How to Use a Meme Sound as Your Ringtone on Android or iPhone

A meme sound can make your phone ring in a way your friends will remember. It can also embarrass you in a meeting. This guide shows how to set a meme audio clip as a ringtone on Android and iPhone, and how to pick one you will not regret.

Pick the right file type

• Android: MP3 works on most phones.
• iPhone: M4R is the ringtone format.

If you are not sure which to download, read our file format guide. Many meme audio pages offer both.

Choose a clip that works as a ringtone

• Short. Phones ring for a limited time. A clip of a few seconds, with the key line at the start, works best. Under 30 seconds is a safe limit for iPhone.
• Clear. Avoid clips with loud background music that will sound muddy through a phone speaker.
• Not too loud or shocking. A scream or an alarm-like sound can scare you or the person next to you.
• Safe for public places. Offensive language or adult jokes at a bus stop is not funny to everyone.

Short, clear spoken lines like this one tend to work well:

On Android

Menus differ between brands, but the steps are similar.

1. Download the MP3 file to your phone.
2. Open Settings and go to Sound (sometimes called Sound and vibration).
3. Tap Phone ringtone.
4. Choose the option to add from files, often a plus (+) button or "Choose from files". Some phones list only sounds in the Ringtones folder. If yours does, move the file into the Ringtones folder with a file manager.
5. Select the meme sound and confirm.

You can set a different sound for text messages and notifications in the same Sound settings.

On iPhone

iPhone is stricter about ringtones. The file must be in M4R format and short enough. The usual route is:

1. Download the M4R file.
2. Add it to your phone's ringtone list. One common method is to import the file with GarageBand on the iPhone and export it as a ringtone. Another is to sync it from a computer through Finder (on a Mac) or iTunes (on Windows).
3. Open Settings, go to Sounds & Haptics, tap Ringtone, and choose your clip from the list.

Apple changes these menus from time to time. If a step does not match your phone, search Apple Support for "custom ringtone" for the latest instructions for your iOS version.

Tips before you make it your main ringtone

• Test the sound at a normal volume with someone nearby.
• Assign it to one contact first, such as a friend who will appreciate it, instead of your whole phone.
• Keep a plain ringtone for work calls.
• Be ready to change it. A joke you love on day one can get annoying by day ten.

A note on rights

Using a meme sound as a personal ringtone is different from using it in a video you publish for profit. If you plan to use audio in a monetised project, see our commercial use guide. For ideas on what to listen for, browse Hindi memes and funny memes, or press the random meme button to find something unexpected.