Set a different ringtone for one contact

On iPhone

Open Contacts, choose the person, tap Edit and choose Ringtone. Select the installed sound you want and save the contact. Text Tone is a separate field if you want their messages to sound different too.

On Samsung Galaxy

In Samsung Contacts, open the person’s card and look in More options for Change ringtone/vibration. Choose the ringtone. Some layouts place the control among the editable contact fields instead. SIM-only contacts may not support the same customization, so check where the contact is stored.

On other Android phones

Look in the contact app’s menu for a ringtone option. Android phone makers and contact apps vary; a Samsung menu path should not be presented as a universal Pixel instruction. If your contact app does not expose the option, check the phone maker’s guide for that model.

Test with the correct caller

Ask that person to make a normal phone call. A call from a hidden number, another number on their account or a third-party calling app may not match the same rule. Check duplicate contact cards if the result is inconsistent.

To return to normal, choose the default ringtone in that contact’s setting where offered. Changing the general ringtone alone may leave an individual override in place.

Choose a sound that identifies the person

A short, distinct sound is often easier to recognize than a second version of your general ringtone. Consider whether a spoken recording is suitable to play aloud in public. Ringy’s exact-version pages let you save the link for the sound assigned to each person.

Related guides

• How to change your iPhone ringtone or set a song
• How to change your Samsung ringtone to a song
• Set a custom text tone on iPhone