You may not know you can fully customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones in many ways, including:
- Choosing your own default ringtones, instead of the over the horizon that everyone else is using.
- Using your own audio files on the phone or on the PC as Galaxy Note 4 ringtones
- Assigning different (customized) ringtones for individual contacts so that you know who is calling before picking up the phone.
This guide will show you how to customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones.
If you want to customize Galaxy Note 4 notification tones, e.g., change Galaxy Note 4 notification tones, customize message notification tones for individual contacts, please check this guide.
How to change default Galaxy Note 4 ringtone?
By default, Galaxy Note 4 uses the “over the horizon” as the default ringtone as many other Galaxy phones. So, when you hear the ringtone in public area, sometimes, you may notice several people are checking their phones.
Changing the Galaxy Note 4 default ringtone is very simple.
Go to Settings, tap Sound. Current default ringtone is shown under Ringtones.
Tap Ringtones. The next window depends on apps you installed. For example, if you installed ES File Explorer (here is a mini guide), you will have the option to choose ES File Explorer or Media Storage. If you choose ES File explorer, you will be directed to select individual audio files, not the pre-installed ringtones. Media storage will bring you to pre-installed ringtones and all audio files you put in the Ringtones folder (see below).
Tap Media Storage and tap Just once. If you didn’t install ES File explorer, you will get the next screen directly.
In the list page of available ringtones, you can select any of them. Then tap Done to apply the setting.
How to use audio files on your PC as Galaxy Note 4 ringtones?
If you don’t like the pre-installed ringtones or you want to customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones, you can use your own audio files as ringtones.
The simplest way to add your own ringtone files for Galaxy Note 4 is to copy these audio files directly into the Ringtones folder from a PC.
Connect your Galaxy Note 4 to an USB port in the PC. You may need install Kies 3 if your PC fails to recognize your Galaxy Note 4.
Once your Galaxy Note 4 is recognized, you can copy any audio files into the Ringtones folder on the phone storage.
Sometimes, you may get a warning message on audio file format. Usually you can ignore it.
Once the audio files are copied to the Ringtones folder, they are treated as pre-installed Galaxy Note 4 ringtones.
When selecting ringtones, they are listed together with the pre-installed ringtones.
Select it as other pre-installed Galaxy Note 4 ringtones. Tap Done.
Now you should notice the default ringtone is changed to your audio file copied from the PC.
How to use audio file in the phone as Galaxy Note 4 ringtones?
If the audio files you want to use to customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones are already in the phone (either internal storage or SD card), you can use them directly as ringtones without copying them to the Ringtones folder.
When in ringtone selection page, tap the “add” button in the bottom as shown below.
Tap Sound picker.
Tap Just once.
Select the audio file. By default, Galaxy Note 4 will extract the highlight part of the audio file. You can turn it off if you want to play from the beginning.
Then Tap Done to apply the new ringtone.
Now you can check the new default ringtone on your Galaxy Note 4.
How to assign different ringtone for individuals?
Many Samsung Galaxy phone users are not aware that they can assign each contact different ringtones.
This is very useful when you want to identify who is calling without looking at the phone or picking up the phone.
Open Contacts app. Open the contact with whom you want to set a customized ringtone.
Tap edit icon in the top as shown below. Current ringtone is shown.
Tap Ringtone. (Again, if there is a pop up window asking you to select app, choose media storage- just once)
Select the ringtone from the list (which includes the pre-installed Galaxy Note 4 ringtones and all audio files in Ringtones folder) or choose “add” in the bottom (as shown above).
Tap “Done” to apply the new customized ringtone for this individual.
Now you should notice this contact is using non-default ringtone.
Tap Save in the top to save the modification. Don’t forget this step
Can you customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones for the default and for individual contacts?
If you have any questions to customize Galaxy Note 4 ringtones for the default or for individual contacts, please let us know them in the comment box below. We will try to help you find a solution.
More how-to guides , tips and tricks for using Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are available at Galaxy Note 4 how-to guides page.
Hugh Hemington says
When I have to do a HARD RESET on my Note 4 (which I do pretty often) all the ringtone assignments are lost. Is there any way for them to be saved anywhere? They’re obviously IN THE PHONE while the contacts are in Google. If they WOULD still be there if the ringtones were in place that doesn’t really help because the phone finds the contacts before I have a chance to copy the ringtones back into the wiped phone.
Is there a service like Samsung or other that would backup the ringtone assignments? Because Google doesn’t do it.
Simon says
Ringtone is a ‘localized’ setting for contacts. Such settings are NOT synced with Google. I don’t think Samsung sync them either.
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Paul Chavez says
When my Samsung Galaxy 4 is shut down/turned off/restarted most of my custom ringtones for individuals are reset to the default ringtone. Is there anyway to prevent this?
Simon says
I guess you are using your own music files. You should put them in ringtones folder in the internal storage. Don’t put them in SD card.
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Scott says
I have a google number forwarding to my phone. Can I set a unique ringtone to the 2nd number?
Simon says
It depends on your carrier. When the call is forwarded, which number is shown on your phone, caller number or Google number?
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Michael Fernandes says
Can I change a ring tone to ring for a group?
Simon says
No, you cannot set group ringtone in Note 4/5 with the default contacts app in the phone.
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Chasse says
Do you happen to know of you can set a ring tone to an entire specified designated group? I’d prefer to not have to set the ring tone for each individually.
Chasse says
NVM! I was able to figure it out!
Pam F. C. says
I loved my Gallaxy s4. Everything was simple, great features. I now have the Note 4, which I expected the same set up, just like my Galaxy tablet. Nope. Its a mess. Not intuitive, need an instruction booklet just to find out IF I can do something simple. Its terrible. Very unhappy Samsung customer!
Sherie says
I’m trying to change my ring tone for just my text messages. How do I do that? Thought I had it but only changed it for my notifications
Simon says
You can set message notification tone inside the message app so that it will different from the default system notification tone.
Open Messages app, tap menu key, tap settings-notifications–notification tone.
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Sherie says
Oh hell i feel like an idiot now, went right by that before when i looked in my messages setting. Thanks!
eve says
Trying to assign personal ringtones to my contacts but when I select my contact the only 2 options is name and phone number. Phone only new so am I doing something wrong ? Please help ☺
Simon says
Very likely, the contact is saved in sim card. Sim card can only store name and one number. You should copy it to phone storage and then you can get all options.
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catherine says
I have individual ringtones set for multiple people but it only ever plays my preset generic ringtone. Any idea how to get around this?
Simon says
Did you check the ringtone in the contacts app? When the phone rings, is the caller identified correctly?
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Сэлвин Тан says
Hello there! Any way to prevent the notification from getting cut off halfway! I’ve nice ringtones that is longer than 10 seconds and it has been frustrating me since Note 1 to note 3 and now note 4. any known fix yet? 🙁
Simon says
I don’t think there are any workarounds for this.
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Ashley says
My phone was never recognized after installing Kies 3. Never could get it recognized so I could transfer songs to the phone from the pc. I installed Kies 3 on phone & on pc. I need help. Just want songs transferred to my Samsung Note 4.
Simon says
You can re-install Kies 3. Sometimes, even if Kies does not recognize your Galaxy Note 4, your PC recognizes it already. You can check it in the Windows explorer. You cna then copy files from the PC to the phone directly without through Kies.
You should also check your Galaxy Note 4. You should get a notification about the USB connection.
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Fritz says
How can i change the media tone?……what came as the go to tone for media notifications is horrible….i have searched everywhere but there doesnt appear to be a way
Simon says
Do you mean notifications tone? We do have a guide for you to customize it: http://allaboutgalaxynote.com/galaxy-note-4-how-to-guides/how-to-customize-galaxy-note-4-notification-tone/
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scotty says
Having problems with editing saved numbers at all, I think it’s because contacts are only saved to Sim, how do I save all contacts to phone?
Simon says
SIM card can only store name and one number for each contact due to the limited storage in SIM card.
In Settings–Application settings– contacts –import/export contacts. You can choose import from SIM card.
When creating a new contact, it is best to create under your Google account so that Google can sync all contacts among all devices automatically.
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johanna mustafa says
How can I change my text alert ringtone?
Simon says
it’s notification tone under settings -sound. you can customize it like ringtone. if you want to put file files directly onto the phone, you can put it under notification folder instead of ringtone folder in the phone.
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Donna says
Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to set a call tone on the note 4 (a specific song that others will hear while waiting for an answer)?
Simon says
The connecting tone can only be set by your phone company, not from note 4. And in most regions, it’s not free.
You may check with your phone company. I don’t think they allow your own music. They may only allow you choose one from their list.
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Valeri Johnson says
I have been trying to get tones onto my phone for over a week…. very annoying. However I couldn’t get either of the ES File downloads to work, they just churned and churned. I finally found a lovely way to move the files over to ringtones using the Add button under settings/sounds/ringtones/chose media/add/soundpicker or cloud or onedrive or zredge and it took me to my local files. No extra apps!!
Simon says
Actually, this was covered in this guide.
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Geoff Smith says
how do I stop a ringtone (30 sec) from playing twice when I use it as the alarm ringtone?
Simon says
I think this is the purpose of Alarm. You need take the action: snooze or dismiss.
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Chris says
I tried to pick my mp3 as my ringtone but when i touched on ‘Add’, the Sound Picker did not appear…any idea why?
Simon says
You can just copy the mp3 file or ogg file in the ringtones folder directly with My Files.
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Richard Van Horn says
Question ..my S3 gave me the option to set a ringtone for individuals ..and yet set a ringtone for notifications. I can’t seem to figure it out on my note 4. Can anyone help?
Simon says
For each contact, you can add one field of message tone. Then set notification tones for it.
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Trina says
I just got the galaxy note 4 and i was wondering if there was a site to download ringtones on? I had the galaxy 3 and i would use myxer but for some reason im not showing it the playstore. Any help would be appreciated.
Simon says
There are many websites and apps for it.
Please avoid the ringtone apps that controls your ringtone. They may mess up your phone. Try to buy then download to the phone. In other words, just get the audio file. Actually, most audio files can be used as ringtones.
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Ballgiants says
I am trying to make individual ringtones and followed your directions above but for some reason, I am not getting the “ringtone” option to choose a ringtone. In other words there is no default ringtone showing in the edit contact menu. Can you direct me to the solution?
Thanks
Ballgiants says
Correction to my post::::
I am sorry, my post should read “”I am trying to apply ringtones to contacts and not “make individual ringtones”
Simon says
Probably, the contact is saved in sim card. Sim card can only save name and phone number
You can try to copy it to phone storage, then try again.
You may also test this function by creating a new contact on the phone.
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kurt says
Is it just my phone or do all the ringtones for the Note 4 start off soft then increase in volume? When I play them in settings the ringtones are loud, however when someone actually calls they start soft then increasingly get louder. I miss text message alerts because of this.
I also noticed that when Im using the Google Maps navigation the volume of the navigation sometimes gets soft then loud again. Have you experienced this? Is there a way around this?
Simon says
For ringtones, it depends on regions. In old hardwares, Samsung allows you to enable or disable ascending ringtones. But Since S5, the option is removed.
You can try this app: Disable Increasing Ring (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shumoapp.disableincreasingring&hl=en )
For media ans apps, the volume settings are independent. You can set them in Settings–Sound–Volume. Some apps may have their own volume settings.
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Barb says
Thank you! You understood enough to send me where I needed to go. I needed to be looking in the settings of the Messages app, not the base phone settings.
Barb says
Is there a way to customize the Message notification tone? On my Note II I was able to pick a tone and make it replay at a select interval. I Loved that feature. Is it MIA from the Note 4?
Simon says
I didn’t get what exactly you want to achieve.
Anyway, for each contact, you can set different message tones in the contacts app.
If you want to repeat the notification, you can set it in the messages app. Tap the menu key (3 vertical dots) – settings – notifications – repeat message alert.
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Jen says
The music which I am using as my ringtone are missing from my play list. Any idea on how to rectify this?
Simon says
The pre-installed ringtones should NOT appear in the list.
If you at talking about a music file that you put in the ringtones folder, you can use My Files app to make a copy to other folders, then it should appear in your list. Alternatively, you can choose music based on folders and choose the file to the playlist.
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Dolly says
Does anyone know how to use a custom notification audio file instead of what is on the list? It will not let me select anything but what is pre loaded. Thanks!
Simon says
Similar to ringtones, just put the audio file in the Notifications folder.
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helen says
I want only a certain part of a song as ring tone and not from beginning. But I can’t find the option to crop the song.
Simon says
There are only two options, from the beginning or let the app decide.
You can trim the mp3 file on pc or with some apps. There are many free tools for this.
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Drum says
I just got the galaxy note 4 and uploaded my contacts from the iCloud. Would this have any impact on why I am unable to set individual contact ringtones? I don’t see a ringtone option on any of my contacts… Any help would be appreciated…
Simon says
Did you happen save the contacts in SIM card? (do you see “storage” in the details page of individual contact?)
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Drum says
Hi, unfortunately, no.. even worse a week ago all of my email information on my old phone including contact info was wiped off.. luckily I had it al saved to the cloud. I don’t see anything called storage in the details of the contacts either.. It is so weird tat groups and ringtone is not on the page for me.. very frustrating..
Simon says
What are the fields shown for individual contact?
You may try to visit local Samsung service centre. When they see the problem, they should know the cause.
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Drum says
I called Samsung and for whatever reason it is the iCloud sync.. So I moved the contacts to google and it works now… Thank you for your help…
Simon says
Thank you for the update.
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jen says
Hi i am having same prob but my contacts saved to sim. How do i fix?
Simon says
When you save the contacts, there is an option to choose the saving location (on the top, below cancel and save button).
If you want to import contracts saved on the sim card to the phone. You can tap the menu icon (3 vertical dots in the contacts app), tap settings – contacts- import / export.
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haze says
Can I customizer the ringtone for an individual without changing the WhatsApp sound notification? The phone now changes all messages and WhatsApp and calls to the assigned ringtone!!
Simon says
In WhatsApp, tap the menu key – settings – notifications, you can uncheck contact ringtone.
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