How to Set Any Song as Your iPhone Ringtone

Apple only offers paid ringtones in the iTunes Store, but you can use any song, voice note or video sound for free. iPhone ringtones have two rules:

• The file must be .m4r (AAC audio with an iPhone-specific extension). Renaming an MP3 doesn't work.
• It should be 30 seconds or shorter. iOS rejects or truncates longer files.

So there are two parts: create the M4R, then put it on your iPhone.

Step 1 — Create the M4R ringtone

1. Open the iPhone Ringtone Maker in Safari on your iPhone (or on any computer).
2. Tap Choose a song, recording or video and pick the file from Files, iCloud Drive or Downloads. Songs bought from Apple Music are DRM-protected and can't be used, but MP3s, M4As, WhatsApp audio and videos you recorded all work.
3. The maker highlights the loudest 30 seconds automatically, which is usually the chorus. Drag the orange handles to adjust, and tap Play selection to check.
4. Keep Fade in 1 s and Fade out 2 s on. A ringtone that starts abruptly sounds jarring.
5. Tap Create iPhone ringtone (M4R). The file is saved to your Downloads folder.

Your audio never leaves the phone, because the conversion runs inside Safari.

Step 2, option A — Install it on iPhone with GarageBand (no computer)

1. Install GarageBand (free, by Apple) from the App Store.
2. Open GarageBand → tap + → choose any instrument (e.g. Audio Recorder) → tap the tracks view icon (the bricks).
3. Tap the loop icon (top right) → Files → Browse items from the Files app → pick your ringtone from Downloads.
4. Drag the file onto the timeline, then tap the down arrow (top left) → My Songs.
5. Long-press the project → Share → Ringtone → Export → Use sound as… → Standard Ringtone.

Step 2, option B — Install it with a Mac or Windows PC

1. Connect your iPhone with a cable and unlock it.
2. Mac (macOS Catalina or later): open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar. Windows: open iTunes or the Apple Devices app.
3. Drag the .m4r file onto the iPhone in the sidebar. It syncs instantly.
4. On the iPhone: Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone and pick it from the top of the list.

Assign a ringtone to one contact

Open Contacts → the person → Edit → Ringtone. Custom ringtones per person help you know who's calling without looking.

Troubleshooting

• The ringtone doesn't appear: make sure the file ends in .m4r and is under 30–40 seconds. Re-export it with the maker, which enforces both.
• “File not supported” in GarageBand: the source was DRM-protected. Use a file you own, such as an MP3 or a video you recorded.
• It's too quiet: run the file through the Volume Booster first, then make the ringtone.