How do I create a ringback tone for Android?

What is a ringback tone?

A ringback tone is a custom sound that plays for the person calling you instead of the normal ringing sound while they wait for you to answer [1]. Ringback tones replace the standard ringtone heard by the caller with music, a song snippet, a sound effect, or even a recorded message. When someone calls your number, they’ll hear your unique ringback tone rather than the monotonous ringing sound [2].

Ringback tones allow you to personalize the calling experience for your contacts. You get to choose the sound they hear when reaching out to you. It’s an easy way to express your personality or interests every time the phone rings.

Benefits of custom ringbacks

Using a custom ringback tone has some great benefits. One of the main benefits is that it allows you to express your personality. By choosing a ringback tone that represents your tastes in music, interests, or sense of humor, you give callers a little glimpse into who you are before you even answer the phone. This can be a fun way to share a bit of your personality with your friends and family when they call you.

Another major benefit of custom ringbacks is that they entertain callers while they wait for you to answer. Default ringback tones can be boring or even annoying for people calling you. But when you set a fun, unique ringback tone, it gives them something enjoyable to listen to instead of just hearing ring after ring. Whether it’s a clip of a favorite song, a silly sound effect, or a funny message recording, it keeps callers engaged instead of frustrated when you can’t pick up right away.

Overall, custom ringback tones let you showcase your personality and provide some entertainment for your callers. So they’re a great way to customize your phone experience and make it more “you.”

Finding ringback tones

There are a couple ways to find ringback tones for your Android phone.

Searching app stores

One of the easiest ways is to search for “ringback apps” in the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store if you have a Samsung device. There are many apps dedicated to providing ringbacks, ringtones, and other sounds. Browse the selection to find a ringback tone you like. Many apps allow you to listen to tones before downloading them.

Downloading from websites

You can also find ringback tones to download on various websites. Search for “ringback tones” or “ringback downloads” to find sites offering tones to download directly to your computer or phone. Be cautious about downloading files from shady websites. Stick to reputable sites like Zedge that have a wide selection of user-uploaded tones that have been verified safe.

Creating your own ringback

One of the best parts of using custom ringback tones is the ability to create your own personal ringback messages. Here are two ways to make your own ringbacks on Android:

Recording a personal message

You can record a custom voice message to use as your ringback. Here’s how:

Open the Voice Recorder app on your Android.
Hit the record button and start speaking. Keep your message under 20 seconds for best results.

Stop the recording when finished. You can replay it to make sure you’re happy with it.
Open the folder where the recording is saved and rename the file to something like “My Ringback”.
Make sure the recording is saved as an MP3 or other supported audio format.

You now have a custom voice recording that can be used as your ringback. When setting your ringback, you’ll just select this audio file.

Converting music files

You can also convert existing songs from your music library into ringback files. Here’s how:

Use an audio conversion app like MP3 Cutter and Ringtone Maker to open a song file.

Trim the song down to a 20 second excerpt.
Export the trimmed excerpt as an MP3 or other supported format.
Rename the file to something like “My Ringback Song”.

You now have a custom song excerpt file to use as your ringback. Just select it when choosing your ringback.

Creating your own ringbacks allows you to get really creative and personalize your caller experience.

Setting a Default Ringback Tone

To set a default ringback tone that will play for all incoming calls, first open the Settings app on your Android device.

Tap on Sound & vibration or Sounds & vibration depending on your Android version. This is where you can manage all sound settings on your device.

Next, tap on Phone ringtone. This will open up your list of ringtones. Tap on the ringtone you want to set as the default. An easy way to find ringback tones is to select the Ringback tones tab – this filters just the ringback options.

Once you select the ringtone, it will now play as the default ringback for all incoming calls. You can repeat these steps at any time to choose a new default ringback tone.

Some Android devices also have an option to set a default ringback within the Phone or Contacts app. Check the settings in these apps if you prefer to set the default ringback elsewhere.

Assigning ringbacks to contacts

You can assign a unique ringback tone for specific contacts on your Android phone. This allows you to set custom ringtones when those contacts call you.

To assign a custom ringback tone for a contact:

Open the Contacts app on your Android device.
Select the contact you want to assign a custom ringback tone.
Tap “Edit” in the upper right corner of the screen.

Scroll down and tap “Ringtone.”
You will see a list of ringtones. Tap “Add ringtone” at the bottom.
Select a ringtone from your device storage or select “Record new ringtone” to create your own.

Choose “OK” to set the selected ringtone as the custom ringback for that contact.

Now when that contact calls you, your phone will play the unique ringback tone you assigned instead of your default ringtone. You can repeat these steps to set custom ringbacks for other individual contacts as well.

Troubleshooting ringback issues

Sometimes your ringback doesn’t work as expected. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Ringback not changing

If you assigned a custom ringback but still hear the default tone, try these steps:

Make sure you properly saved the ringback after selecting it. Go back and double check it is assigned to the right contact.
Check if your phone needs a reboot to apply the new ringback. Power your phone off and back on.

Your carrier may require renewing the ringback subscription periodically. Verify it has not expired.

If you continue having issues, contact your carrier’s customer support for assistance.

Ringback cuts out

If your custom ringback starts but gets cut off prematurely, it’s typically a network issue. Here are some things to try:

Make sure you have a strong cellular signal when testing the ringback. Move to a location with better reception.
Contact your carrier and ask them to check for network problems in your area.
Try assigning the ringback again. Restart your phone and test it several times.

Persistent cut out issues may require help from your carrier’s technical team to investigate and resolve.

Changing or Removing Ringbacks

If you ever want to select a new ringback tone or go back to the default tone, it’s easy to change or remove the custom ringback you previously set.

To change or remove a ringback tone on your Android device:

Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
Select “Settings” from the menu.
Tap “Calls” and then select “Ringtone.”

This will open the ringback tone menu. From here you can:
- Select a new ringback tone from the available options.
- Tap “Default ringtone” to revert to the default tone.
- Tap “None” to disable the ringback and have no tone play.

That’s all there is to it! The ringback will be changed right away. Repeat these steps anytime you want to choose a different custom ringback or go back to the default.

Ringback tone tips

Keep custom ringback tones short and sweet. You only have about 30 seconds before the call connects, so choose a brief audio clip or song excerpt. Check the file format when downloading ringback tones. Make sure it is a supported audio format like MP3 or AAC. Some sites may offer tones in formats that don’t work on Android.

Ringback Tone Alternatives

If you want to customize the sound callers hear when ringing you, but don’t want a traditional ringback tone, there are a couple other options:

Custom ringtones: You can set a custom ringtone for your device that callers will hear when your phone rings. This allows you to choose from ringtones available on your phone or app store, rather than being limited to ringback tone catalogs. Setting a custom ringtone will make your phone ring differently for all callers.

Voicemail greetings: Another way to customize the caller experience is to record a personal voicemail greeting. When calls go to voicemail, callers will hear your greeting instead of the default voicemail message. You can get creative and record different greetings for different circumstances. This option doesn’t affect the ringing sound but allows you to customize the voicemail portion.[1]