Change your ringtone through Settings on any iPhone model

Open the Settings app, tap Sounds & Haptics (or Sounds on older models), then tap Ringtone. You'll 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 shows which tone is currently active. This takes about 30 seconds and works on iPhone 6 and newer.

If you don't see a tone you like in the built-in list, you have two other routes: use a tone you've purchased from the iTunes Store, or create a custom ringtone from a song in your Music app. Both require extra steps, but both are free once you own the audio file.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are found in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and take effect immediately when you tap them.
  • You can purchase additional ringtones through the iTunes Store and they appear in your ringtone list after download.
  • Custom ringtones made from your own music files require GarageBand on your iPhone or a Mac computer to create a 30-second clip.
  • Ringtones you create or buy are stored only on your iPhone; they don't sync to other devices unless you manually transfer them.

Buy a ringtone from the iTunes Store

Open the iTunes Store app (or the Music app on newer iPhones), search for "ringtones," and browse by genre or artist. Tap the price button next to any ringtone, then tap Buy. You'll be charged to your Apple ID account. The ringtone downloads automatically and appears in your Sounds & Haptics ringtone list within seconds.

Ringtones in the iTunes Store cost between 99 cents and a few dollars each. You own the ringtone once purchased and can set it as your default ringtone or assign it to specific contacts. If you delete it from your iPhone, you can re-download it free from your purchase history.

Create a custom ringtone from a song you own

If you have a song in your Music app and want to use a 30-second clip as your ringtone, you'll need GarageBand. Open GarageBand, create a new project, tap the loop icon, search for your song, and drag it into the timeline. Trim it to 30 seconds or less, then tap the share icon, select Ringtone, name it, and tap Export. The ringtone appears in your Sounds & Haptics list immediately.

GarageBand is free and comes pre-installed on most iPhones. If you don't have it, download it from the App Store. The process takes about five minutes once you're familiar with the app. You can also use a Mac computer with GarageBand or iTunes to create a ringtone and sync it to your iPhone, though the iPhone method is faster for most people.

Set a different ringtone for specific contacts

Open the Contacts app, tap the person's name, tap Edit, then tap the phone number field. Scroll down and tap Ringtone, then choose which tone you want for that contact. Tap Done. Now when that person calls, your iPhone will play their assigned ringtone instead of your default one.

This works with any ringtone — built-in, purchased, or custom. You can assign different tones to family members, work contacts, or anyone else in your contacts list. If you later change your default ringtone in Settings, the custom ringtones you've assigned to specific people stay the same.

Troubleshoot if your ringtone isn't working

If you set a ringtone but your iPhone plays the default tone instead, check that your phone isn't in Silent mode. The physical mute switch on the left side of your iPhone silences all sounds including ringtones. Flip it so the orange indicator is not visible, and your ringtone will play on incoming calls.

If the mute switch is off and your ringtone still isn't playing, restart your iPhone by powering it off and back on. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and confirm your ringtone is still selected. If you purchased a ringtone and it's no longer in your list, try re-downloading it from your purchase history in the iTunes Store. If a custom ringtone you created disappeared, check that you didn't accidentally delete it from your iPhone.

Move a ringtone to another iPhone or iPad

Ringtones don't sync automatically through iCloud like photos or messages do. To move a custom ringtone to another device, connect your current iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer with iTunes or Finder, locate the ringtone file in the device storage, and copy it to your computer. Then connect your other iPhone and paste the file into its device storage.

Purchased ringtones from the iTunes Store are tied to your Apple ID. Sign into the same Apple ID on your new iPhone, open the iTunes Store, go to your purchase history, and re-download the ringtones you want. They'll appear in your Sounds & Haptics list on the new device. This is simpler than moving custom ringtones and takes just a few taps.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly. Streaming apps don't let you export songs to use as ringtones. You need to own the audio file. If you have the song downloaded to your Music app (through iTunes purchase or local file), you can create a ringtone from it using GarageBand. Otherwise, you'll need to purchase the song or a ringtone version from the iTunes Store.

Why does my ringtone sound different than it did before?

iOS updates sometimes reset your ringtone to the default. Check Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to see what's currently selected. If it changed, tap your preferred tone again to re-set it. Also confirm the mute switch isn't on, because a silent phone will play no sound even if a ringtone is selected.

What's the longest ringtone I can create?

Ringtones can be up to 40 seconds long on iPhone. Most people trim them to 15 to 30 seconds so they don't take too long to play. In GarageBand, you can trim your audio clip to any length under 40 seconds before exporting it as a ringtone.

Do I need to pay to change my ringtone?

No. All built-in ringtones are free and come with your iPhone. You only pay if you want to purchase additional ringtones from the iTunes Store or if you want to buy a song to turn into a custom ringtone. Creating a custom ringtone from music you already own costs nothing.