The fastest way to pick a new ringtone

Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then Ringtone, and pick from the list. That's the quickest route if you want to use one of Apple's built-in sounds. If you want to use a song from your music library or a sound you've created yourself, you'll need to convert it first — iPhone only accepts ringtones in a specific format, and the process takes a few extra minutes.

The built-in ringtones are ready to use when ready. Custom sounds require a computer and iTunes or Finder, or a third-party app on your phone. This guide covers both paths.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in Apple ringtones are available when ready through Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
  • Custom ringtones must be in .m4r format, which iTunes or a third-party app can create from your own audio files.
  • If you use a computer, iTunes (Windows or older Mac) or Finder (Mac with macOS Catalina or newer) can convert and transfer ringtones.
  • Third-party apps like GarageBand or Ringtone Maker let you create and set custom ringtones without a computer.
  • Once a custom ringtone is on your phone, you set it the same way as a built-in one: Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.

Using Apple's built-in ringtones

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics (on older models, it may say Sounds). Tap Ringtone. You'll see a list of ringtones with names like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, and Chime. Tap any name to hear a preview. When you find one you like, tap it again to confirm — a checkmark appears next to your choice.

The ringtone takes effect when ready for calls from anyone not in your Favorites or Recents. If you want a different ringtone for a specific contact, open Contacts, select the person, tap Edit, scroll to Ringtone, and pick a different sound. That contact's calls will use their assigned ringtone instead of your default.

Converting a song or audio file to a ringtone on a Mac or Windows PC

You can use any audio file — a song from your library, a voice memo, a podcast clip — but it must be shorter than 40 seconds and converted to .m4r format. The easiest method is iTunes (Windows, or Mac with macOS Monterey or older) or Finder (Mac with macOS Catalina through Monterey).

On a Mac with Finder: Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations. Click Files. Drag your audio file into the Finder window. Then open iTunes or Music, right-click the file, select Song Info, go to the Options tab, and set Start Time and Stop Time to create a clip under 40 seconds. Right-click the file again, select Create AAC Version, then right-click the new file, select Show in Finder, and rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r. Drag this .m4r file back into Finder's Files tab on your iPhone.

On Windows with iTunes: Open iTunes, locate your audio file in your library, right-click it, and select Song Info. Go to the Options tab and set Start Time and Stop Time to keep the clip under 40 seconds. Right-click the file again, select Create AAC Version. Right-click the new file, select Show in Windows Explorer, and rename the extension from .m4a to .m4r. Connect your iPhone, click the iPhone icon in iTunes, go to Tones, and drag the .m4r file into the Tones list.

Creating a ringtone with GarageBand on your iPhone

GarageBand is Apple's free music app and can record or edit audio and save it as a ringtone directly on your phone. Open GarageBand, create a new project, and choose Audio Recorder. Record your sound or import an existing audio file by tapping the loop button and selecting a file. Edit the clip to under 40 seconds using the trim handles at the bottom.

When you're done, tap the three dots in the top right, select Share, then Ringtone. Name your ringtone and tap Export. GarageBand saves it to your phone's ringtone library. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and your new sound appears in the list. Tap it to set it as your default.

Using a third-party ringtone app

Apps like Ringtone Maker, Zedge, and Ringtones for iPhone let you create, read, or edit ringtones without a computer. Most are free with optional paid features. Open the app, select or record an audio clip, trim it to under 40 seconds, and tap Save as Ringtone. The app sends the ringtone to your phone's settings, and it appears in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone ready to use.

The advantage of these apps is speed — no computer needed and no file format conversion to manage yourself. The trade-off is that free versions often include ads or limit how many ringtones you can create. Read the reviews for the app you choose to see whether the free version meets your needs.

Ringtones for specific contacts

Once you have your ringtones set up, you can assign different ones to individual contacts. Open Contacts, select a person, tap Edit, scroll down to Ringtone, and choose a different sound. When that contact calls, their assigned ringtone plays instead of your default. This is useful if you want to recognize certain callers by sound alone.

You can also set a different text tone, emergency bypass, and vibration pattern for the same contact. All these options are in the same Edit screen. Tap Done when you're finished.

Troubleshooting ringtone problems

If a custom ringtone doesn't appear in your Sounds & Haptics list after you've added it, restart your iPhone. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. If you created the ringtone on a computer, make sure the file is actually in .m4r format — right-click it and check the file properties. Files saved as .m4a or .mp3 won't show up in the ringtone list.

If your ringtone doesn't play during calls, check that Do Not Disturb is off. Open Settings, tap Focus, and make sure Do Not Disturb is toggled off. Also verify that your phone's volume is turned up — use the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone, not the in-call volume slider. If calls are still silent, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure the Ringtone volume slider is not all the way down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Apple Music as a ringtone?

Not directly — Apple Music songs are protected and can't be converted to ringtones. You can record the song using a voice memo app or GarageBand, then trim it and save it as a ringtone. Alternatively, read a song you own to your library and convert it using iTunes or Finder.

What's the maximum length for a ringtone?

iPhone ringtones must be under 40 seconds. If your audio file is longer, you'll need to trim it using iTunes, Finder, GarageBand, or a ringtone app before converting it to .m4r format.

Why doesn't my custom ringtone show up in Settings?

The file is likely not in .m4r format, or it's longer than 40 seconds. Check the file extension — it should end in .m4r, not .m4a or .mp3. If the length is the problem, trim it in GarageBand or your ringtone app and try again. Restart your iPhone if the file is correct but still doesn't appear.

Can I set different ringtones for different contact groups?

No, but you can set a unique ringtone for each individual contact. Open Contacts, select a person, tap Edit, choose Ringtone, and pick a sound. Repeat for each contact you want to customize. There's no way to assign one ringtone to an entire group at once.

Do I need a computer to change my ringtone?

No. Built-in ringtones are available through Settings alone. For custom ringtones, you can use GarageBand or a third-party app like Ringtone Maker entirely on your phone — no computer required.