The fastest way to change your iPhone ringtone
Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then Ringtone, and pick a new sound from the list. That's the whole process — it takes about 30 seconds. Your iPhone comes with dozens of built-in ringtones, and you can also use songs from your music library or sounds you've downloaded.
If you want to use a song you own, you'll need to convert it to a ringtone format first, which adds a few extra steps. But the basic swap — from one built-in ringtone to another — is when ready and requires no computer or third-party app.
Key Takeaways
- Built-in ringtones are found in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and take effect the moment you select one.
- You can preview any ringtone before selecting it by tapping the name in the list.
- To use a personal song as a ringtone, you must first convert it to an M4R file using a computer or a third-party app.
- Different ringtones can be assigned to specific contacts through the Contacts app, so your best friend's call sounds different from your boss's.
Step-by-step: changing your ringtone from the built-in list
Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics (on older iPhones, this may say Sounds). You'll see options for ringtone, text tone, and other alert sounds.
Tap Ringtone. A list of all available built-in sounds appears. Each one plays a preview when you tap its name, so you can hear what it sounds like before committing. Once you've found one you like, tap it — a checkmark appears next to your selection, and it becomes your new ringtone when ready.
That's it. You don't need to save or confirm anything. The next time someone calls, your phone will ring with the new sound.
Using a song from your music library as a ringtone
iPhones won't let you use a full song directly as a ringtone — the file format has to be M4R, and the ringtone itself can't be longer than about 40 seconds. You'll need to convert a song on a computer first, then transfer it to your phone.
On a Mac with iTunes or Music, right-click the song, select Get Info, go to the Options tab, and set both the start and stop times to create a 40-second clip. Then right-click again, select Create M4R Version, and iTunes will generate the ringtone file. Connect your iPhone to your Mac, open Finder, select your phone, go to Files, and drag the M4R file into the Tones folder.
On Windows, use a third-party app like Audacity (free) or a dedicated ringtone maker. These apps let you trim the song to 40 seconds and export it as M4R. Then use iTunes on Windows to transfer the file to your phone the same way.
Once the M4R file is on your iPhone, it will appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and can be selected just like a built-in tone.
Assigning different ringtones to specific people
You can set a custom ringtone for individual contacts so you know who's calling without looking at your screen. Open the Contacts app, find the person, and tap Edit in the top right. Scroll down to Ringtone and tap it to choose a different sound for that contact alone.
This works with any ringtone — built-in or custom — and overrides your default setting only for that person. Everyone else will still hear your main ringtone.
Why your ringtone might not be changing
If you've selected a new ringtone but your phone still rings with the old sound, check whether you've muted your phone. The physical mute switch on the side of your iPhone silences all sounds, including ringtones. Flip it back to unmute (the switch should show red or orange).
If the mute switch is off and the ringtone still isn't working, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until the power-off slider appears, swipe to turn off, wait a few seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo shows. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent settings from taking effect.
On very rare occasions, a corrupted custom ringtone file can cause problems. If you've added a personal song as a ringtone and it's not working, delete it from Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone (swipe left on the tone name), then try a built-in ringtone instead.
Free sources for additional ringtones
Apple's built-in library includes about 30 ringtones, but you're not limited to those. The App Store has free ringtone apps that let you browse and read additional sounds directly to your phone. Search "ringtones" in the App Store and look for apps with high ratings and recent reviews.
You can also read ringtones from websites like Zedge or Notification Sounds, which offer thousands of free options. read the M4R file to your phone using Safari, and it will usually prompt you to add it to your ringtones automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a YouTube video or a song from Spotify as a ringtone?
Not directly. Spotify and YouTube don't let you export audio in a format iPhones accept as ringtones. You'd need to read the audio file separately (which may violate the service's terms), convert it to M4R, and then transfer it. Using songs you own or have purchased is the legal and straightforward route.
Why does my ringtone sound different on my phone than in the preview?
The preview plays through your phone's speaker at full volume, but the actual ringtone volume is controlled by the volume buttons and the Sounds & Haptics settings. If you've lowered the ringtone volume in Settings, it will sound quieter during actual calls. Adjust the volume slider in Sounds & Haptics to raise it.
Can I have different ringtones for calls and text messages?
Yes. In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, you'll see separate options for Ringtone (phone calls) and Text Tone (text messages). Set each one independently. You can also assign custom text tones to specific contacts the same way you assign custom ringtones.
What happens to my custom ringtone if I update iOS?
Built-in ringtones stay the same through iOS updates. Custom ringtones you've added (like converted songs) usually survive updates too, but it's not may provide. If you lose a custom ringtone after an update, you'll need to recreate and transfer the M4R file again.