Setting Custom Tones on Your Phone
iOS 18 — No GarageBand Required
Apple added a direct method in iOS 18. Download the .m4r file from this page to your iPhone, open it in the Files app, tap Share, and select Use as Ringtone. No computer, no GarageBand, no iTunes needed.
Not seeing the option? Make sure the file ends in .m4r and not .mp3. Each ringtone on this page includes both formats.
Samsung Galaxy S26 & One UI 8.5 — Custom Notification Sound Not Showing?
Samsung disabled per-app notification sound categories by default in One UI 8.5 (Galaxy S26) and several earlier versions. To fix it:
- Go to Settings → Notifications → Advanced Settings
- Toggle ON Manage notification categories for each app
- Open your messaging app, tap its notification entry, and select your downloaded tone
The downloaded MP3 must be saved to your internal storage → Notifications folder for it to appear in the sound picker. This applies to Galaxy S26, S25, S24, and any device running One UI 6 or later.
What is a Text Tone?
A text tone is a short audio alert (0.5–2 seconds) designed for high-frequency notifications like messages, emails, WhatsApp, Discord, and Slack. Unlike ringtones, text tones prioritize instant recognition and low intrusiveness — they are heard dozens of times a day, so they need to be short, clear, and non-disruptive.