How to Change Ringtone on iPhone: Essential Guide

Quick Summary:
Changing your iPhone ringtone is easy! Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. You can choose from pre-installed tones or buy new ones from the iTunes Store. This guide shows you exactly how, step-by-step, so you can personalize your iPhone’s sound in minutes.

Is your iPhone’s default ringtone making you feel a bit… ordinary? You’re not alone! Many iPhone users want to add a personal touch to their device, and changing the ringtone is a fantastic way to do it. It’s a simple customization that can make your phone feel uniquely yours. But if you’re new to the iPhone or just haven’t explored this feature, it might seem a little hidden. Don’t worry! This guide is here to help. We’ll walk you through exactly how to change your ringtone, from the basic settings to exploring new sounds. You’ll be setting your favorite tune in no time, and it’s much simpler than you might think.

Why Change Your iPhone Ringtone?

Your ringtone is more than just a sound; it’s a small but significant part of your personal expression. Think about it: your iPhone is with you almost all the time. The sound it makes when someone calls is one of the most frequent alerts you’ll hear. Customizing it offers several benefits:

• Personalization: It’s a straightforward way to make your iPhone feel like your iPhone. Choose a sound that reflects your personality, mood, or even a favorite song.
• Easy Identification: In a crowded room or a busy office, a unique ringtone can help you quickly identify your phone without even looking at it.
• Mood Booster: Sometimes, hearing a familiar or upbeat tune when your phone rings can be a pleasant surprise and give you a little lift.
• Distinguish Between Contacts: While a bit more advanced, you can even assign specific ringtones to certain contacts, so you know who’s calling without checking your screen. (We’ll touch on this later!)

Understanding iPhone Ringtones

Before we dive into the steps, let’s quickly understand what an iPhone ringtone is and where you can find them. Apple provides a selection of built-in ringtones that come with your iPhone. These are generally classic alert sounds and some simple melodies. For more variety, you can purchase ringtones from the iTunes Store directly from your iPhone. These purchased ringtones are then added to your list of available options in the Settings app.

How to Change Your Ringtone: Step-by-Step

Ready to give your iPhone a new sound? Follow these simple steps. We’ll cover changing the general ringtone first.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

Locate the grey gear icon on your iPhone’s Home Screen. This is the Settings app. Tap it to open.

Step 2: Navigate to Sounds & Haptics

Once in Settings, scroll down until you find “Sounds & Haptics.” Tap on it to enter the sound customization menu.

Step 3: Select Ringtone

Under the “Sounds and Haptic Patterns” section, you’ll see various options. Tap on “Ringtone.”

Step 4: Choose Your New Ringtone

Now you’ll see a list of available ringtones. This list includes the built-in Apple tones and any ringtones you’ve purchased from the iTunes Store.

• Browse Built-in Ringtones: Scroll through the list to see the default options. They are usually categorized.
• Preview Ringtones: Simply tap on any ringtone name to hear a preview. Your iPhone will play a short snippet of the sound.
• Select Your Ringtone: Once you find a ringtone you like, tap on its name. A blue checkmark will appear next to your selection, indicating it’s now your active ringtone.

You don’t need to tap a “Save” button. As soon as you select a ringtone, it becomes active.

Step 5: (Optional) Buy New Ringtones

If none of the default ringtones appeal to you, you can purchase new ones. At the very top of the Ringtone list, you’ll see an option for “Tone Store.”

• Tap “Tone Store.”
• This will open the iTunes Store’s ringtone section. You can browse by featured, genres, or search for specific songs.
• Tap on a ringtone to preview it.
• If you like it, tap the price to purchase it. You’ll need to authenticate the purchase using your Apple ID password, Face ID, or Touch ID.
• Once purchased, the new ringtone will automatically appear in your Ringtone list in Settings (you might need to back out of the Tone Store and go back into the Ringtone list for it to appear).

Purchased ringtones are usually 30 seconds long and are added to your Ringtones list under the “Purchased Tones” or “All Tones” section.

Changing Ringtones for Specific Contacts

Want to know who’s calling without even looking at your phone? You can assign custom ringtones to individual contacts! This is a fantastic feature for prioritizing important calls or simply adding a personal touch for loved ones.

Step 1: Open the Contacts App

Find the “Contacts” app on your Home Screen (it looks like an address book icon) and tap to open it.

Step 2: Select a Contact

Scroll through your list of contacts or use the search bar at the top to find the person you want to assign a custom ringtone to. Tap on their name.

Step 3: Edit the Contact

On the contact’s information screen, tap the “Edit” button in the top right corner.

Step 4: Find the Ringtone Option

Scroll down the editing screen until you see the “Ringtone” option. Tap on it.

Step 5: Choose a Custom Ringtone

You’ll see the same list of ringtones as before. Select a ringtone for this specific contact. You can even choose a different text tone here if you wish!

• Tap on your desired ringtone to preview it.
• Once selected, a checkmark will appear.

Step 6: Save Changes

Tap the “Done” button in the top right corner to save your changes for this contact. The custom ringtone you selected will now play only when this specific person calls you. Your default ringtone will play for everyone else.

Managing Text Tones

Just like ringtones, you can also customize the sound your iPhone makes when you receive a text message or other alerts. The process is very similar:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
3. Under “Sounds and Haptic Patterns,” tap Text Tone.
4. Browse the list, preview sounds by tapping them, and select your preferred text tone.

You can also assign custom text tones to specific contacts using the same method described for ringtones in the Contacts app.

What About Ringtones for Other Alerts?

Your iPhone has various alert sounds for different notifications. Within the Sounds & Haptics settings, you can customize:

• Ringtone: For incoming calls.
• Text Tone: For incoming text messages (iMessage, SMS).
• New Mail: For new emails.
• Sent Mail: For when mail is sent.
• Calendar Alerts: For upcoming calendar events.
• Reminder Alerts: For your set reminders.
• AirDrop: The sound for AirDrop transfers.
• Keyboard Clicks: A subtle sound when you type.
• Lock Sound: The sound your iPhone makes when you lock it.

For each of these, you can tap on the option and choose from the available sounds or purchase new ones from the Tone Store.

Creating Custom Ringtones from Songs

Ever wanted to use a specific part of your favorite song as your ringtone? While Apple doesn’t have a direct “song to ringtone” converter built into the iPhone, you can do it using a computer or even directly on your iPhone with a little help from the GarageBand app.

Method 1: Using GarageBand on iPhone (No Computer Needed!)

This is a fantastic way to create custom ringtones from songs you own without needing a computer.

1. Get the Song: Make sure the song you want to use is available in your iPhone’s Music library (purchased from iTunes or synced from Apple Music if you have a subscription).
2. Open GarageBand: Download and open the free GarageBand app from the App Store if you don’t have it.
3. Create a New Song: Tap the “+” icon to create a new song. Choose any instrument (like the keyboard).
4. Enter Tracks View: Tap the tracks icon (looks like stacked horizontal lines) in the top left to switch to the track view.
5. Add Your Song: Tap the loop icon (looks like a lasso) in the top right. Select “Music” and find the song you want to use. Drag the song onto a track in GarageBand.
6. Trim the Song: The song will appear as a blue or green bar. Tap on the song bar to select it, then drag the ends to trim it to the section you want. Ringtones can be up to 30 seconds long.
7. Export as Ringtone: Tap the down arrow in the top left to go back to “My Songs.”
8. Save and Export: Long-press on the song project you just created. Select “Share.”
9. Choose Ringtone: Tap “Ringtone.” You might see a prompt to “Continue” or “Trim” if it’s too long.
10. Name Your Ringtone: Give your ringtone a name.
11. Export: Tap “Export.”
12. Use as Ringtone: Once exported, GarageBand will ask if you want to use the sound as a Standard Ringtone, Text Tone, or assign it to a Contact. Choose your preference or tap “OK” to assign it later in Contacts or Settings.

Method 2: Using a Computer (iTunes/Finder)

This method requires a Mac or PC with iTunes (for older macOS or Windows) or Finder (for newer macOS).

1. Get the Song: Ensure the song is in your iTunes/Music library.
2. Trim the Song: In iTunes/Music, right-click on the song and select “Song Info” (or “Get Info”). Go to the “Options” tab. Set the “Start” and “Stop” times to create a clip up to 30 seconds long. Click “OK.”
3. Create AAC Version: With the song selected, go to File > Convert > Create AAC Version. This will create a duplicate of the song, but only the 30-second trimmed portion.
4. Locate the AAC File: Right-click the new trimmed version and select “Show in Finder” (Mac) or “Show in Windows Explorer” (Windows).
5. Change File Extension: Rename the file and change its extension from `.m4a` to `.m4r`. Confirm the change if prompted.
6. Add to Tones:
   • On Mac (macOS Catalina or later): Open Finder, connect your iPhone. Drag the `.m4r` file directly into your iPhone’s “General” tab or the “Tones” section if it appears.
   • On Mac (older macOS) or Windows: Open iTunes. Drag the `.m4r` file into the “Tones” section of iTunes. Then, sync your iPhone with iTunes.
7. Sync Your iPhone: Ensure your iPhone is connected and synced with iTunes/Finder.
8. Find in Settings: Your custom ringtone should now appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone under the “Ringtones” or “Purchased Tones” section.

This method is a bit more technical but gives you precise control over song clips.

Troubleshooting Common Ringtone Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them:

Issue: Purchased Ringtone Not Appearing

Solution:

• Check Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
• Sync Tones: If you purchased on another device, try syncing your iPhone with your computer or go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Turn Off and then Turn On.
• Restore Purchases: In Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, scroll to the very top. You should see a “Tone Store” option. Tap it, and look for a “Restore Purchases” link (it might be under your account).
• Restart Your iPhone: A simple restart can often resolve minor glitches.

Issue: Custom Ringtone Created with GarageBand is Missing

Solution:

• Check Export: Did you export it as a Ringtone and not a song? Go back to GarageBand, long-press the project, select Share, and choose Ringtone.
• Check in Settings: Ensure you selected “Use as Standard Ringtone” or assigned it correctly. It should appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
• Restart iPhone: Again, a restart can help.

Issue: Ringtone Volume is Too Low or Too High

Solution:

• Use Volume Buttons: While not on the Ringtone screen, press the physical volume up or down buttons on the side of your iPhone. A volume slider will appear on the screen.
• Check Settings: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Use the “Ringer and Alerts” slider to adjust the overall volume. Make sure “Change with Buttons” is toggled on if you want the side buttons to control this slider.

Issue: Ringtone Not Playing for a Specific Contact

Solution:

• Verify Contact Settings: Go to Contacts, select the contact, tap “Edit,” scroll down to “Ringtone,” and confirm your custom selection is still there and saved.
• Check Default Ringtone: Ensure the default ringtone is set correctly in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
• Restart iPhone: A quick reboot might fix communication issues between the Contacts app and the sound system.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Ringtone

Selecting a ringtone is a personal choice, but here are a few tips to help you find the one that’s just right:

• Consider the Length: Ringtones are typically 30 seconds or less. Ensure the most recognizable or impactful part of your chosen sound falls within this window.
• Test in Different Environments: What sounds good in a quiet room might be too subtle in a noisy street. Try out a few options and see how they perform in your daily life.
• Avoid Overly Annoying Sounds: While catchy, a sound that’s too jarring or repetitive might quickly become irritating to you and those around you.
• Think About Different Alerts: Assign distinct sounds for calls versus texts, and perhaps even different ringtones for important people versus general contacts. This helps you prioritize notifications without even looking.
• Keep it Simple: Sometimes, the simplest, clearest tones are the most effective for ensuring you don’t miss a call.

iPhone Ringtone vs. Text Tone vs. Alert Tones: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to get these terms mixed up. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Tone Type	Purpose	Where to Change	Example Sounds
Ringtone	Alerts you when someone calls your iPhone.	Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone	Marimba, Opening, Reflection, Custom Songs
Text Tone	Alerts you for incoming text messages (iMessage, SMS) and other message-based notifications.	Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone	Tri-tone, Chime, Glass, Custom Tones
Alert Tones	Various sounds for system events like calendar alerts, reminders, new mail, etc.	Settings > Sounds & Haptics > [Specific Alert Type]	Alarm, Bleep, Crest, Droplet, etc.

You can also assign specific Ringtones and Text Tones to individual contacts via the Contacts app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I get more ringtones for my iPhone?

A1: You can purchase new ringtones from the Tone Store, which is accessible directly from the Ringtone settings menu in your iPhone. You can also create custom ringtones from your own music files using GarageBand or a computer.

Q2: Can I use any song as a ringtone?

A2: Yes, you can use a song from your music library as a ringtone, but it needs to be trimmed to 30 seconds or less. The easiest way to do this is with the free GarageBand app on your iPhone.

Q3: My new ringtone isn’t showing up. What should I do?

A3: First, try restarting your iPhone. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and tap “Tone Store” at the top. Look for an option to “Restore Purchases.” Ensure you’re signed into the Apple ID used for the purchase.

Q4: How do I make my ringtone louder?

A4: You can adjust the ringer volume using the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone. For a more permanent setting, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and adjust the “Ringer and Alerts” slider. Make sure “Change with Buttons” is enabled if you want the side buttons to control this specific slider.

Q5: Can I set a different ringtone for each person?

A5: Absolutely! Open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap “Edit,” scroll down to “Ringtone,” and choose a specific sound for that person. This custom ringtone will override your default ringtone for calls from that contact.

Q6: What’s the difference between Ringtone and Text Tone?

A6: The Ringtone plays when someone calls you, while the Text Tone plays when you receive a text message or other message-based notifications. Both can be customized in Settings > Sounds & Haptics.

Q7: How do I turn off my ringtone completely?

A7: You can use the Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone (usually near the volume buttons). Slide it towards the back of the phone to silence your iPhone; a small orange line will appear on the switch. You can also go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and turn the “Ringer and Alerts” volume all the way down, but the Ring/Silent switch is the quickest method.

Conclusion

Changing your iPhone ringtone is a simple yet satisfying way to personalize your device and make it truly your own. Whether you’re sticking with a classic Apple tone, downloading a catchy tune from the Tone Store, or even crafting a unique ringtone from your favorite song using GarageBand, the process is straightforward and rewarding. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily customize your call alerts and even set specific sounds for your most important contacts.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Your iPhone is a tool for communication and entertainment, and its sounds should reflect your style and preferences. With these tips, you’re well-equipped to make your iPhone sound exactly the way you want it to. Enjoy your newly personalized iPhone experience!