Choose what you want to change
The phone ringtone is for incoming calls. Notification alerts and alarms have separate sound settings. If your downloaded MP3 is intended for a call, start with the phone ringtone selector; choosing it in Clock will only affect an alarm.
Change the default incoming-call ringtone
- Open Settings on your Pixel.
- Open Sound & vibration, then Phone ringtone or the phone ringtone setting shown on your device.
- Preview a sound and save your selection. If your version shows My Sounds or an add control, use that to choose a local file.
- Have someone call you once to check the actual incoming-call volume and sound. Keep the volume comfortable while testing.
Google's Pixel sound settings guide is the reference for the device-specific controls. Settings labels can change with Android releases, so the Settings search box is useful when your screen differs from the guide.
Add an MP3 that you downloaded
First preview and download an instrumental ringtone from a source you are allowed to use. Open Files, locate the MP3 and check that it plays. If it is not offered by the ringtone picker, place a copy in the phone's Ringtones folder in internal storage and revisit the sound setting. Google explicitly documents copying an MP3 to that folder when transferring a ringtone from a computer. The Files by Google instructions explain how to copy a file into a folder on the phone.
Do not rename an arbitrary audio format to “.mp3” to make it work; the extension does not convert the file. Keep the original file somewhere you can find it again.
Give one contact a different sound
Open Contacts, choose the person, open the More menu and choose Set ringtone, then save. That contact-specific choice can make it seem as though your default ringtone did not change. Google lists this workflow in its Pixel help page. For a more detailed walkthrough, see different ringtone for one contact.
Troubleshoot a change that you cannot hear
- Check that the phone is set to ring, not vibrate or mute, and raise the Ring & notification volume slider.
- Call from a number without a contact-specific ringtone to test the default setting.
- Confirm the MP3 still exists in local storage and can play in Files. If you removed it, choose a built-in ringtone and then add the file again.
- If you hear an alert instead of a call ringtone, check Default notification sound separately.
For more general Android troubleshooting, use ringtone not working or downloaded ringtone not showing.
Reviewed source: Google Pixel Phone Help. The sequence above is based on Google's documentation and can differ by Android version.