How do I get music ringtones on my Android Phone?
What are ringtones?
A ringtone is a short audio clip that plays when someone calls your cell phone. Ringtones allow users to customize the sound their phone makes for incoming calls and notifications.
Ringtones first became popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s when mobile phones gained the ability to use midi files and other audio clips as ringtones. According to an article on the history of ringtones, Nokia was the first to introduce customizable ringtones in 1998 1. This allowed users to personalize their phones and set distinctive ringtones for contacts.
In the early days of mobile phones, ringtones were often popular songs or melody clips. Over time, ringtones expanded to include sound effects, audio quotes from movies/TV, and customized recordings. While ringtones sales have declined with the rise of streaming music services, they remain popular today for personalizing phones.
Ringtones allow users to express their personality or interests through their phone’s sound. They also serve a practical purpose of distinguishing your phone from others when it rings in public places. Most smartphones come with default ringtones, but customizing your ringtone is still a popular way to customize your device.
Benefits of custom ringtones
Using custom ringtones on your Android phone provides several benefits. One of the main advantages is that it lets you personalize your phone’s sound to your liking (Cisco, MP3 is a supported audio format for ringtones on many phones.
WAV
The WAV format is an uncompressed audio format. WAV files provide excellent audio quality, but also have large file sizes. WAV ringtones will take up more storage space on your phone.
MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a compact audio format. Rather than containing recordings of actual instruments, MIDI files contain music data that synthesizers can play. MIDI ringtones work well but may sound more artificial.
When selecting a music file for your ringtone, consider the file size and required audio quality. Formats like MP3 provide a good balance for most users.
How to get music for ringtones
There are a few different ways to get music that you can use for ringtones on your Android phone:
1. Download free ringtones online. Many websites offer free ringtones that you can download directly to your computer or phone. Be sure to use reputable sites to avoid downloading malware. Some good options are FreeRingtones.com and Mob.org.
2. Purchase ringtones from app stores. The Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore, and other mobile app stores have sections dedicated to ringtones that you can buy. This ensures you are getting high-quality audio files. Prices are generally $1-2 per ringtone.
3. Rip music from your personal collection. If you own the digital or physical album, you can extract songs and convert them into ringtones yourself. This allows you to customize ringtones from your favorite artists. We’ll go over how to do this conversion later.
The advantage of sources like free ringtone sites and app stores is convenience. However, ripping from your own music gives you more control over the exact songs, audio quality, and personalization of the ringtones.
Tools for converting songs to ringtones
There are a few different tools you can use to convert songs into ringtones for your Android phone.
Desktop Tools
One option is to use desktop audio editing software like Audacity. This free open source program allows you to open music files, cut them down to 30 seconds or less, and export them in a format like MP3 or M4R that will work as a ringtone.
The benefit of using a desktop tool like Audacity is that it gives you full control over the audio editing process. You can cut the song exactly how you want, add fades if desired, and tweak the volume and audio quality.
Online Converters
Another option is to use an online audio converter tool. These websites allow you to upload an audio file, trim it down, and download it as a ringtone file. Some popular online converters include OnlineVideoConverter, OnlineAudioConverter, and Media.io.
Online converters provide a quick and easy way to make ringtones without having to install any software. However, you may have less customization options compared to a desktop audio editor.
Android Apps
There are also apps you can download on your Android device that are designed specifically for converting songs into ringtones. Some top options include Ringtone Maker, Zedge, and Ringtone Maker Pro.
The benefit of Android apps is convenience – you can create ringtones directly on your phone. However, paid apps often have more features than free versions.
Cutting a song for use as a ringtone
Once you have chosen the song you want to use, you need to select the right section to cut out for your ringtone. The most recognizable part of the song with vocals is usually best.
Use an audio editing program like Audacity to open the full length song file. Listen through and decide which section you want to use – somewhere between 20-30 seconds is ideal. Highlight that selection to cut it out.
You’ll want to trim the beginning and end of your selection to avoid any abrupt transitions. Leave a slight fade in and fade out of about 0.25 seconds on each end. This helps the ringtone sound more seamless when it loops.
Having a nice fade in and out creates a better experience than just cutting the audio abruptly. It takes a bit more time but results in a more professional sounding ringtone.
Setting a Custom Ringtone on Android
Once you have downloaded or created your custom ringtone file, you are ready to set it as your default ringtone on your Android phone. Here is how to do it:
1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Tap on the “Sounds” option.
3. Under the Ringtones section, tap on “Ringtone.” This will open up a list of all your available ringtones.
4. Locate the custom ringtone file you want to set as default. Tap on the file name to preview it.
5. Tap on the “OK” button to confirm setting it as your default ringtone.
You should now hear your selected custom ringtone play whenever you receive a call. You can repeat these steps to set custom ringtones for other contacts, notifications, or alarms as well.
Troubleshooting ringtone issues
Sometimes you may set a custom ringtone on your Android device, but still encounter issues like the ringtone not appearing in the list, the ringtone playing as a media file but not for incoming calls, or the ringtone resetting to the default. Here are some things to try if you run into these problems:
If your custom ringtone is not showing up in the ringtone selection list in your Android settings, first try restarting your device. The ringtone list sometimes needs a reboot in order to refresh properly. You can also try moving the ringtone file to your internal storage rather than SD card, as Android can have issues accessing SD card files for ringtones.
If your ringtone plays as a normal media file but does not play for incoming calls, make sure the ringtone file is in a compatible format like MP3 or M4R. Check that the file was properly converted to a ringtone format before setting it. You may need to use a ringtone conversion app to correctly trim and export the file.
If your custom ringtone keeps reverting to the default, there may be an issue with the ringtone file itself. Try converting the file again or use a simpler audio file. Also check that you are properly selecting the ringtone in your sound settings after each change. There may be deeper system issues if it continues reverting.
For additional troubleshooting, see this YouTube playlist on fixing Android ringtone issues. With some tweaking of the ringtone file and settings, you should be able to successfully set your desired custom ringtone.
Customizing notifications and alarms
One of the great features of Android is the ability to customize your notification sounds and alarm tones using your own music files. This allows you to set a specific song as the sound that plays when you get a new notification from an app or when an alarm goes off.
To set a custom notification sound, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Advanced > Default notification sound. Tap on the sound currently set to open up your options. Here you can select a sound file stored on your device like an MP3 song or other audio file. Make sure the song file is copied to your device storage or SD card ahead of time. Once selected, this will play for app notifications like new messages or other alerts. You can also set custom notification sounds for individual apps within the app’s settings.
For alarm tones, open the Clock app and create a new alarm or edit an existing one. Tap on the current sound to change it. You can then select a song file for that alarm’s ringtone. This way you can wake up to your favorite song or something that motivates you. Just make sure to pick a song that isn’t too disruptive if you share a room with someone!
If you run into issues getting a custom sound to work properly, check that the audio file is a compatible format like MP3. You may need to adjust the clip you selected or re-convert the file. Also confirm that the sound file is saved in your device storage or SD card and not just available through a streaming app.
According to a Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/Outlook/comments/syigcn/android_custom_notification_sound/), some Android 12 users have reported bugs setting custom notification sounds, so you may need to troubleshoot issues on newer Android versions.
Conclusion
In summary, setting a custom ringtone on your Android phone is easy once you have the right audio file formatted properly. Start by finding or creating an mp3, m4r, or ogg music file that’s under 30 seconds long to use for your ringtone. Then use an app like Ringtone Maker or Audacity to trim and export just the portion you want as a ringtone file. Finally, move the ringtone file to your phone’s internal storage or SD card and use your phone’s Settings to set it as your default ringtone or assign it to a specific contact.
For more in-depth instructions, check out Google’s support site or your phone manufacturer’s website, as the exact steps can vary between Android models. You can also find tutorials on YouTube and Android-focused blogs with details for your specific phone. Don’t be afraid to experiment – you can always revert back to your default ringtone if needed.
With a few simple steps, you can customize your phone to play any song, sound clip or audio as your ringtone. So have fun picking the perfect tune to liven up your phone and know who’s calling without even having to look. A custom ringtone allows you to express your personality whenever your phone rings.