What is a Ringback Tone? – How Do You Set Up In Your Phone?

Have you ever called someone and heard music🎵 or a funny message 😂 while waiting for them to pick up? That’s a Ringback Tone—a fun, personal sound for the caller.

Wondering how to set a Ringback Tone? Whether you’re on Android or iPhone, it’s easy to set one up and make your calls more exciting.

Ringback Tones can show your personality or promote your business. Keep reading to learn how to choose and set up the perfect tone in just a few simple steps!

What is Ringback Tone?

A ringback tone is the sound a caller hears while waiting for the recipient to answer. It can be music, a message, or a standard tone, and it’s different from the ringtone you hear when you’re receiving a call.

Remember when you called a friend and were surprised by music or a funny voice message instead of a simple ringing tone? That’s exactly what a ring-back tone does—it adds personality or purpose to that waiting time.

Ringback Tone vs. Ringtone

Ringback tones are what callers hear while waiting for the call to be answered, whereas ringtones are what the receiver hears when they get a call.

How Do Ringback Tones Work?🤔

Ringback tones are delivered over the telephony network, not from the calling phone. The network operator initiates the tone and plays it while awaiting the call to be answered. This provides an interactive reverse ringback tone experience for the call process.

History of Ringback Tone

Ringback tones became popular in the late 1990s, giving callers music or custom messages while waiting for someone to answer. It replaced the traditional dial tone and made the calling process personalized and entertaining.

Network operators offered several alternatives for ringback tones over time, allowing callers to choose tunes for different occasions. This made it a unique feature for personalizing calls.

Are Ringback Tones Popular Still in 2025?

Yes! Even as of 2025, many people use ringback tones. It’s fun, personalized, and improves calls.

For business or entertainment purposes, ringback tones are a great way to spice up incoming calls and make them more fun.

Types of Ringback Tones

There are many kinds of ringback tones. All of them give off-callers something to listen to that is fun or helpful while waiting for the call to be answered.

1. Music Ringback Tones

They are like music that sounds like a song instead of the standard dial tone. You can choose a favorite song, and callers will hear music when they call you.

2. Funny Ringback Tones

These are comedy sounds. They work to make one laugh while on hold, which is great for incorporating fun when calling.

3. Business or Promo Ringback Tones

Businesses use ringback advertising to promote offers. Listeners receive an announcement or message regarding a product or service instead of a plain ring.

4. Caller Ringback Tone

This is the music that the caller hears while on hold: a song, a voice message recording, or an ad. It is an alternative to the regular ring and may be changed through a tone application or your telecommunication service provider.

5. Local Ringback Tone

It is the same as the normal ringing sound used in your country or region. It causes the callers to view the call as local and can promote confidence, especially for businesses.

Why Do People Use Ringback Tones?

1. Make It Personal

We all like to make calls fun and personal. Ringback tone lets you play your favorite song or a personal greeting for the caller.

It is an effortless way of showing your personality and putting a smile on the caller’s face even before you take the call.

1. Business Use

Companies use ringback tones to be professional. Instead of a boring dial tone, call holders receive music or a brief message about the brand.

It’s a smart way of ringback advertising while individuals wait for the call to be answered.

How to Set Up a Ringback Tone on Your Phone

📱 For Android Users

1. Using Carrier Services

Call your network provider (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile). Most carriers allow users to set up a ringback tone using their own system.

• Dial a special code or visit their website.
• Follow the steps to choose your ringback music.
• Once set, callers will hear it instead of the usual dial tone.

2. Using Ringback Apps

Apps give more options and customizations. Some popular ones include:

• Zedge or CallerTunes
• Browse Google Play for a variety of ringback tunes.

Just choose a tone, follow the app’s steps, and apply it to your phone.

3. Tips to Pick the Right Tone

• Go for something that fits your mood, message, or brand.
• Fun songs, motivational messages, or peaceful sounds are great options.
• Businesses can use ringback advertising to make a professional impression.

🍏 For iPhone Users

iPhones don’t officially support ringback tones, but you still have options.

• Use voicemail greetings to add a personal touch.
• Go to Settings > Phone > Voicemail to record a message.

It’s not exactly the same as a ringback tone, but it still helps you stand out.

How to Choose the Perfect Ringback Tone

You can even choose a ringback tone from most of the phone companies. They offer numerous types of music, voice welcome messages, or even funny voices that sound like someone called one and listened to your ringing.

Biggest U.S. Phone Companies Offering Ringback Tones:

• Verizon: Offers different ringback tones, from melodies to custom greetings. You have the option of choosing one which will suit you.

• AT&T: Provides a large set of tones, from songs to humor. You can even employ your own recorded voice greeting for an incoming call.

• T-Mobile: Enables you to select tones from a large library, from best hits to personalized messages.

 👉 Tip: Just ask your carrier to lead you the way. All except one allow users to select tones fairly easily through apps or websites.

Cost Options

• Free Options: There are also some carriers and apps that provide free ringback music, though the choices tend to be limited.

• Paid Tones: Desire a hit song or special ambiance? You might pay a little—around $1 to $5.

• Subscription Fee: Some carriers and apps also offer monthly plans. For a subscription fee paid upfront, you enjoy a huge variety of ringback tunes and personalization.

Cool Ways to Make the Most of Your Ringback Tone

Here are some cool ways to use your ringback tone:

Record Your Own Message

Add a Personal Touch

One of the best things you can do to make your ringback tone stand out is to record your own message. You can have fun, share a joke, or say a quick hello for your callers.

This personal touch can make your calls appear friendlier and personalized. It’s a wonderful way to show off your personality or create a fun experience for the person who calls you!

How to Upload Your Message

Here is the Step-by-Step Upload Guide for you:

• Carrier Services: Call your carrier or visit their website and search for the upload option for your customized message. They will guide you through it, which is quite straightforward and easy.

• Apps: Apps like Zedge or CallerTunes enable you to record and post your voice message directly. Just pick the “record” function, then upload your message to set your ringback tone.

Once posted, your callers will be greeted with your custom message instead of a boring ring!

Use Ringback Tones for Your Business

Why Businesses Love Ringback Tones

Businesses often use ringback tones to hold the attention of customers who are waiting. Instead of silence, you can have a business voice or music that speaks for your business.

It’s a great way of providing promotions, providing company updates, or just sounding more professional over calls.

Easy Setup Tips

How to Get Ready for Business

Choose a ringback tone that reflects your business. You can choose a professional voice greeting, music that reflects your company, or an information announcement.

Carrier Services or Apps: Use your carrier or install an app like Zedge to search and upload the perfect tone.

Test the tone on your phone before using it with customers to make sure that it is crisp and professional.

Alternatives if Ringback Tones Aren’t Supported

• Voicemail Greetings: Don’t worry if your phone does not support ringback tones! You can just create a custom voicemail greeting. Record a short, welcoming message to welcome callers when you’re not there.

• Hold Music: For businesses, holding music is another way to entertain callers. Play some relaxing or upbeat songs while customers are placed on hold waiting to be answered.

• VoIP Services: Some VoIP plans allow you to include customized audio on calls, such as messages and songs. In case your normal phone network is not supported with ringback tones, then this is an ideal substitute to utilize.

What to Do if Your Ringback Tone Isn’t Working

Have trouble with your ringback tone? Try these quick fixes to get it working again:

1. Check Your Settings

• Start by going to your phone settings.
• Make sure the ringback tone feature is turned on and not muted.
• Check in the “Call” or “Sound” settings as well so that it is turned on.

2. Update Your Phone

• Sometimes, updating your phone will fix the issue.

• Head to Settings > Software Update, and update to the latest version.

• Updates will usually fix small bugs that might be hindering the ringback tone from functioning.

3. Talk to Your Carrier

• Not working so far? Your phone company may be to blame.

• Dial them up and check if you have service or if they are having outages.

• Some programs utilizing ringback tones will also require carrier activation.

4. Regional Restrictions

• There are some regions where ringback tones are disabled.

• Dial your carrier to check if they offer it in your region.

• Alternatives then include voicemail greetings or hold music.

How to Change or Remove Your Ringback Tone

Changing Your Tone

Wondering how to change your ringback tone? It’s simple!

• Carrier Services: Call your carrier or search for them on the web. Scroll through the list of tones and pick one that you like.

• Apps: Open your app (like Zedge or CallerTunes), pick a new tone, and follow the instructions to install it.

Always try the tone out first to make sure it sounds good to you.

Canceling Services

If you no longer want ringback tones or need to cancel a subscription:

• Carrier: Dial your carrier and request to cancel the service or disable auto-renewals.

• Apps: Go to the app settings where you subscribed and disable the subscription or service.

Some services offer a free trial don’t forget to cancel before it ends to avoid charges.

Removing Custom Tones

Need to remove your custom tones or voice messages, you can follow these steps:

• Carrier Settings: Visit your carrier account and go to the ringback tone section and remove any custom tones that you had uploaded.

• Apps: If you utilized an application like Zedge, visit the app and remove saved tones in your library.

Double-check that tones have been removed both from your app and your carrier settings.

Conclusion

Ringback tones give your calls a personal, playful touch. Whether you hear your favorite song or a silly greeting, they make talking on the phone more enjoyable. And they let you express your personality or business identity.

If ringback tones aren’t available or aren’t working, don’t worry! A greeting on your voicemail is always an option to add some personality. For businesses, holding music or custom sound can also be a great way to keep your callers engaged while waiting.

FAQs

Can I use any song as my ringback tone?

Only network operator-licensed music or tones contained in a tone app can be legally used as a ringback tone.

Why can’t I set a ringback tone on my iPhone?

Some network operators have not activated ringback tone services for iPhones, but you can use interactive voicemail features or personalized voicemails as alternatives.

Are ringback tones free?

Some ringback tones are free, but others may require a subscription fee or a play pass to access premium ringback music.

How do I get rid of my ringback tone?

You can delete or change your ringback tone through your tone app or by contacting your network operator.

Are ringback tones still used in 2025?

Yes, in 2025, exclusive ring ringback songs are listened to by the caller during incoming calls, especially through ringback advertisement services.

How do I set a ringback tone?

Download an app from Google Play app or access your network provider and select and enable a ring back tone to your incoming call.