ringtone isn’t working the way you expect, here are some easy fixes.

Ringtone not playing

• Check your Ring/Silent switch on the side of your phone.
• Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure Ringtone volume isn’t turned down.
• Restart your iPhone.

Can’t find downloaded tone

• Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and look under Ringtones.
• If you bought it, check Settings > Apple ID > Media & Purchases > View Account > Purchase History.

FAQs

Where do I find ringtones on my iPhone? Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to view and choose tones.

Can I use a song as my ringtone on iPhone? Yes, but you’ll need to convert it to a ringtone file and transfer it using a computer.

Why won’t my new ringtone play? Make sure your phone isn’t on Silent, the volume is up, and the tone is selected in your settings.

How do I make a custom ringtone for free? You can use free apps or your computer to create and import a .m4r file that’s under 40 seconds.

Can I set different ringtones for different contacts? Yes. Go to the contact’s info, tap Edit, then choose a custom Ringtone.