The fastest way to pick a new ringtone

Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics (or Sounds on older iPhones), then tap Ringtone. You will see a list of built-in tones. Tap any one to hear it, then tap it again to set it as your ringtone. The checkmark shows which tone is currently active. This takes about 30 seconds and works on every iPhone model.

If you want to use a song from your music library instead of a built-in tone, or if you want to assign different ringtones to different contacts, the steps are slightly different — but the Settings app is still where you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and you can preview and set one in under a minute.
  • Songs from your Apple Music library or iTunes can be used as ringtones, but they must be shorter than 40 seconds and you need to trim them in the Music app first.
  • To set a ringtone for one contact only, open their contact card, tap Edit, then tap Ringtone and choose from the same list.
  • Ringtones you buy from the iTunes Store appear in your Ringtone list automatically, but free built-in tones are usually enough for most people.

Using a song from your music library as a ringtone

If you want to use a song you own instead of a built-in tone, open the Music app, find the song, and tap the three dots next to it. Tap Edit, then scroll down to Ringtone and toggle it on. The app will automatically trim the song to 40 seconds or less — it uses the section that starts around the middle of the song, not the beginning.

Once you have marked a song as a ringtone in the Music app, it will appear in your Ringtone list in Settings. Go back to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and select it. The song will now ring when someone calls.

This method works only with songs you own through iTunes or Apple Music. Songs you have only streamed (not downloaded) cannot be used as ringtones. If you want to use a specific part of a song — the chorus instead of the verse, for example — you will need to trim it in a third-party app before marking it as a ringtone, because the Music app's trim feature does not let you choose which section to keep.

Setting a different ringtone for a single contact

Open the Contacts app, find the person's name, and tap Edit in the top right. Scroll down until you see Ringtone, tap it, and choose from the same list of tones you see in Settings. Tap Done to save.

Now when that person calls, your iPhone will play the ringtone you chose for them instead of your default ringtone. This is useful if you want to hear a specific tone for your boss, your partner, or a family member without changing the ringtone for everyone else.

Buying additional ringtones from the iTunes Store

Apple sells ringtones in the iTunes Store for $1.29 each. Open the App Store app, tap the search icon at the bottom, search for "ringtones," and browse the available tones. Tap the price, then tap Buy and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.

Once you buy a ringtone, it downloads automatically and appears in your Ringtone list in Settings. You do not need to do anything else — it is ready to use right away. Most people find the built-in tones sufficient, but if you want something distinctive or nostalgic, the store has thousands of options.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is trying to use a song that is only streamed, not downloaded. If you have an Apple Music subscription but have not downloaded the song to your phone, you cannot make it a ringtone. read it first by opening the song in the Music app, tapping the cloud icon with a down arrow, and waiting for the read to finish. Then follow the steps above to mark it as a ringtone.

Another mistake is not realizing that ringtones must be 40 seconds or shorter. If you try to use a full song, the Music app will trim it automatically, and you cannot control which part gets kept. If you need a specific section of a song to ring, use a free audio editing app like GarageBand to trim it to the exact part you want, save it, and then try marking it as a ringtone again.

Finally, some people set a ringtone for a contact but forget they did, and then wonder why that person has a different tone. If you are confused about which ringtone is assigned to whom, open Contacts, tap the person's name, and look at the Ringtone field. If it is blank, they are using your default ringtone from Settings.

What to do if your ringtone is not working

If you have set a ringtone but your phone is silent when someone calls, check the physical mute switch on the left side of your iPhone. If it is flipped down (toward the back of the phone), your phone is in silent mode and will not ring — it will only vibrate. Flip it up to turn off silent mode.

If the mute switch is already up and you still hear nothing, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure the Ringtone volume slider is turned up. If it is all the way down, drag it to the right. Also check that Change with Buttons is toggled on — if it is off, the volume buttons will not adjust your ringtone volume, and you may not realize the volume is too low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a ringtone I downloaded from the internet?

Not directly. Ringtones you find online are usually in a format your iPhone does not recognize. You can import them into GarageBand, save them as audio files, and then try to mark them as ringtones in the Music app, but this is complicated. Buying ringtones from the iTunes Store or using songs you already own is much simpler.

Why does my ringtone sound different on my iPhone than it did in the preview?

The preview plays through your phone's speaker at full volume, but your actual ringtone respects the volume you have set in Settings. If your ringtone volume is lower than the preview volume, it will sound quieter. Adjust the Ringtone volume slider in Settings > Sounds & Haptics to match the preview.

Can I set a ringtone that plays only during the day?

Not with the built-in ringtone settings. You would need to use Focus modes — create a Focus for nighttime, set it to silence calls, and turn it on automatically at a certain time each evening. This is more complex than just changing your ringtone, but it gives you the scheduling control you want.

What happens to my ringtone if I update my iPhone?

Built-in ringtones and ringtones you bought from the iTunes Store stay on your phone after an update. Ringtones you created from songs in your Music library also stay, as long as those songs are still on your phone. If you delete a song, the ringtone based on it will no longer work.