You've just unboxed a brand new Galaxy S24 or maybe you're still rocking a trusty Note 20, and that default "Over the Horizon" melody starts playing. It’s a classic, sure. But after the tenth time hearing it in a crowded grocery store and checking your pocket only to realize it’s the person behind you getting a call, you realize it's time for a change. Honestly, figuring out how to change your ringtone samsung style should be the easiest thing in the world, yet Samsung buries it just deep enough in the One UI settings to make you second-guess yourself.
We aren't just talking about picking a different beep or boop. This is about personalizing a device you touch roughly 2,000 times a day. If you’re tired of the stock options, you aren't alone. Most users want their own MP3s or maybe a specific snippet of a song that doesn't make them jump out of their skin when the boss calls at 8:00 PM.
The basic path to a new sound
Open your Settings app. Don't go looking for "Ringtone" in the search bar immediately because sometimes the lag in the indexer makes it wonky. Just scroll down to Sounds and vibration. It’s right there near the top, usually under Connections.
Once you tap into that, you'll see a dedicated "Ringtone" section. If you have a dual-SIM phone—which is super common in global versions of the Galaxy lineup—Samsung will actually ask you to pick which SIM card you want to modify. This is a huge win for people who want a professional tone for their work number and a heavy metal riff for their personal line.
Choosing from the pre-installed list
Samsung gives you a decent variety. They categorize them by "Galaxy," "Retro," "Fun," and "Calm." Most of them are... fine. But if you're looking for something that actually sounds like a phone, head to the Retro section. The "Old Phone" sound is surprisingly popular because it actually cuts through background noise better than the melodic, orchestral tracks Samsung prefers these days.
How to use your own music (The "Plus" Button Trick)
This is where people get stuck. You have a song on your phone, but it isn't showing up in the list. Look at the top right corner of the Ringtone selection screen. There is a tiny, almost easy-to-miss plus (+) icon.
Tapping that opens the Sound Picker.
It scans your phone's internal storage for any compatible audio files like MP3, WAV, or AAC. Honestly, if you downloaded a file from a shady site ten years ago, it might not show up if the metadata is corrupted. But generally, anything in your "Downloads" folder will appear here.
One "pro tip" that Samsung includes is a toggle at the bottom called "Play selected highlights only." Keep this on if you want the phone to automatically skip the slow intro of a song and jump straight to what it thinks is the chorus. If you want the song to start from the very first second, turn that toggle off. It's a small detail, but it saves you from having to manually edit audio files on your PC.
Customizing sounds for specific people
Why let everyone have the same tone? You can actually assign a specific ringtone to your spouse, your kids, or your annoying neighbor. This way, you know whether to dive for the phone or let it go to voicemail without even looking at the screen.
Go to your Contacts app. Not the phone dialer, but the actual Contacts app. Pick a person. Tap "Edit" at the bottom, then hit "View more" to expand the hidden fields. Samsung hides the ringtone option under this "View more" button, which is annoying but that’s just how One UI is designed. Scroll down, tap "Ringtone," and follow the same steps as before.
The Zedge and Third-Party App Reality
Look, we have to talk about apps like Zedge. They’ve been around forever. They make the process of finding a ringtone incredibly easy because you can browse by category. However, there's a trade-off. These apps are often bloated with ads.
If you use a third-party app to change your ringtone samsung, the app usually asks for permission to "Modify system settings." You have to say yes for it to work. Once you set the tone through the app, it basically writes that choice into your phone's settings. Just be careful with apps that ask for too many permissions—like your location or your camera—just to change a sound. They don't need that.
Troubleshooting: Why won't my ringtone change?
Sometimes you follow every step and the phone still plays "Over the Horizon." It's maddening.
First, check your "Vibrate while ringing" settings. If your phone is on Mute or Vibrate, you won't hear your masterpiece anyway. But more importantly, check if you have a "Theme" applied. If you downloaded a flashy theme from the Galaxy Store, it might be overriding your sound settings with its own "Theme sounds."
To fix this, go to Settings > Themes > My Stuff and see if a custom icon pack or theme is forcing a specific audio profile. You might have to switch back to the default theme, change your ringtone, and then re-apply the theme (while choosing not to override the sounds).
The "Hidden" Folder Issue
If you've downloaded a song and the "Plus" button doesn't see it, your file might be in a folder with a .nomedia file. This tells Android to ignore that folder when scanning for media. Move your music file to the "Ringtones" folder in your internal storage using the My Files app. Samsung’s system specifically looks at the Internal Storage > Ringtones directory first. If it's there, it almost always shows up.
What about custom notification sounds?
Interestingly, changing your notification sound (for texts or emails) is a slightly different process. You can't just hit a "Plus" button for those.
To use a custom sound for notifications:
- Open the My Files app.
- Find your audio file.
- Long-press it and select "Copy."
- Navigate to
Internal Storage > Notifications. - Paste it there.
Now, when you go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Notification sound, your custom file will magically appear in the list under a "Custom" header. It’s a bit of a manual workaround, but it works every single time.
Beyond the basics: Edge Lighting and Haptics
Modern Samsung phones let you pair your ringtone with visual cues. If you go into Settings > Notifications > Notification pop-up style, you can turn on Edge Lighting. This makes the sides of your screen glow when someone calls.
Also, don't ignore the Vibration pattern. In the same "Sounds and vibration" menu, you can "Sync with ringtone." This makes the motor inside the phone pulse to the beat of the music. It’s a neat trick that makes the phone feel more premium and less like a vibrating brick.
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Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your contacts: Spend five minutes assigning unique tones to your five most frequent callers.
- Clean your storage: If you have 50 old ringtones from 2018, go into the "My Files" app and delete the ones you don't use to keep the Sound Picker snappy.
- Check Volume Limits: If your ringtone sounds distorted, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Volume and make sure you haven't forced the "Media Volume Limit" too high, which can sometimes clip the audio on smaller speakers like those on the Base S23 or S24.
- Try a "Silent" ringtone: If you’re in a phase where you want zero distractions but still want the screen to light up, download a silent MP3 and set it as your default. It’s a life-changer for focus.
Ultimately, your Samsung phone is a tool. It shouldn't sound like everyone else's. Whether you’re using a high-quality FLAC file or a recorded voice memo of your kid saying "Pick up the phone!", the system is flexible enough to handle it—provided you know which hidden menus to poke.
Technical Reference Note: These steps are verified for Samsung One UI 5.1, 6.0, and the 2026 iterations. While menu names shift slightly between versions, the core logic of the "Sounds and vibration" menu has remained consistent across the Galaxy ecosystem for years. If you are using a significantly older device (Android 9 or below), the "Plus" icon might be located at the bottom of the list rather than the top.