How to change the ringtone on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Apple has a good selection of ringtones for the iPhone, but even they can get old. Here's how to change your ringtone with either one you've bought from Apple or made for yourself, as well as how to set specific ringtones for individual contacts.

It happens to most of us at one point or another — ringtone fatigue. Fortunately, it's easy enough to switch your ringtone whenever you want, and it only takes a few seconds.

How to change the ringtone on your iPhone

Open Settings
Tap Sound & Haptics
Under Sounds and Vibration Patterns, tap the sound you wish to change
Tap Done

Tip: This isn't just for the iPhone, either. You can also set ringtones for the iPad and the iPod touch.

You can also set ringtones for individual contacts, which can be especially useful if you're the type of person who screens your calls.

How to set a ringtone for a specific contact

Open Contacts
Tap the contact you'd like to set the ringtone for
Tap Edit
Tap Ringtone
Tap the song or ringtone you'd like to set
Tap Done

You can also set custom text tones and vibration patterns in this same section.

If you don't like any of the default ringtones, you can always head to Apple's ringtone store and buy new ringtones as well.

How to buy ringtones for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Open iTunes Store
At the bottom, tap More
Tap Tones
Browse for a ringtone you like
Tap the price
Choose whether to set it as a default ringtone, text tone, or assign it to a contact, or tap Done to set it later
Confirm your purchase

Of course, making your own ringtones is an entirely separate matter. If you're interested in making your own, we have a helpful guide that shows you how to do it with GarageBand.