The fastest way: use the Sounds & Haptics menu

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Sounds & Haptics (or Sounds on older models). Tap Ringtone, and you will see a list of built-in tones. Tap any tone to hear it play, then tap it again to set it as your ringtone. The checkmark moves to your choice, and you are done.

This method takes about 30 seconds and works with every tone Apple includes on your phone. No downloads, no third-party apps, no syncing required.

Key Takeaways

  • The built-in ringtones live in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and you can switch between them by tapping once to preview and once more to set.
  • You can also set different ringtones for specific contacts by opening their contact card, tapping Edit, and choosing a custom ringtone under the phone number.
  • To use a song from your music library as a ringtone, you must first trim it to 30 seconds or less using GarageBand on your Mac or iPad, then export it as an M4R file.
  • Ringtones purchased from the iTunes Store appear in the Ringtone list automatically and do not require any extra setup.
  • If you want a ringtone to play only for calls and not for notifications, make sure you are changing the Ringtone setting, not the Notification Sounds setting.

Setting a ringtone for one contact instead of all calls

If you want your best friend's calls to ring differently than everyone else's, open the Contacts app and find their name. Tap Edit in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap the phone number field, then tap Ringtone. Choose from the same list of tones, and that contact will now ring with their custom tone whenever they call.

This overrides your default ringtone only for that person. Everyone else still hears your main ringtone. You can set custom ringtones for as many contacts as you want, and changing your default ringtone later will not affect the custom ones you have already set.

Using a song from your music library as a ringtone

iPhone does not let you pick a full song directly from Apple Music or your library. Instead, you need to trim the song to 30 seconds or less using GarageBand on a Mac or iPad. Open GarageBand, create a new audio project, import your song, and use the trim handles at the bottom of the timeline to select the 30-second section you want. Then tap the three dots at the top, choose Share, and select Ringtone. Name it and tap Share again.

The ringtone will appear in your Sounds & Haptics menu within a few seconds. If you do not have access to a Mac or iPad, you can also use a web-based audio editor like Audacity (free, on Windows or Mac) to trim the file, export it as an M4R file, and email it to yourself, then open the attachment on your iPhone to install it.

Buying ringtones from the iTunes Store

Apple still sells ringtones in the iTunes Store, though the selection is smaller than it once was. Open the App Store on your iPhone, tap the search icon at the bottom, and search for "ringtones". Tap the official Apple Ringtones app, then browse or search for a tone you like. Tap the price (usually $1.29), authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, and the ringtone downloads automatically.

Purchased ringtones appear in your Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone list right away. You do not need to sync with a computer or do anything else — they are ready to use when ready.

Why your ringtone might not be changing

If you set a ringtone but your phone still rings with the old one, check whether Silent mode is on. If the mute switch on the side of your iPhone is flipped down (toward the back), your phone will vibrate instead of ringing, and you will not hear any ringtone at all. Flip it back up to enable sound.

If Silent mode is off and the ringtone still is not changing, restart your iPhone by holding down the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to power off. Wait 10 seconds and power it back on. This clears any temporary glitch that might be preventing the ringtone from taking effect.

The difference between ringtones and notification sounds

A ringtone plays when someone calls you. A notification sound plays for text messages, emails, reminders, and other alerts. They are set in different places. Ringtones are in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. Notification sounds are in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone (for messages), Mail (for email), and so on.

If you want your phone to ring loudly for calls but stay quiet for notifications, you can set a loud ringtone and a silent notification sound. Just make sure you are changing the right setting for what you want to hear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any song as a ringtone?

You can use any song, but it must be trimmed to 30 seconds or less. Use GarageBand on Mac or iPad to trim it, then export it as a ringtone. The file will then appear in your Sounds & Haptics menu.

Will changing my ringtone affect my alarm sound?

No. Alarms are set separately in the Clock app and do not change when you update your ringtone. You can change alarm sounds independently without affecting how your phone rings for calls.

What happens if I delete a custom ringtone I created?

If you delete a ringtone you made from a song, any contacts using it will revert to your default ringtone. You can delete custom ringtones by opening Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, swiping left on the tone, and tapping Delete.

Can I use a ringtone I bought on iTunes on another device?

Yes, if you use the same Apple ID on both devices. Purchased ringtones sync across all your iPhones and iPads that are signed in with that account. They will appear automatically in the Ringtone list on each device.

Why is my ringtone so quiet even though I set the volume high?

Check the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone. The physical volume controls set the ringtone volume separately from media volume. Press the up button to raise ringtone volume, and make sure Silent mode is off. You can also test the volume by tapping a ringtone in Settings to hear it at full strength.