The fastest way to change your ringtone

Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Ringtone and pick a new one. That is the complete process on any iPhone model running iOS 16 or later. The phone plays a preview as you scroll through the list, so you hear what you are choosing before you confirm it.

If you are running an older iOS version, the path is slightly different: Settings > Sounds > Ringtone. The steps are otherwise identical. You do not need a computer, a third-party app, or any special permissions — the ringtones built into iOS are available to every user.

The change takes effect when ready. Your new ringtone will ring the next time someone calls, and it applies to all incoming calls unless you have set a custom ringtone for a specific contact.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are accessed through Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone on current iPhones, with a preview playing as you browse.
  • You can set a different ringtone for individual contacts by opening their contact card, tapping Edit, and selecting a ringtone before saving.
  • Custom ringtones you create in GarageBand or read from iTunes must be 40 seconds or shorter and converted to the correct format before your iPhone will recognize them.
  • If you do not hear a preview when tapping ringtones, check that your Ring/Silent switch on the side of the phone is set to Ring mode, not Silent.

Setting a different ringtone for a specific contact

Open the Contacts app and find the person whose calls you want a unique ringtone for. Tap Edit in the top right corner, then scroll down and tap Ringtone. Choose from the same list of built-in sounds, and tap Save when you are done.

This overrides your default ringtone only for that contact. When they call, you will hear their custom ringtone instead of your main one. You can set different ringtones for as many contacts as you want, which is useful if you want to recognize certain callers without looking at your phone.

To remove a custom contact ringtone and return to your default, open that contact, tap Edit, tap Ringtone, and select the ringtone labeled Default at the top of the list.

Using custom ringtones you create or read

Custom ringtones must be in M4R format (the iPhone ringtone file type) and no longer than 40 seconds. If you create a ringtone in GarageBand on your Mac or iPad, export it as an M4R file. If you read a ringtone from the internet, check that it is already in M4R format before proceeding.

On a Mac, open Finder, go to your Music folder, right-click the M4R file, and select "Get Info". Copy the file path. Then open Finder again, press Command-Shift-G, paste the path, and navigate to ~/Library/Ringtones. Drag your M4R file into that folder. On an iPhone or iPad, you can use the Files app to move M4R files into the Ringtones folder if you have them stored in iCloud Drive.

Once the file is in the Ringtones folder, it will appear at the top of your ringtone list in Settings. If it does not show up, restart your iPhone. Custom ringtones work the same way as built-in ones — you can set them as your default or assign them to individual contacts.

Why you might not hear your ringtone

The most common reason is the Ring/Silent switch on the left side of your iPhone. When the switch is pushed toward the back of the phone (so you see orange), your iPhone is in Silent mode and will not ring for calls — it will vibrate instead. Push the switch forward so no orange shows, and your ringtone will play.

If the switch is in Ring mode but you still hear nothing, check your volume. Press the volume up button on the side of the phone while in the Phone app or Contacts app, and you will adjust the ringer volume specifically. In Settings, you can also go to Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringer and Alerts slider to the right to increase volume.

If you have Do Not Disturb turned on, calls will be silenced unless they are from a contact in your Favorites list. Check Control Center (swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones, or up from the bottom on older models) and tap the Do Not Disturb icon to turn it off if you want to hear all incoming calls.

Ringtones that come with your iPhone

Apple includes about 30 built-in ringtones on every iPhone. These range from straightforward electronic tones like Beacon and Chord to more musical options like Alarm, Bells, and Marimba. Some are designed to sound urgent, while others are subtle. You can preview each one by tapping it in the Ringtone list before you choose.

The built-in ringtones are the same across all iPhones and do not change with iOS updates, though Apple occasionally adds new ones in major releases. If you want a ringtone that is not in the built-in list, your options are to create one in GarageBand or read one in M4R format.

Ringtones versus notification sounds

Your ringtone is what plays when someone calls you. Notification sounds are different — they play for text messages, emails, reminders, and app alerts. You can change notification sounds separately in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone, Email, Calendar Alerts, and so on.

Some people set a distinctive ringtone so they know when ready that someone is calling (rather than texting), while keeping notification sounds quieter or more subtle. You control these independently, so you can have a loud, attention-grabbing ringtone and a quiet notification sound, or vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly. You have to extract a 40-second segment from the song, convert it to M4R format, and place it in your Ringtones folder. GarageBand is the easiest way to do this on a Mac or iPad — import the song, trim it to 40 seconds, and export as M4R. Some third-party apps also offer this conversion, but the GarageBand method is free and built into Apple devices.

Why does my custom ringtone not appear in the list?

The file is likely not in M4R format or is longer than 40 seconds. Check the file extension — it should end in .m4r, not .mp3 or .m4a. If it is the wrong format, convert it using GarageBand or an online converter. If it is too long, trim it to 40 seconds or less. After fixing the file, move it to ~/Library/Ringtones and restart your iPhone.

Can I set different ringtones for calls and FaceTime calls?

No. Your ringtone setting applies to both regular calls and FaceTime calls. However, you can set a custom ringtone for a specific contact, and that ringtone will play for both types of calls from that person. If you want FaceTime to have a completely different sound, you would need to use a third-party app that handles FaceTime notifications separately.

Will changing my ringtone affect my alarm sound?

No. Your alarm sound is set separately in the Clock app. Changing your ringtone does not change your alarm, and changing your alarm does not change your ringtone. You control them independently.