Staying Fit
Getty Images
Hey, my phone’s ringing.
Now where the heck is it? Not in my pocket. Not in my purse. Not on the coffee table. Darn, I know I just put it somewhere.
Oh, wait. That’s not my phone. But it sure sounded like mine.
Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More than 50 ringtones from Apex to Cosmic to Duck to Old Car Horn and Xylophone come baked into iPhones that work on 4G and 5G networks. So why does it seem like everyone uses the same sound when they’re receiving a call or a text? In part, that’s because iPhones come with a default ringtone: You'll hear Reflection on iPhone X and newer; older phones default to Opening.
You can easily change your ringtone whether you have an iPhone or an Android. And if you don’t like any of the choices already there, with just a little more effort, and $1.29 or less, you can download 30 seconds of your favorite song — perhaps “Vehicle” by the Ides of March or “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival or even Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show theme — to show a little bit of your personality and to make sure that no one will confuse your phone with theirs.
You can even set different ringtones for different people so you know who’s calling without having to look at the Caller ID.
How to change your ringtone or text tone
Changing your ringtone on an iPhone
AARP
On an iPhone or iPad, tap Settings | Sounds & Haptics. Under Sounds and Vibration Patterns, tap the sound that you want to change. Choices are Ringtone, Text Tone, New Voicemail, New Mail, Sent Mail, Calendar Alerts, Reminder Alerts and Air Drop.
Then tap the ringtone you want to associate with that choice and a blue check mark will appear. You’ll also hear what the tone sounds like, so if you don’t like it, simply choose another.
Some people like to have different sounds associated with different alerts: an old-fashioned phone ring for an incoming call, a swoosh for incoming mail, a ding for a text.
Changing your ringtone on a Pixel 6 Pro (Android)
AARP
On an Android phone, the process is very similar. Go to Settings and then tap on Sounds and vibration. Tap on Ringtone or Phone Ringtone and choose from the preset choices. When you touch your choice, the circle next to your choice will be filled in. Then tap Save.
More on Home and Family
How to Use Your Smartphone's Translator Apps
Google Translate and Apple Translate are free and increasingly powerful toolsNew Broadcast Signals Give You Better TV Over the Air
Get improved picture and sound without paying monthly fees
Switch Music Streaming Services — Without Losing Your Playlists
Several app options can help you ease the transition