Nokia Ringtone

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About this sound

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The classic Nokia ringtone, the iconic melody from early mobile phones, used in videos and memes for nostalgic incoming calls and retro phone jokes.

The Nokia ringtone is the short, instantly recognisable melody that defined an era of mobile phones. It opens with a bright, simple sequence of electronic notes played in a clean, slightly tinny tone, repeating in a neat loop that feels both cheerful and urgent. Hearing it immediately suggests a phone ringing in a pocket, a call arriving at the worst possible moment, or a flashback to flip phones and text messages on tiny screens. Its familiarity does most of the work, triggering nostalgia in older listeners and a knowing smile in younger ones who know it from memes, parodies and retro references.

The tune began as a short phrase from Gran Vals, a guitar piece written by Spanish composer Francisco Tarrega in 1902. Nokia adopted it as a ringtone for its early mobile phones in the 1990s, and as those handsets spread around the world, the melody became one of the most recognised sounds on the planet. It later moved from pockets into pop culture, appearing in parodies, remixes and comedy videos that use it as shorthand for an old-fashioned phone call. Its simple, catchy shape is why it still works today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Nokia ringtone?

The Nokia ringtone is the classic melody Nokia used as the default ringtone on its early mobile phones. Its bright, repeating electronic notes are instantly recognisable and are now widely used as a nostalgic sound for phone calls in videos and memes.

Where did the Nokia ringtone come from?

The melody comes from Gran Vals, a guitar piece composed by Francisco Tarrega in 1902. Nokia adapted a short phrase from it for its phones in the 1990s, and the tune became famous as handsets spread worldwide.

How do creators use the Nokia ringtone in videos?

Creators use it to signal an incoming call, interrupt a scene, or add a retro joke. It works best played briefly at the start of a call moment, then cut off when a character answers, so the familiar sound lands without overpowering dialogue.