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How to Change the Ringtone on iPhone

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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How to Change the Ringtone on iPhone

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Changing the ringtone on your iPhone is a straightforward process, but it gives your device a personal touch, allowing you to choose the sound that plays when you receive an incoming call. This guide will explain in detail, step by step, how you can change the ringtone on your iPhone. Additionally, we will explain how to purchase new ringtones and even create your own custom ringtone. Let's get started!

Step-by-step guide to changing ringtone

1. Unlock your iPhone: Start unlocking your iPhone using your passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID.

2. Open the Settings app: Find the “Settings” app on your home screen. The icon looks like a set of gray gears. Tap it to open the app.

3. Go to Sounds and Haptics: Scroll down until you see the option labeled “Sounds and Haptics.” Tap this option to go to the next menu.

4. Choose a ringtone: In the Sounds & Haptics menu, find the “Ringtone” option and tap on it. This will take you to the list of available ringtones.

5. Select Ringtone: You will see a list of ringtones available on your iPhone. Scroll through the list and tap on the ringtone to hear a preview. When you find a ringtone you like, just tap on it to select it. A checkmark will appear next to the selected ringtone.

How to buy new ringtones

In addition to the default ringtones available on your iPhone, you can also purchase new ringtones from the iTunes Store. Here's how:

1. Open the iTunes Store app: Find and open the “iTunes Store” app on your iPhone. The icon looks like a musical note on a purple background.

2. Tap More: In the bottom-right corner of the screen, tap the “More” option represented by three dots.

3. Select a tone: In the More menu, tap the "Tones" option to browse available ringtones.

4. Browse and preview ringtones: You can browse through different categories and genres of ringtones. Tap on any ringtone to hear the preview.

5. Buy a ringtone: When you find a ringtone you like, tap the price button next to it. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password to confirm the purchase.

6. Set ringtone: After purchasing a ringtone, you will have the option to immediately set it as your default ringtone. If you don't want to set it right away, you can always go back to the "Sounds & Haptics" menu in Settings and select it from your list of ringtones.

How to create a custom ringtones

If you want to use a specific song or sound as your ringtone, you can create a custom ringtone. This process involves using iTunes on your computer. Follow these steps to create a custom ringtone:

1. Open iTunes on your computer: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. Open the iTunes application.

2. Choose a song: Select the song you want to use as a ringtone from your iTunes library. Note that the song must be one you purchased or imported into iTunes.

3. Trim the song: The ringtone can be up to 30 seconds long. Right-click (or Control-click) the song and select "Song Info" or "Get Info." Switch to the "Options" tab and set the start and end times for your ringtone. For example, if you want the ringtone to start at 0:30 and end at 1:00, enter these times in the Start and End fields. Click "OK" to save the changes.

4. Create an AAC version: Right-click (or Control-click) the song again and select "Create an AAC version." iTunes will create a new version of the song with the specified start and end times.

5. Find the file: Right-click (or Control-click) the new version of the song and choose “Show in Finder” (Mac) or “Show in Windows Explorer” (Windows). This will open the folder containing the file.

6. Change the file extension: The new file will have a .m4a file extension. Rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, which is the file format for ringtones.

7. Add the ringtone to iTunes: Drag the .m4r file back into iTunes. It will be added to the "Tones" section of your iTunes library.

8. Sync your iPhone: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. Select your iPhone in iTunes and go to the “Tones” tab. Make sure the ringtone is selected to sync, then click “Apply” to sync your iPhone.

9. Choose a custom ringtone: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. You'll see your custom ringtone in the list. Tap on it to select it as your ringtone.

Additional tips and information

Assigning ringtones to contacts

You can even assign specific ringtones to different contacts, so you know who's calling without looking at the screen.

1. Open the Contacts app: Open the “Contacts” app on your iPhone or access your contacts through the “Phone” app.

2. Select contact: Find and select the contact for whom you want to assign a specific ringtone.

3. Edit a contact: Tap "Edit" in the upper-right corner of the contact's screen.

4. Assign a ringtone: Scroll down to find the “Ringtone” field and tap on it. Select the ringtone from the list and tap “Done” to save the changes.

Manage ringtone settings

In addition to setting a ringtone for calls, you can also customize other alert sounds on your iPhone, such as for text messages, emails, and calendar alerts. These settings are also found in the “Sounds and Haptics” menu:

1. Text Tone: Tap "Text Tone" to choose the sound for incoming text messages.

2. New mail: Tap “New mail” to set the sound for new email alerts.

3. Calendar Alerts: Tap "Calendar Alerts" to choose the sound for calendar event notifications.

4. Reminder Alert: Tap "Reminder Alert" to choose a sound for the reminder.

Troubleshooting tips

If you encounter any problems while trying to change your ringtone, here are some troubleshooting tips:

1. Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates.

2. Restart your iPhone: Sometimes, restarting your iPhone can fix minor software glitches. To force a restart, press and hold the Power button (or Volume Up and Power buttons on newer models) until the "Slide to Power Off" slider appears. Slide it to turn the phone off, then press and hold the Power button again to turn it back on.

3. Check the ringtone settings: Double-check that you've selected the ringtone you want in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.

4. Re-sync with iTunes: If your custom ringtone doesn’t show up, reconnect your iPhone to iTunes and re-sync the ringtone.

5. Reset All Settings: If all else fails, you can reset all settings on your iPhone. This won't delete your data, but it will reset the settings to their defaults. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

Conclusion

Changing the ringtone on your iPhone is a simple process that allows you to personalize your device. Whether you choose one of the default ringtones, purchase a new ringtone from the iTunes Store, or create a custom ringtone, you can easily set it as your default ringtone through the Settings app. Additionally, you can assign unique ringtones to individual contacts to make your iPhone experience even more personalized. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you'll be setting the ringtone you want in no time.

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