How to change your ringtone on google pixel

I have recently upgraded my phone to a Pixel 5 and once I have a few more weeks under my belt, I will publish a concrete review. One of the things I wanted to take care of right away was how to set up custom Ringtones and Notification sounds on it as, as we documented in a past post, the process is not as easy as one thinks. 

For a while now, I keep a copy of the ringtones and sounds I like in my dropbox so my process is likely very different than for most. Basically you just need to find a way to get the sounds onto your Downloads folder on your Pixel 5. That’s usually pretty straightforward. 

For ringtones, you need files in mp3. You can also use m4r format. You can actually take any iTunes files in m4a format and simply rename the extension from m4a to m4r and you are good to go. You can also use iTunes to create a shorter version by adjusting the start and end of the song and then converting the file to AAC format (which creates the m4a file). 

For notification sounds, you need files in ogg format. 

The key is to copy the files to the right folder and in order to do so, you need to install a File Manager app that will allow you to copy them to the right folder with the right level of permissions. Unfortunately the default Google Files app that comes stock on the device doesn’t let you do that. I have found that File Manager : Free and Easy by Xiaomi Inc does the job. There are likely other apps that can do the job too. 

Here are the steps:

1. Install the app (well duh).
2. Tap on the Folder icon at the top.
3. Find the files (say in your Downloads folder).
4. Select the files using the round checkbox.

1. Click the Move button at the bottom.
2. Select Internal shared storage.
3. Select the Ringtones folder.
4. Tap on Paste.

Google seems to make this step rather confusing. Maybe I am getting old. Even though I just went through the process a few weeks ago, I had to go through what seems like 17 different menus to find the right location. I thought I would document it for prosperity. 

Learn how to change the phone or text message ringtones on the Google Pixel smartphone using this tutorial.

Change Default Ringtone

Option 1

Open “Settings” > “Sound” > “Phone ringtone“, then choose the desired sound.

Option 2

Open “Phone” > 

Change Individual Contact Ringtone

Open “Contacts” > select the contact you wish to change >

Change Text Message Ringtone

Open “Messenger” > 

Set Custom Ringtones

If you wish to make your own ringtone, you can place them in the “Ringtones” folder on your Pixel. Once added to the folder, they will be added to the list of selections when you go to change your ringtone.

Stock Android makes it pretty easy to jump in and make your phone your own. One way is to set up a custom ringtone or song for your Google Pixel. This guide will take you through the simple yet fast process.

Setting a custom ringtone on your Pixel

Custom ringtones are simply media files that you move into your Pixel’s bank of selected sounds. Once your file is in the right spot on your phone, you can choose to have it play when someone calls or texts.

Related: How to set custom ringtones on your Samsung Galaxy phone

To do this, you first need to download an MP3 file to play. You can find these just about anywhere on the internet. Alternatively, you can download a ringtone app that will allow you to save MP3 files. Once you have the file, setting the ringtone is easy.

How to set a custom ringtone on your Pixel:

1. In your settings, head to “Sound & vibration” and then tap “Phone ringtone.”
2. Tap “My Sounds.”
3. Hit the plus icon at the bottom.
4. Tap the three lines at the top and select “Downloads.”

   If your file is somewhere else, navigate to it from this window.

5. Tap your file and then select it on the next page.
6. Hit “Save.”

The Pixel Sounds app

Android 12 and 13 have made it easier to set a custom ringtone right from the settings with the Pixel Sounds app. Before, you would have had to move the file into the correct spot and hope your device recognized it. Of course, you could use other apps that would do the process for you, though those usually cost a premium.

The Pixel’s Sounds app is an easy way to choose and add ringtones and notification sounds to your phone without having to worry about moving files around in the phone’s storage. Simply head into the app and pull from your downloads. From there, that ringtone will be among the other sound options for your phone.

The only way you can reach the app is by heading into settings and finding the Phone ringtone or Default notification sound section.

Setting tones per contact

The above process is great for setting your default ringtone for every caller. You can also set custom ringtones on your Pixel for different callers if you’d like. There’s an abundance of reasons for this, with the most likely pro being able to identify callers before looking at your phone.

The process is simple, though you will have to complete the above steps before setting a custom ringtone for a contact. Once you do, head into the Contacts app on your device. Find the contact you want to set a ringtone for and hit the three-dot menu in their contact card. From there, tap Set ringtone and select the one you want to use.

Whether you want to run through every contact and set a specific song as your ringtone, the above process is useful to learn. From there, you can set up any number of custom ringtones or songs for your Pixel.

More on Pixel:

• Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro price leaks, along with Target’s pre-order bonus
• Source: Google Pixel Watch to start at $349.99 in these colors
• What to expect from Google’s hardware event: Pixel 7, Pixel Watch, and Nest [Video]

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Google Pixel

The Pixel is the smaller of two smartphones designed, created, and sold by Google. It runs stock Android and is one of the first phones to receive firmware updates

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