Use the Shortcuts app to turn any song into a ringtone

The fastest way to make a ringtone from a song on your iPhone is through the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. You record or trim a section of your song (up to 40 seconds), then set it as your ringtone directly. This works with songs in your Music app, songs you've purchased, or songs you've downloaded.

The Shortcuts method works on iPhone 12 and newer. If you have an older iPhone, you'll need to use a computer and iTunes instead — that process is longer but still straightforward.

You do not need to buy software or use a third-party app. Apple's own tools handle this without extra cost.

Key Takeaways

  • The Shortcuts app on your iPhone can trim any song to 40 seconds and set it as your ringtone in about five minutes.
  • You need the song already in your Music app, either purchased from iTunes, added from Apple Music, or synced from your computer.
  • The ringtone will only play for calls from people not in your Favorites — if you want it for all calls, you must remove everyone from Favorites first.
  • If Shortcuts doesn't work on your iPhone model, connect to a Mac or Windows computer and use iTunes to create the ringtone instead.

Set a ringtone using Shortcuts on iPhone 12 and newer

Open the Shortcuts app (the purple icon with white lines). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Search for "Set Ringtone" in the search bar at the bottom. Tap the "Set Ringtone" action to add it to your shortcut.

Tap the blue "Choose" button next to "Audio". A menu will open showing your Music library. Find the song you want and tap it. The shortcut will now show that song's name. Tap the play button next to the song name to preview it — you'll hear the first 40 seconds.

If you want a different part of the song, tap "Edit" next to the song name. A trimming interface will appear with a slider. Drag the left handle to where you want the ringtone to start, and the right handle to where you want it to end. The total length must stay under 40 seconds. Tap "Done" when you've set the section you want.

Tap the play button again to hear your trimmed section. When you're satisfied, tap "Done" in the top right corner of the shortcut. Give your shortcut a name like "My Ringtone" and tap "Done" again. Now tap the three dots next to your new shortcut and turn on "Show in Share Sheet" — this makes it easier to run later.

set up your new ringtone

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. Scroll to the bottom of the list. You should see your shortcut listed there with a purple Shortcuts icon. Tap it to set it as your default ringtone.

Your iPhone will now play this ringtone for incoming calls — but only from people who are not in your Favorites. If you have people in Favorites, their calls will still use the ringtone you set for them individually. To make your new song play for all calls, go to Settings > Phone > Favorites and remove everyone, or set individual ringtones for each person you want a different sound for.

Test the ringtone by asking someone to call you, or by using another phone to call your number.

Create a ringtone on a Mac or Windows computer

If you have an older iPhone or the Shortcuts method doesn't work, you can create a ringtone file on a computer and sync it to your phone. You'll need iTunes (on Windows or older Mac) or Finder (on Mac with Monterey or newer).

Open iTunes or Finder and locate the song file you want to use. Right-click the song and select "Get Info" (Mac) or "Properties" (Windows). Note the exact start and end times of the section you want — it must be 40 seconds or shorter. Close this window.

Right-click the song again and choose "Create AAC Version" (Mac) or "Convert to AAC" (Windows). A copy of the song will appear in your library. Right-click this copy and select "Show in Finder" (Mac) or "Show in Windows Explorer" (Windows). The file will open in a folder.

Rename this file to end with .m4r instead of .m4a. When you do, your computer will ask if you're sure — click "Use .m4r". This changes the file type so iTunes recognizes it as a ringtone.

Go back to iTunes or Finder. Look for a "Tones" section in the sidebar (you may need to enable it in preferences). Drag your .m4r file into the Tones section. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. In iTunes or Finder, select your iPhone, go to the Tones tab, and check "Sync Tones". Click "explore" or "Sync". Your ringtone will now be on your iPhone.

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and select your new tone from the list.

Troubleshoot if your ringtone won't play

If you set a ringtone but don't hear it when someone calls, check that your iPhone is not in Silent mode. The physical mute switch on the left side of your phone should be pushed toward the back (not toward the screen). If the switch is in Silent mode, your ringtone won't play — you'll only feel a vibration.

If the switch is correct and you still hear nothing, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure "Ringtone" volume is turned up. Drag the slider all the way to the right. Also check that "Change with Buttons" is turned on — this lets you control ringtone volume with the physical buttons on the side of your phone.

If the ringtone plays for some calls but not others, the caller may be in your Favorites list. Go to Settings > Phone > Favorites and check who's listed. You can remove people or set a different ringtone for each favorite contact by going to that contact in your Contacts app, tapping "Edit", scrolling down, and choosing "Ringtone".

Use songs from Apple Music or iTunes Match

If the song you want is in Apple Music but not downloaded to your phone, you must read it first. Open the Music app, find the song, and tap the cloud icon next to it. Wait for the read to finish — you'll see a checkmark when it's done.

Once the song is on your phone, follow the Shortcuts method above. The song will now appear in your Music library and you can trim it and set it as a ringtone.

Songs you've purchased from iTunes work the same way — they're already in your Music app and ready to use. If you synced songs from your computer, they'll also appear in Music and can be turned into ringtones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Spotify or YouTube Music as a ringtone?

No. Ringtones must come from songs in your iPhone's Music app. If you want to use a Spotify or YouTube Music song, you'll need to read it to your computer first, then add it to iTunes or Finder, and sync it to your phone as described in the computer method above.

What's the longest ringtone I can make?

Apple limits ringtones to 40 seconds. If you want a longer sound, you'll need to choose a different section of the song or pick a song with a shorter intro.

Will my ringtone play if my phone is on Do Not Disturb?

No. Do Not Disturb silences all sounds and vibrations except from people in your Favorites list. If you want your ringtone to play, turn off Do Not Disturb in Settings or swipe down from the top right corner and tap the Do Not Disturb icon to toggle it off.

Can I set different ringtones for different contacts?

Yes. Open the Contacts app, tap a person's name, tap "Edit", scroll down, and tap "Ringtone". Choose the ringtone you want for that person. This overrides your default ringtone for calls from them only.

Do I need to buy the song to make it a ringtone?

No. Any song in your Music app works — whether you purchased it, added it from Apple Music, or synced it from your computer. You do not need to own it outright.