The fastest way to change your ringtone

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Sounds & Haptics (or Sounds on older models). Tap Ringtone, and you'll see a list of built-in tones. Tap any tone to hear it, then tap it again to set it as your ringtone. The checkmark shows which one is active.

That's the complete process for using Apple's built-in ringtones. If you want to use a song from your music library or a custom tone you've created, the steps are slightly different—those methods are covered in the sections below.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in ringtones are found in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, and you can preview and set one in seconds.
  • You can use any song in your Apple Music library or iTunes library as a ringtone by selecting it in the Ringtone menu.
  • Custom ringtones you create in GarageBand or read from the internet must be added to your iPhone through a computer or the Files app before they appear in Settings.
  • Different contacts can have different ringtones if you assign a custom tone to them individually in the Contacts app.
  • If a ringtone doesn't appear in your list, check that it's in the correct format (M4R for custom files) and that it's under 40 seconds long.

Using songs from your music library as ringtones

If you have songs in Apple Music or your iTunes library, you can use a 30-second section of any song as your ringtone. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, then scroll down past the built-in tones. You'll see a section labeled Synced Tones or Music depending on your iOS version. Tap the song you want to use.

The ringtone will start from the beginning of the song unless you've set a specific start point. If you want the ringtone to begin at a particular moment—say, after the intro—you'll need to create a custom ringtone file using GarageBand or a computer, which is covered in the next section.

Creating a custom ringtone in GarageBand

GarageBand on your iPhone lets you record or edit audio and export it as a ringtone. Open GarageBand, create a new project, and record or import the audio you want. Trim it to 30 seconds or less—ringtones longer than 40 seconds won't work. When you're done, tap the three dots in the top left, then tap Share. Choose Ringtone, give it a name, and tap Share again.

The ringtone will be saved to your iPhone automatically and will appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone under a section at the top. You can then set it as your default ringtone or assign it to a specific contact.

Adding ringtones from your computer

If you have a ringtone file on your Mac or Windows computer, you can transfer it to your iPhone using a cable or cloud storage. Ringtone files must be in M4R format and no longer than 40 seconds. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), select your iPhone, and go to the Tones section. Drag your M4R file into this window, and it will sync to your phone.

Alternatively, you can upload the M4R file to iCloud Drive or another cloud service, open the Files app on your iPhone, locate the file, and tap it. Choose Copy, then open Settings and navigate to Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. The file should now appear in your ringtone list. If it doesn't, check that the file extension is .M4R and that the file is under 40 seconds.

Setting different ringtones for specific contacts

You can assign a unique ringtone to individual contacts so you know who's calling without looking at your phone. Open the Contacts app, find the person you want to customize, and tap Edit. Scroll down and tap Ringtone, then choose the tone you want for that contact. Tap Done to save.

This works with any ringtone in your list—built-in tones, songs from your library, or custom tones you've created. You can set a different ringtone for as many contacts as you want. If you want to remove a custom ringtone from a contact and return to your default, tap Edit, tap Ringtone, and select your main ringtone again.

Troubleshooting ringtones that don't appear

If a ringtone you added isn't showing up in your list, the most common cause is the file format. Custom ringtones must be in M4R format—not MP3, WAV, or any other format. If you have an MP3 file, you'll need to convert it to M4R using a computer tool or online converter before adding it to your iPhone.

The second common issue is file length. Ringtones longer than 40 seconds won't sync or import. If your file is too long, trim it using GarageBand or your computer's audio editor before trying again. After you've fixed the format or length, try adding the file once more through your computer or the Files app. If it still doesn't appear after a few minutes, restart your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly. Spotify and YouTube don't allow you to export audio as ringtone files. You can only use songs from Apple Music, iTunes, or audio files you own or have created. If you want to use a song from another service, you'll need to record it, save it as an audio file, convert it to M4R format, and then add it to your iPhone.

Why does my ringtone sound different on my iPhone than it did on my computer?

Your iPhone's speaker and your computer's speaker produce different sound quality. Also, your iPhone's volume settings and any active Do Not Disturb or Silent mode settings can affect how the ringtone plays. Test your ringtone by going to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and tapping it to preview. Adjust your volume using the side buttons if needed.

What happens to my ringtone if I update my iPhone?

Built-in Apple ringtones stay on your phone after an update. Custom ringtones and synced tones should also remain, but if you're concerned, back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer before updating. If a ringtone does disappear, you can re-add it using the same method you used originally.

Can I make a ringtone from a voice memo I recorded?

Yes. Open the Voice Memos app, find the recording you want, tap the three dots next to it, and tap Share. Choose Save to Files and save it to iCloud Drive or another location. Then open GarageBand, import the file, trim it to 30 seconds or less, and export it as a ringtone following the steps in the GarageBand section above.