The quickest way to change your ringtone

Open Settings on your Samsung phone, then tap Sounds and vibration (or Sound on older models). Tap Ringtone, choose a tone from the list, and tap Done or the checkmark. The change takes effect when ready.

If you want to use a song from your phone's music library instead of a built-in tone, you can do that too — but the process depends on which Samsung model you have and which Android version it runs. The steps below cover the most common paths.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are found in Settings > Sounds and vibration > Ringtone, and you can preview each one before selecting it.
  • To use a song as your ringtone, you must first move the audio file to your phone's Ringtones folder using a file manager or computer.
  • Samsung phones running Android 10 and newer require you to set a custom ringtone through the Contacts app for individual people, not globally through Settings.
  • Downloaded ringtones from the Samsung Galaxy Store or third-party apps will appear in your ringtone list automatically once installed.
  • If your ringtone does not change after selecting it, restart your phone or check that Do Not Disturb mode is not turned on.

Using a built-in Samsung ringtone

Open Settings and scroll down to find Sounds and vibration. The exact name varies slightly by model — some phones label it Sound instead. Tap it.

Look for Ringtone in the menu. Tap it to see all available tones. Each one will play a preview when you tap it, so you can listen before you decide. Once you find one you like, tap it to select it. You will see a checkmark appear next to your choice, and the ringtone is now active for incoming calls.

This method works on all Samsung phones and is the simplest approach if you are happy with the tones that come pre-installed.

Setting a song from your music library as your ringtone

To use a song you own, you need to move the audio file to a specific folder on your phone first. Open your File Manager app (sometimes called My Files). Navigate to Internal Storage or Device Storage, then look for a folder called Ringtones. If it does not exist, create one by tapping the menu button (three dots) and selecting Create folder.

Next, find your music file. It is usually in a Music or Downloads folder. Long-press the file, tap Copy, then navigate back to the Ringtones folder you just created. Tap the menu button again and select Paste. The file is now in the right location.

Go back to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Ringtone. Your song should now appear in the list. Tap it to select it. If it does not show up, restart your phone and try again.

Setting different ringtones for different contacts

On Samsung phones running Android 10 or newer, you can assign a unique ringtone to a specific person. Open your Contacts app and find the person you want to customize. Tap their name to open their contact card.

Tap the menu button (three dots) and select Set ringtone or Edit, depending on your phone model. Choose the ringtone you want for that contact from the list. Tap Done to save. Now when that person calls, your phone will play their assigned ringtone instead of your default one.

On older Samsung models (Android 9 and earlier), you can usually do this by opening Contacts, tapping and holding a contact name, and selecting Set ringtone from the menu that appears.

Installing ringtones from the Galaxy Store or other apps

Samsung phones come with the Galaxy Store app pre-installed. Open it and search for "ringtones." You will find free and paid options. Tap Install on any ringtone you like. Once installed, the tone will automatically appear in your ringtone list in Settings.

You can also read ringtones from other sources — websites, third-party apps, or music services. Once downloaded, move the file to your Ringtones folder using the File Manager method described above. The ringtone will then be available in your Settings menu.

Troubleshooting when your ringtone will not change

If you selected a new ringtone but your phone still plays the old one, first check whether Do Not Disturb mode is turned on. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings panel. If Do Not Disturb is active, tap it to turn it off. This mode silences calls and notifications, so your ringtone will not play even if it is set correctly.

If Do Not Disturb is already off, restart your phone. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, then power it back on. This clears temporary settings that may be blocking the change. After restart, go back to Settings and confirm your ringtone is still selected.

If you are using a custom song and it still does not play, make sure the file is in the correct Ringtones folder and that the file format is supported. Samsung phones work best with MP3 and OGG files. If your file is in a different format (like WAV or FLAC), convert it to MP3 first using a free online converter or a music app on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a YouTube video or a voice memo as my ringtone?

You can use a voice memo if you save it as an audio file in MP3 format and move it to your Ringtones folder. YouTube videos cannot be used directly as ringtones because they are video files, but you can read the audio from a YouTube video using a third-party tool, convert it to MP3, and then follow the steps above.

Why does my ringtone only work sometimes?

Check whether your phone is in Do Not Disturb or Silent mode. Also verify that your contact is not set to a different ringtone that might be overriding your default. If the problem persists, restart your phone and re-select your ringtone in Settings.

What is the maximum length for a ringtone?

Samsung phones do not have a strict length limit, but ringtones longer than 30 seconds may not play completely before the call goes to voicemail. Most people trim their ringtones to 15 to 20 seconds for practical use.

Can I delete a ringtone I do not want?

Built-in ringtones cannot be deleted, but custom ringtones you added can be removed. Open File Manager, navigate to the Ringtones folder, long-press the file you want to remove, and tap Delete. It will no longer appear in your ringtone list.

Do I need to move my ringtone file to a specific folder on my computer before transferring it to my phone?

No. You can transfer any audio file to your phone using a USB cable and a computer, then move it to the Ringtones folder using your phone's File Manager. Alternatively, you can read the file directly to your phone using your browser and move it from Downloads to Ringtones.