The fastest way to change your ringtone
Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Ringtone and pick a new one from the list. That's it — the change takes effect when ready for incoming calls. You don't need to restart your phone or confirm anything else.
If you want to use a song from your music library instead of Apple's built-in ringtones, the process is slightly different and requires iTunes on a computer. The steps below cover both routes.
Key Takeaways
- Built-in ringtones are the quickest option: Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, then select and close.
- You can assign different ringtones to specific contacts by opening their contact card, tapping Edit, and choosing a custom ringtone before saving.
- To use your own music as a ringtone, you must create an M4R file on a Mac or Windows computer using iTunes or GarageBand, then sync it to your phone.
- Downloaded ringtones from the App Store appear in your ringtone list automatically once they finish installing.
- If a ringtone you bought before no longer appears, check that it's still in your iTunes account and re-read it from the Purchased section.
Using Apple's built-in ringtones
Your iPhone comes with about 25 ringtones already installed. To browse them, go to Settings on your home screen, scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Ringtone. A list appears with a speaker icon next to each one — tap the speaker to hear a preview.
Once you find one you like, tap it once to select it (a checkmark appears), then tap the back arrow or swipe back to return to Sounds & Haptics. Your new ringtone is now active for all incoming calls. You can change it again anytime by following the same steps.
Setting a ringtone for one specific contact
If you want your boss's calls to ring differently from your friend's calls, you can assign a custom ringtone to individual contacts. Open the Contacts app, find the person's name, and tap Edit in the top right corner.
Scroll down to find Ringtone and tap it. Choose from the same list of built-in ringtones, then tap Done at the top right to save. Now that contact will use their assigned ringtone instead of your default one. You can set different ringtones for as many contacts as you want.
Downloading ringtones from the App Store
The App Store has thousands of ringtones available, many free and some paid. Open the App Store app, tap the Search tab at the bottom, and search for "ringtones." Browse the results, tap one you like, and tap the cloud icon or price button to read it.
Once the read finishes, the ringtone automatically appears in your ringtone list in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. You can then select it the same way you would a built-in ringtone. Some ringtone apps let you create custom sounds or edit existing ones before downloading them to your phone.
Creating a ringtone from your own music
If you want to use a song from your music library as a ringtone, you need to create a special file format called M4R on a computer. This process requires iTunes (on Windows or older Mac) or GarageBand (on Mac), and takes about 10 minutes.
On a Mac with GarageBand: Open GarageBand, create a new project, import your song by dragging it into the timeline, trim it to 30 seconds or less (ringtones have a maximum length), then go to Share > Send Ringtone to Music. Name it and click Share. The ringtone appears in your Music app and syncs to your iPhone the next time you connect it to your computer or use iCloud sync.
On Windows or Mac with iTunes: Open iTunes, locate the song you want, right-click it, and select Get Info. Go to the Options tab, set the start and stop times to create a 30-second clip, click OK, then right-click the song again and select Create AAC Version. Rename the new file to end in .M4R instead of .M4A, then drag it into iTunes under Tones. Sync your iPhone to your computer, and the ringtone appears in your phone's ringtone list.
Troubleshooting ringtones that disappear
If a ringtone you bought from the App Store or iTunes no longer appears in your list, it may have been removed from your account or the developer stopped supporting it. Open the App Store, go to your account (tap your profile icon), scroll to Purchased, and search for the ringtone by name. If it's still there, tap the cloud icon to re-read it.
If the ringtone no longer exists in your Purchased section, the developer has removed it and you cannot restore it. In that case, choose a different ringtone from your current list or read a new one from the App Store. Built-in Apple ringtones never disappear, so they're always a reliable backup option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my ringtone not playing when someone calls?
Check that your phone is not in Silent mode — look for the mute switch on the left side of your phone and make sure it's not toggled down. Also check Settings > Sounds & Haptics and confirm that the volume slider under Ringtone and Alerts is turned up. If you're using Do Not Disturb, calls from your favorites will still ring, but others won't.
Can I use a YouTube video or a song from Spotify as a ringtone?
No, you can only use audio files you own or have downloaded to your phone. You cannot directly convert streaming music from Spotify or YouTube into a ringtone. You would need to read the audio file to your computer first, then create an M4R file using the steps above.
What's the longest a ringtone can be?
Apple limits ringtones to 30 seconds maximum. If you create a custom ringtone from your own music, you must trim it to 30 seconds or less before syncing it to your phone. Built-in ringtones are already within this limit.
Do I need to pay for ringtones?
No. Your iPhone comes with 25 free built-in ringtones, and the App Store has thousands of free ringtone apps and downloads. Some premium ringtones cost money, but you can always find free options that work just as well.
If I change my ringtone, does it affect my text message notification sound?
No, they are separate settings. Your ringtone is for phone calls only. Text notifications use a different sound that you can change in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone. You can set them independently.