Where to find ringtone settings on your iPhone

Open the Settings app — the gray icon with gears on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics. You'll see a list of sound options. Tap Ringtone to see what's available and pick a new one. The phone plays a preview when you tap each option so you can hear it before you commit.

This is the fastest way to change your ringtone, and it works on every iPhone model. The ringtone you pick here is what plays when someone calls you from your phone number — not when you're texting or using other apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, then Ringtone to pick from Apple's built-in sounds.
  • You can buy additional ringtones from the iTunes Store and they will appear in your ringtone list automatically.
  • If you create your own ringtone using GarageBand or another app, you can set it as your ringtone through the Files app or by sharing it directly.
  • Different contacts can have different ringtones if you assign custom sounds to them individually in your Contacts app.

Using Apple's built-in ringtones

Apple includes about 30 ringtones on every iPhone. When you open Sounds & Haptics and tap Ringtone, you're looking at all of them. Scroll through the list and tap any one to hear it play. A checkmark appears next to whichever ringtone is currently active.

These built-in ringtones are organized by name — Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, and so on. Some are straightforward tones, others are short musical phrases. None of them cost anything, and they're stored directly on your phone, so they work even if you don't have an internet connection.

Buying ringtones from the iTunes Store

If you want a ringtone that isn't built in, you can buy one. Open the iTunes Store app on your iPhone and tap the search icon at the bottom. Search for "ringtones" or search for a specific song or artist. When you find one you want, tap the price button (usually $1.29) and confirm the purchase with Face ID or your Apple ID password.

Once you buy a ringtone, it downloads automatically and appears in your Sounds & Haptics ringtone list within a few seconds. You can then set it as your default ringtone the same way you would a built-in one — just tap it and the checkmark moves to that option.

You can also buy ringtones on a Mac or Windows computer through iTunes, and they sync to your iPhone automatically if you have iCloud Music Library turned on. This is useful if you prefer shopping on a larger screen.

Creating and using your own ringtone

If you want to use a song or sound you've made or recorded, you can create a ringtone using GarageBand (Apple's free music app) or by converting an audio file. GarageBand lets you record directly or import a song, trim it to 30 seconds or less, and export it as a ringtone. When you export, choose "Ringtone" as the output type and it saves directly to your phone's ringtone list.

If you have an audio file from another source, you can use a free converter app to turn it into a ringtone format, then share it to your iPhone. Open the file on your phone and choose "Save to Files" or "Save to Ringtones" depending on what the app offers. The file then appears in your ringtone list.

Ringtones you create yourself must be 30 seconds or shorter. If your audio is longer, trim it in GarageBand or another audio editor before you export it as a ringtone.

Setting different ringtones for specific contacts

You don't have to use the same ringtone for everyone. Open the Contacts app and find the person you want to customize. Tap Edit in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Ringtone. Pick the ringtone you want this contact to use, then tap Done at the top right.

Now when that person calls, their custom ringtone plays instead of your default one. This is useful if you want to know when ready who's calling without looking at your screen — for example, a loud, distinctive tone for your boss or a quiet one for calls you can let go to voicemail.

You can set a different ringtone for each contact in your phone. If a contact doesn't have a custom ringtone assigned, the default ringtone you set in Sounds & Haptics plays instead.

Troubleshooting when your ringtone won't change

If you tap a new ringtone but the old one still plays when someone calls, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off the phone, wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent ringtone changes from taking effect.

If you bought a ringtone and it's not showing up in your list, check that you're signed in to the same Apple ID on your iPhone that you used to buy it. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and confirm the Apple ID shown is correct. If it's different, sign out and sign back in with the account you used for the purchase.

If your phone is on silent mode, no ringtone will play — you'll only feel vibration. Check the physical mute switch on the left side of your iPhone. If it's flipped toward the back of the phone, your device is in silent mode. Flip it toward the front to turn sound back on.

Why your ringtone choice matters for device control

Changing your ringtone is one of the few sound settings you control directly on your iPhone. Unlike notifications from apps — which you can silence individually through Settings — your ringtone is a system-level choice that affects how you're interrupted during calls. Knowing where this setting lives and how to customize it means you're not stuck with whatever Apple chose as the default.

Custom ringtones for specific contacts also give you control over your attention. You can make important calls obvious and less urgent ones subtle, which is a form of managing how your device demands your time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Apple Music as my ringtone?

Not directly. Apple Music songs are protected by copyright and can't be set as ringtones. You can buy the same song as a ringtone from the iTunes Store, or you can use GarageBand to record yourself humming or playing the melody and export that as a ringtone instead.

What happens to my custom ringtones if I get a new iPhone?

Ringtones you bought from the iTunes Store sync automatically to your new iPhone if you sign in with the same Apple ID and have iCloud turned on. Ringtones you created yourself don't sync — you'll need to recreate them or transfer them manually using a computer or the Files app.

Why doesn't my ringtone play when I'm on WiFi calling?

WiFi calling uses the same ringtone as regular calls, so the issue is usually that your phone is in silent mode or the volume is turned all the way down. Check the mute switch on the side of your phone and use the volume buttons to turn sound up while you're in Settings testing the ringtone.

Can I set a different ringtone for FaceTime calls?

FaceTime calls use your default ringtone — you can't assign a separate one. However, you can set a custom ringtone for a specific contact, and that ringtone will play for both regular calls and FaceTime calls from that person.