How do I add an audio file to my ringtone on Android?

In this guide, I will show you how to add audio files as custom ringtones on Android phones. With just a few simple steps, you can set any song or audio clip as your default ringtone or assign unique ringtones to specific contacts.

The ability to use custom audio files as ringtones is a great way to personalize your phone. You can choose songs and sounds that reflect your personality or help you identify callers without even looking at your phone. While the general process is similar across Android devices, the exact steps may vary depending on your phone’s model and Android version.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to select audio files from your phone’s storage or music library, set them as ringtones, adjust ringtone volume and assign them to individual contacts. Let’s get started!

Locate the Audio File

The first step is to locate an audio file saved on your Android device that you want to use as your custom ringtone. The most common audio file formats used for ringtones on Android are MP3, AAC, and OGG files ^[1]. So you’ll need an audio file in one of these formats already saved on your device or SD card that you want to set as your ringtone.

MP3 is the most widely compatible and popular audio format for ringtones on Android ^[2]. So an MP3 audio file is your best option if you want to use an existing song or audio clip as your custom ringtone. Locate the MP3, AAC, or OGG audio file saved on your device’s internal storage or SD card that you want to use.

Open the Settings App

To add a custom audio file as your ringtone on Android, you first need to open the Settings app. Here’s how:

On most Android devices, you can access the Settings app by swiping down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu. Tap the gear icon to launch Settings.

Alternatively, open the app drawer and locate the Settings app. It usually looks like a gear icon. Tap to open it.

On Samsung Galaxy devices, swipe down from the top and tap the gear icon labeled “Settings.” You can also swipe up to access the Apps screen and tap the Settings app icon.

Once you have the Settings screen open, you’re ready to navigate to the sound settings to change your ringtone.

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Navigate to Sound Settings

To change your ringtone on Android, you first need to open the Settings app and navigate to the Sound section. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device. You can find this in your app drawer or by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.
2. Once in Settings, scroll down and tap on “Sound”. This is where you can customize all your audio settings.
3. On some Android devices, the Sound menu may be labelled “Sound & vibration” or “Sound & notification”. It depends on your specific phone model.
4. You may also see separate menus for Ringtone, Media volume, Alarm volume, etc. Navigate to the “Ringtone” section.

The Ringtone section is where you can select an audio file to set as your default incoming call ringtone. Now that you’ve located it, you’re ready to choose the sound file you want.

Select Ringtone Option

To change the ringtone on an Android phone, go to the Settings app and navigate to Sound settings. There is usually an option called Ringtone, Tone, Phone Ringtone or something similar. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Ringtone. On a Pixel phone, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Phone ringtone. Once you are in the Ringtone section, you will see options for choosing ringtones.

As an example, on a Samsung Galaxy S10, open the Settings app and select Sounds and vibration. On the next screen, select Ringtone to open the ringtone selection screen. Here you will see options to select a system ringtone or choose an audio file for a custom ringtone (Source: https://www.theverge.com/23912669/ringtone-android-pixel-galaxy-mobile-how-to).

Choose Audio File

Once in the Sound settings, select the “Ringtone” option. This will bring up a list of ringtones available on your device. To select a custom audio file as your ringtone, tap the “Add” button near the top right. This will open up your phone’s file explorer.

Navigate to the location where your audio file is stored. This may be in the Music folder, Downloads folder, or any other folder where you have stored audio files. Tap on the audio file you want to set as your ringtone to select it.

According to Android Authority, you can select MP3, WAV, or other audio file formats. Just make sure you have permission to use the file as a ringtone.

Set as Ringtone

Once you have selected the audio file you want to use as your ringtone, you need to confirm setting it as the new ringtone. Here are the steps:

1. After tapping on the audio file, you will see a preview screen. Tap on the “Set as” option.
2. This will open a dialog where you can choose to set it as your Default ringtone, Default notification sound, Default alarm sound, or Contact ringtone.
3. Tap on “Phone ringtone” to confirm setting it as your default ringtone.
4. You will see a confirmation that the audio file is now set as your ringtone. Your new ringtone will now play when you receive incoming calls.

That’s it! You have successfully changed your default ringtone to the custom audio file.

Adjust Ringtone Volume

The volume level for your ringtone can be adjusted separately from other sound volumes on your Android device. This allows you to customize the ringtone volume based on your preferences and situation.

To adjust the ringtone volume, open the Settings app and go to the Sound section. Look for an option like “Ringtone volume” or “Call volume” and drag the slider to increase or decrease the volume as desired. Typically, the ringtone volume is kept louder than media or alarm volumes so that incoming calls can be heard.

Note that ringtone volume can be adjusted at any time, not just when setting a new ringtone. You may want to decrease the ringtone volume at night or in meetings and increase it when you are outdoors and need louder notification.¹

It’s also possible to separately control the volume for media, alarms, and system sounds like keyboard clicks if you need them to be different levels. Just toggle between each option in Sound settings to customize as needed.

Customize Per Contact

One helpful feature of Android is the ability to set unique ringtones for individual contacts. This allows you to easily identify who is calling or messaging without having to check your phone. To set a custom ringtone per contact:

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want to customize.

2. Tap the menu icon in the top right and choose Set ringtone.

3. You will see a list of ringtones available on your device. Select the audio file you want to use as that contact’s ringtone.

4. Confirm your selection. Now when that person calls or messages you, your phone will play the unique ringtone you picked.

Customizing ringtones for individual contacts helps personalize your phone and makes it easier to know who is getting in touch without having to look at the screen. It’s a simple way to add a bit more convenience to your Android experience.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the key steps for adding an audio file as a custom ringtone on Android devices. The main process involves locating your desired audio file, opening your phone’s Settings app, navigating to the Sound/Ringtone options, selecting the audio file, setting it as your default ringtone or assigning it to a specific contact, and adjusting the ringtone volume.

With just a few taps, you can personalize your phone’s ringtone and alerts using any MP3, WAV, or other audio file from your music library or downloads. Customizing your ringtones allows you to set unique tones for special contacts so you can identify callers without even looking at your phone.

We hope this straightforward guide provided a helpful overview of how to add audio files as custom ringtones on your Android device. Please share any feedback on this tutorial and let us know if you have any other questions!