Where Are Ringtones Stored On Android

Are you wondering where your Android ringtones are stored? In this guide, I will help you locate the ringtone folder on your Android and help you manage your Android ringtones. I will also show you how to transfer ringtones from your computer to your phone or download custom ringtones.

Where Are Ringtones Stored on Android Devices?

There are two types of ringtones on your Android. The first are the built-in ringtones, which are the ones that come with your phone.

These aren’t automatically shown in the storage folder. However, if you use the right file manager app, you can find them. Here’s how to locate the built-in ringtones:

Download the Cx File Explorer app.
Open the app and click on the three dots in the top-right corner.
Click on Settings and scroll down, and check the box where it says “Show System Storage.”
Navigate back to the Cx File Explorer homepage. Under the Local tab, click on System and navigate to System > Media > Audio > Ringtones. There, you will see the ringtones.

You can then manage the ringtones in the Cx File Explorer app. Select a ringtone, and you will be able to delete it, rename it, move or copy it to another folder, share it, and more.

If you downloaded custom ringtones, you can access them by using any file explorer app, without enabling any special settings. Go to Main Storage (or Internal Storage) > Ringtones, where you can find and manage downloaded ringtones.

Understanding the System Media Audio Folder

In the previous section, I mentioned that to access built-in ringtones, you need to navigate to System > Media > Audio. However, Ringtones isn’t the only folder you will find in the Audio directory.

There, you will find the Ringtones folder, but also the Notifications and Alarms folders. The Notifications folder contains other notification sounds (when receiving text messages or social media notifications, for example), while the Alarms folder contains built-in alarm sounds you can choose from when setting an alarm in the Clock app to wake you up in the morning.

You will also find the UI folder, which contains other sounds that are built into your device, such as camera click sounds, delete sounds, invalid key press sounds, and other sounds that your device will make when you interact with the UI (user interface). For example, when you take a picture or delete a file, you will hear these sounds.

How to Select a Custom Ringtone on Android

To select a custom ringtone on your Android, go to Settings > Sounds & Vibration > Phone Ringtone > Custom Ringtone. There, you can select a ringtone from the list of audio tracks on your device. It will usually show not only ringtones in your Ringtones folder but other MP3 and OGG audio files as well.

If you have two SIM cards, you can select a different custom ringtone for each SIM.

How to Transfer Ringtones from a Computer to Android

The easiest way to transfer a ringtone from your computer to your Android device is via a USB ringtone transfer. Connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable.

Then, find your connected Android in your computer’s files. It will show up as an external drive. Copy and paste the ringtone file, whether it’s an MP3 or another file format, from your computer to the Ringtones folder on your Android in Internal Storage > Ringtones.

It’s that easy!

Another way to transfer it is to send it via email to another email account that you own or upload it to cloud storage and then download it to your Android device from your email account or cloud storage account.

Sharing Ringtones Between Android Devices

If you want to transfer a ringtone from one Android device to another, you can also send it via email or upload it to cloud storage, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and then download it on the other device.

Another method is to simply share it via Bluetooth. Find the file in your storage, click on share, and then share it via Bluetooth. Both devices must have Bluetooth enabled and be within a few feet of each other for this to work properly. You should make sure to accept the incoming Bluetooth transfer on the receiving device to ensure it downloads to the device.

How to Recover Deleted Ringtones on Android

If you recently deleted a ringtone, you can usually find it in your trash. Find the trash folder in your file explorer app. For example, on Files by Google, click on the three lines in the top-left corner and then on Trash. In CX File Explorer, click on the Recycle Bin option in the Local storage tab.

After a certain amount of time, though, usually 30 days, an item moved to your trash is deleted permanently. If you want to recover a deleted ringtone after that time, you may have to restore a backup of your phone, which probably isn’t worth it just for a single ringtone, as you will lose all new data you have had since the backup.

Best Apps for Managing Android Ringtones

If you want to manage your ringtones or create ringtones from existing audio files on your device, I recommend the app Professional Ringtone Manager. It allows you to easily edit tags of your audio files and also includes a ringtone maker, which allows you to clip audio files and turn them into ringtones.

However, if you are looking for an app that allows you to download new ringtones to your device, there are many great apps available. I like Zedge, which offers a wide range of free and premium ringtones that you can download to your device or set as a ringtone directly from the app.

Tips for Organizing Ringtone Files

To better organize ringtone files, make sure they are properly labeled. Rename them to something you can remember. There is nothing worse than trying to choose a custom ringtone from your audio files and not being able to tell which ringtone is which.

I also recommend trimming your audio files properly. Keep them to 30 or 40 seconds for the best ringtone experience. Also, make sure they are MP3 or OGG files. If possible, move them to the Ringtones folder so you can find them easily.

Conclusion

I hope this Android ringtone guide was useful! Knowing how to set custom ringtones will allow you to stand out from everyone else. It will also make it easy to know whether it is your phone that is ringing when you are in a crowd or with a group of friends.