How to Fix Signal Ringtone Not Changing

If you're like me and rely on Signal for all your messaging and calls, having the perfect ringtone is a must. But sometimes, no matter how many times you try to change it, Signal just won’t update the ringtone. It’s frustrating, right? Don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I’ve figured out some reliable ways to fix the Signal ringtone not changing issue. Let’s dive into what’s going on and how you can get your custom ringtone working smoothly.

Why Can’t I Change My Signal Ringtone?

Before jumping into fixes, it’s helpful to understand why Signal ringtone not changing happens in the first place. Signal uses end-to-end encryption and has its own way of handling notifications to keep your privacy intact. Also, it relies on both app-level settings and your phone’s system settings. Sometimes these two don’t play nicely together, causing your new ringtone to not stick.

Here are some common reasons:

Signal’s in-app ringtone setting conflicts with system settings.
Phone’s notification permissions or Do Not Disturb mode interfering.
Cached data causing glitches.
Using unsupported ringtone formats or locations (like SD card files).
A bug in the current Signal version you’re using.

How to Fix Signal Ringtone Not Changing: Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s walk through the practical steps you can take to fix the Signal ringtone not changing issue. I’ve personally tested these on both Android and iOS, and these tips usually do the trick.

1. Check Signal’s In-App Ringtone Setting

This is the most straightforward step, but sometimes it gets overlooked.

Open Signal.
Tap your profile icon in the top-left corner to open Settings.
Select Notifications.
Under the Incoming calls section, tap Ringtone.
Choose your preferred ringtone from the list.
Exit and test by asking someone to call you on Signal.

Pro tip: Signal only shows ringtones that are accessible by the app, so if you want custom sounds, make sure they’re saved in your phone’s default notifications folder.

2. Adjust Your Phone’s System Notification Settings

Signal relies heavily on system notification channels, especially on Android 8.0+.

Go to your phone’s Settings.
Navigate to Apps & notifications (wording may vary).
Find and tap Signal.
Tap Notifications.
Look for Call notifications or similar channels.
Tap the channel, then select Sound.
Pick the ringtone you want.

Sometimes, the system-level ringtone overrides Signal’s in-app setting, so this step is essential. I’ve noticed on some phones (especially Samsung and OnePlus) you have to do this to get your custom ringtone to stick.

3. Clear Cache or Reinstall Signal

If changing the ringtone still feels stuck, it might be a caching issue or a bug with the app.

On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Signal > Storage, then tap Clear cache. Avoid clearing data unless you want to lose message history locally.
Restart your phone after clearing cache.
If that doesn’t help, uninstall and reinstall Signal from the official source (signal.org).

This usually resets all settings and fixes any corrupt files causing the ringtone not to change.

4. Make Sure Your Ringtone File is Compatible

Signal supports standard audio formats like MP3 and OGG for ringtones, but I’ve found that if you try to use files stored on an SD card or obscure folders, Signal might not list them as options or fail to use them.

Here’s how to avoid this:

Move your desired ringtone file to your phone’s Notifications folder (on Android: Internal Storage > Notifications).
Rename the file with a simple name (no spaces or special characters).
Restart Signal to refresh the ringtone list.

On iPhone, custom ringtones for Signal calls are more restricted due to iOS limitations—stick with the default options Signal provides.

5. Disable Do Not Disturb or Other Sound Profiles

Sometimes, the ringtone doesn’t change because your phone is in Do Not Disturb mode or using a sound profile that suppresses call sounds.

Check if Do Not Disturb is enabled and turn it off.
Make sure volume levels are up, especially for notifications and calls.
If you use third-party sound management apps, disable them temporarily.

One time, I had my ringtone not changing issue because I’d set a work profile that muted all calls—so make sure this isn’t happening on your device.

Extra Tips: Getting the Most Out of Signal's Ringtone Features

Once you get your ringtone working, here are a couple of little things I’ve learned along the way:

Assign custom ringtones to specific contacts: Signal allows you to set unique ringtones per contact. Just open a contact’s chat, tap their name, then Custom Notifications to set a special ringtone.
Use vibration patterns: If ringtone changes are flaky, sometimes toggling vibration on/off helps Signal refresh notification settings.
Keep Signal updated: New updates often fix bugs related to notifications. Check regularly at signal.org or your app store.

Wrapping Up: What to Do If Signal Ringtone Still Won’t Change

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