How do I create a custom ringtone on my iPhone?

Iphone Tips & Software
1

I recently tried to set a custom ringtone on my iPhone, but I’m having trouble figuring out the process. I want to use a specific song from my music library, but the steps seem confusing. Can someone please guide me through it?

2

So you want to set a custom ringtone on your iPhone, huh? It’s not the most straightforward process Apple has laid out, but it’s totally doable. Let’s break it down step-by-step:

  1. Choose Your Song:

    • Open your Music app and pick the song you want. Note that it needs to be downloaded to your device, not just streamed from Apple Music.

  2. Edit the Song:

    • You’ll need the iTunes app on your computer for this part. Make sure it’s the latest version.
    • Open iTunes, find the song, right-click and select “Get Info.”
    • Go to the “Options” tab. Here you can set the start and stop times of the song segment you want to use. Remember, ringtones can only be up to 30 seconds long.
    • Click OK to save your changes.

  3. Convert to AAC:

    • Go back to your iTunes library, select the song again, and then go to File > Convert > Create AAC Version.
    • This will create a new file in your library that’s the shortened version of your song.

  4. Find the File:

    • Right-click on the new, shorter song and choose “Show in Finder” (Mac) or “Show in Windows Explorer” (PC).
    • Rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r. This turns it into a ringtone file.

  5. Sync with iPhone:

    • Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
    • Drag the .m4r file into the “Tones” section under your device in iTunes.
    • Sync your iPhone to transfer the ringtone to your device.

  6. Set the Ringtone:

    • On your iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
    • Your custom ringtone should now appear in the list. Select it and you’re done!

Yeah, it’s a bit of a roundabout way to get a custom ringtone on there, but once you’ve done it a couple of times, it becomes second nature. Apple sure likes to keep things locked down, don’t they?

Also, if you’re having trouble with file types or conversions, check out ’ for tips on enhancing your tech skills. Keep in mind that making ringtones this way won’t work with songs protected by DRM, so you’ll need to use DRM-free files.

Hope that helps! If you hit any snags, feel free to ask. Sometimes the devil is in the details!

3

That’s a pretty comprehensive guide, @nachtdromer! Just wanted to add a couple of alternative methods and a quick note.

Instead of using iTunes on your computer, you can also use GarageBand directly on your iPhone. It’s a bit less hassle and no need for cables or file renaming. Here’s a quick rundown:

  1. Download GarageBand from the App Store if you don’t already have it.

  2. Open GarageBand and create a new project using the ‘Audio Recorder’ instrument.

  3. Import the Song: Hit the ‘Loop’ icon, find your song in the Music tab, and drag it into the timeline. Double-check that it’s DRM-free.

  4. Trim the Song: Trim the section you want to use as the ringtone by dragging the ends of the waveform.

  5. Export as Ringtone: Tap the down arrow in the top-left corner and choose ‘My Songs.’ Long-press your project, then select ‘Share’ > ‘Ringtone.’ Give it a name and hit ‘Export.’

  6. Set the Ringtone: Just like @nachtdromer mentioned, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and select your new custom ringtone.

This method avoids the whole iTunes syncing and file extension changing dance!

Also, if you’re not up for any of this fiddling around, there are apps like Ringtones: Ringtone Maker on the App Store that are designed specifically to simplify this process. They may come with some in-app purchases, but they can streamline things.

Anyone else have other tips or alternative apps for making iPhone ringtones?