Jamming on a particular song and want to make it your iPhone ringtone? But is it possible to make a song as your iPhone ringtone without iTunes or your computer? Yes, it can be done! Whether a custom sound like your child’s voice, a music piece, or external ringtones, iPhone allows you to be the decision-maker. In this article, I will take you through the process step by step, so stick along.
Things to know before you set any song as an iPhone ringtone?
- Locally Saved – The track you want as a ringtone should be stored in your iPhone Music Library or the files app. Protected songs (like from Apple Music) cannot be used.
- The app – You’ll need to download and install one of the two apps –
- Ringtones: Ringtone Maker
- Apple’s GarageBand app
Now, let’s move on to the next step.
How to create a custom iPhone ringtone with GarageBand
For this tutorial purposes, I have downloaded a ringtone from Zedge. You can use a website or source of your choice.
- Launch the GarageBand app on your iPhone.
- Swipe and find Audio Recorder from the options, tap Voice (mic icon). (You can also use Keyboard or Drummer for the purpose)
- Here, tap View (brick wall like icon) to enter the editing section.
- Tap the Loop icon; you’ll see three subheadings here – Apple Loops, Files, and Music. Since my ringtone is saved in files, I will be using that tab.
- Look for the song you want; hold it for a few seconds to import. If you can’t see the song, tap Browse items from the Files app to find it.
- To edit the song, drag the long vertical bar to your custom ringtone’s desired starting point.
You may use the play button to achieve the perfect starting point of your tone. - Once done, double-tap the song and select Split.
- Drag the Scissor icon down to cut/divide the song at your chosen point.
- Delete the unusable part of the song by tapping it twice and then choosing Delete.
- Now, select the down arrow icon from the top-left corner and tap My Songs.
- Tap and hold the project and select Share from the list.
- Here, select Ringtone, then continue, name the song as per your choice, and tap Export.
- Once the process completes, tap Use sound as… to set it as ringtone directly or OK to do it manually.
Note: While exporting, iPhone automatically trims the ringtone at 30 seconds. If you want to set an endpoint somewhere before 30 seconds, repeat steps 6 to 9.
Set custom ringtone on iPhone without iTunes
If you selected OK previously or you want to use the custom ringtone again, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone
- The recently created tone will be displayed on top of the list under RINGTONES.
- Tap it to set it as your ringtone.
Successfully set a song as a ringtone on iPhone without iTunes or PC!
I hope this handy trick to set a ringtone of your choice without iTunes or a computer was useful. If you have any queries or face any issues during the process, please share them in the comment section below.
And if this was too much of a hassle, don’t worry! You can check the below articles for alternative hacks:
A self-professed Geek who loves to explore all things Apple. I thoroughly enjoy discovering new hacks, troubleshooting issues, and finding and reviewing the best products and apps currently available. My expertise also includes curating opinionated and honest editorials. If not this, you might find me surfing the web or listening to audiobooks.
I am new with iOS and I was afraid I will not be able to set custom ringtone without iTunes or third party app, but this makes it possible. Thank you very much for the guide.
This worked successfully. Thank you a million.
Thank you for this clear explanation on how to create a ringtone using my iPhone alone. Worked perfectly for a purchased and downloaded song, just as you promised. You made two people (me and my wife who tasked me with this project) happy tonight. Thanks for providing this information. You rock!!!
GarageBand isn’t the easiest app to navigate, and I’m a seasoned iPhone user. But this tutorial worked as a charm. I was able to downLoad a mp3 online and splice it into a 5 second ringtone for my contact text msgs. Thanks a bunch igeek.
Hatss offff 🔥🔥🔥🔥 This worked as a charm
Thank you simple process and easy to follow instructions!
Help! When importing the MP3 into GarageBand, the MP3 is greyed out and refuses to put into the track!
Thank you
There can be multiple reasons behind it; this Apple Support article covers almost all – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210403. If none of these methods work, do feel free to connect with us; we’ll try and figure out some other way around.
it worked , great..!! and thanks a lot
Totally worked, thanks. Great hack though.
It’s not working for some reason. It says that the ringtone was exported successfully, but when I called myself from a friend’s phone it didn’t work. Idk if I did something wrong.
Are you doing the next step after the ringtone is exported from the GarageBand, i.e., set the ringtone from Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone.
Clear, excellent instructions through a painfully long process using jaw-droppingly non-intuative software. Thanks. I remember a decade ago on an Android phone clicking two options and wham – ringtone set……that´s how it should be!
thanks.
This was the best way I’ve ever seen to make any mp3 a ring tone. If you want a YouTube vid as an mp3 you just do a quick YouTube to mp3 online converter and then your hack and your all set! Love it!
Hello Ms. Arshmeet,
After receiving my first ever iPhone (gift from a friend), I wanted to duplicate the “environment” of my previous phone. Not wanting to have to install a humongous program (iTunes) just to have my customized ringtones, I came across your article. FANTASTIC!!! Even being a newbie to the Apple world, your instructions (along with some ‘formal intuition’) got me up and situated in record time. Thanks loads for writing this.
You have provided me invaluable knowledge. Cheers!
Hi Arshmeet – thank you so much! I’m new to iPhones and used to Android, your article saved me from throwing the phone out of the window. The only thing I didn’t do right the first time was to make sure the long bar inn Garageband was set at the beginning of my newly cut segment, so the ringtone was effectively a period of silence. Once I worked that out, it was plain sailing. Thank you again.
Thanks! Your clear instructions worked well for me—and I’m the opposite of a geek
This a easy to use guide on a process that has always been an issue for me. Thank you!
I did make a mistake by leaving the first few seconds empty. I didn’t realize it until I already exported and they are now listed in my ringtones. Any way to delete them so I can correct them.
Excellent write-up. I definitely appreciate this site. Continue the good work!
Hi Arshmeet, nice clear instructions which worked to a point. The song was edited and was there ticked off in ringtones, but no sound and I can’t understand why not. Best regards.
Thanks for your kind words. However, I haven’t come across such an error yet, nor could I find a substantial solution for the same over the web. I suggest you try a different song or different instrument. If nothing works, delete and re-install Garage Band again. Do let me know if the problem persists, I’ll try to help you out to the best of my abilities.
Thanks 😀