How to Set a Ringtone for an Android Contact

Last Updated: August 17, 2022

This wikiHow teaches you how to assign a special ringtone to an individual contact on your Android. If you're using a Samsung model, you can use the Phone app to do this. If you have another model of Android, such as a OnePlus or Moto handset, you can use Google Contacts.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Samsung Galaxy

1
Open the Phone app. It's the green-and-white phone receiver icon on the home screen.^{[1]
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2
Tap the Contacts tab. This displays a list of your contacts.

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3
Tap a contact. Some options will expand below.
4
Tap the small "i" in a circle or Details. You will see one of these options below the contact's name and phone number.^{[2]
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5
Tap Edit. It's at the bottom of the contact's info.
6
Tap Ringtone. If you don't see this option, tap View More first. A list of ringtones on your Android will appear.
7
Tap the ringtone you want to use. Selecting a ringtone will play a preview.
- If you downloaded a ringtone and want to use that instead, tap the + at the top-right corner, select Sound picker if prompted, and choose your sound file.
8
Tap Done once you've chosen a ringtone. It's at the top-right corner. This returns you to your contact's information.
9
Tap Save. It's at the bottom-right corner. The next time your contact calls you, you will hear the selected ringtone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Other Androids

1
Open the Google Contacts app. The Google Contacts app comes preinstalled on all Google Pixels, the latest OnePlus models, Moto Power, and many other popular handsets. Look for a blue square app icon with a white outline of a person inside—it'll be in your app list as "Contacts."
- Some Androids come with a different app called Contacts—you may be able to use that app to change a person's ringtone, but the steps will be different.
- If you don't have Google Contacts, you can download it from the Play Store.
2
Tap the contact you want to edit. This opens the contact's details.
3
Tap the three vertical dots at the top-right corner. A menu will expand.
4
Tap Set ringtone on the menu. A list of ringtones will expand.^{[3]
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5
Tap the ringtone you want to use. This assigns the selected ringtone to your contact. You can now close the Contacts app or use the back button to customize another contact.
- If you want to choose an audio file instead of one of the built-in ringtones, select Add ringtone at the bottom of the list, tap the three-line menu, tap Files, tap Audio, and then choose the song.^{[4]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I extend the length of a ring tone?

Community Answer

Load the sound into a sound editor (Audacity, Sound Forge, etc), select the whole sound, Ctrl+C to copy, go to the end of the soundwave, and Ctrl+V as many times as you want it to repeat. Save it with a different name and copy it back to your device. Select the new sound in your device. Done!
Question

How do I make up words for a ring tone?

Community Answer

You can use Audacity (free for both Linux and Windows), and then record the words yourself, or let someone else do it. Export the file as an MP3 and copy it over to the Android. The Ringdroid app will find it, if it is for a specific contact.
Question

How can I get specific ring tone sets for my contacts?

Community Answer

First, click on the contact you want to set the ringtone to. Then, hit the three dots on the top right and then select edit. There should be an option to make a specific ringtone for the person.