Where ringtones live and why they take up space

Ringtones are stored in different places depending on whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone, and the deletion process differs between them. On iPhones, ringtones live in the Settings app under Sounds & Haptics. On Android phones, they're usually in a folder called Ringtones within your Files app or in the default ringtone storage location that varies by manufacturer — Samsung phones keep them in a different spot than Google Pixel phones, for example.

Ringtones don't take up much individual space — a typical ringtone is 200 kilobytes to 1 megabyte — but if you've accumulated dozens of them over years, they add up. More importantly, a cluttered ringtone list makes it harder to find the one you actually want to use when you're setting up a contact or changing your default ringtone.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, delete ringtones through Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, then swipe left on the ringtone name and tap Delete.
  • On Android, open your Files app, navigate to the Ringtones folder, long-press the ringtone file, and select Delete or Move to Trash.
  • Ringtones you bought from iTunes or the Google Play Store cannot be deleted from the ringtones list itself, only hidden by choosing a different default.
  • If you created a ringtone from a song using GarageBand or another app, you must delete it from that app, not from your phone's ringtone folder.

Deleting ringtones on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics (or just Sounds on older iPhones). Scroll down and tap Ringtone. You'll see a list of all ringtones on your phone, including the ones that came pre-installed and any you've added. The ringtone with a checkmark next to it is your current default.

To delete a ringtone, swipe left across its name. A red Delete button will appear on the right side. Tap it. The ringtone is now gone from your phone. If you accidentally delete one, you can't undo it from this screen — you'd need to restore it from a backup or re-download it if you purchased it from iTunes.

Note: If the ringtone came from iTunes or the Apple Music Store, you may not see a Delete option. In that case, the ringtone is tied to your Apple ID and can't be removed from the ringtones list. You can stop using it by choosing a different default ringtone, but it will remain in your account.

Deleting ringtones on Android

The exact steps depend on your phone's manufacturer, but the general process is the same. Open your Files app (called Files, My Files, File Manager, or similar depending on your phone). Look for a Ringtones folder — it's usually in the main directory or under a Music or Media folder.

Once you find the ringtone file you want to delete, long-press it (hold your finger on it for a second or two). A menu will appear with options like Delete, Move, or Move to Trash. Tap Delete or Move to Trash. The ringtone is now removed from your phone.

If you can't find a Ringtones folder, try searching for the ringtone by name using your Files app's search function. Some Android phones store ringtones in /system/media/audio/ringtones or /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones. If you're still stuck, check your phone manufacturer's support site — Samsung, Google, and others have slightly different folder structures.

Ringtones you created yourself

If you made a ringtone from a song using GarageBand, Audacity, or another audio app, you need to delete it from that app, not from your phone's ringtone folder. The app stores its own copy, and deleting the file from your ringtones folder won't remove the version the app is using.

Open the app where you created the ringtone. Look for a list of your projects or recordings. Long-press the ringtone and select Delete or Move to Trash. Then go back to your phone's ringtone folder and delete the exported file there as well to fully remove it.

Ringtones from the App Store or Play Store

Ringtones you purchased from iTunes, the Apple Music Store, or the Google Play Store are linked to your account and can't be permanently deleted the way custom files can. They'll remain in your account even if you remove them from your phone.

If you want to stop seeing them in your ringtone list, the practical solution is to simply choose a different default ringtone. The purchased ringtone will still be there if you ever want to use it again, but it won't clutter your active list. If you truly want to remove it from your account entirely, you'd need to contact Apple Support or Google Support — they can remove a purchase from your account, though policies vary.

What happens to ringtones when you back up your phone

If you back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer, your ringtones are included in that backup. If you delete a ringtone and then restore from an old backup, the deleted ringtone will come back. This is usually fine, but if you're trying to permanently remove a ringtone and you restore from backup later, you'll need to delete it again.

On Android, backups work differently depending on which backup service you use. Google Backup includes some settings but not typically ringtone files themselves. If you're using a third-party backup app, check its settings to see whether it backs up your Ringtones folder. If it does and you want to avoid restoring deleted ringtones, you may need to exclude that folder from future backups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete the pre-installed ringtones that came with my phone?

On iPhone, no — Apple's built-in ringtones cannot be deleted. On Android, it depends on your phone. Some manufacturers allow you to delete pre-installed ringtones, while others lock them. Try long-pressing a pre-installed ringtone in your Files app; if no Delete option appears, your phone doesn't allow it.

I deleted a ringtone by accident. Can I get it back?

If you have a recent backup, you can restore your phone from that backup to recover the ringtone. Otherwise, if it was a custom ringtone you created, it's gone. If it was one you purchased, you can re-download it from iTunes or the Play Store using the same account.

Why do I see ringtones in my list that I don't remember adding?

Some ringtones come pre-installed on your phone. Others may have been added when you installed an app that includes its own ringtones. Check your recently installed apps — some games and messaging apps add ringtones automatically. You can delete the custom ones, but pre-installed ones usually can't be removed.

Does deleting a ringtone free up a lot of storage space?

No. A single ringtone is typically 200 kilobytes to 1 megabyte, so deleting even dozens of them won't noticeably improve your phone's storage. Deleting ringtones is mainly useful for cleaning up your ringtone list so it's easier to navigate, not for freeing up space.

What's the difference between deleting a ringtone and muting it?

Deleting removes the ringtone file from your phone entirely. Muting just silences your phone temporarily — the ringtone is still there. If you want to stop using a ringtone but might want it later, you don't need to delete it; just choose a different default ringtone instead.