The ringtone is the sound your iPhone uses for incoming phone calls. You can choose from built-in tones and any additional tones that are available on the device.
Change the Default Ringtone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Sounds & Haptics.
- Tap Ringtone.
- Tap a tone to preview it.
- Leave the selected tone checked.
Use a Different Ringtone for One Contact
- Open Contacts.
- Select the person.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap Ringtone.
- Choose the tone you want.
- Save the contact.
Adjust Ringtone Volume
Use the Ringtone and Alerts control in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. This is separate from the volume you use for videos and music.
If the iPhone Does Not Ring
Check Silent mode, Focus settings, the alert volume, and whether the specific contact has unusual settings. Changing the ringtone itself will not help if the phone is intentionally silencing calls.
Purchased and Custom Tones
Additional ringtones can appear alongside Apple’s built-in tones when they have been purchased or added through supported methods. If a custom tone disappears after a device change or restore, verify that it is still available to the current iPhone rather than assuming the Sounds settings are broken.
Use Contact-Specific Ringtones Sparingly
Custom ringtones for a few important contacts can help you recognize callers without looking at the screen. If every contact has a different tone, however, the system can become harder to manage than the default ringtone.
Check the Selected Tone After Restoring a Backup
If you recently restored or migrated the iPhone, verify that the ringtone you expect is still selected. A device change can sometimes leave you using a different available tone than the one you remember.