How to Make a Custom Ringtone and Set It on iPhone for Free

Clara Prescott Published on September 18, 2025iOS Tips3-min reading

The iOS system is not as customizable as Android to some extent. Therefore, some users don't know how to change ringtones on an iPhone. This article will show trim, make, and set a customized ringtone on an iPhone. Moreover, do you know that you can set a ringtone on iPhone Settings if it is running iOS 26? You can also see the steps in this article.

In this article:

Part 1. How to Make a Custom Ringtone for iPhone
Part 2. How to Set the Customized Ringtone on iPhone [iOS 18 and Older]
Part 3. Customize Ringtones in iPhone Settings [iOS 26]
Part 4. Tips for Setting a Customized Ringtone on iPhone

Part 1. How to Make a Custom Ringtone for iPhone

To make a customized ringtone, first, you need a professional ringtone maker for iPhone. The original music will be edited and converted to the required time length, format, codec, bitrate, sample rate, and so on. The ringtone maker should do that for you automatically, so that you just need to trim the desired part and export.

Here we will use the Ringtone Maker in the Toolbox of imyPass iPhone Transfer, and show you how to make a custom ringtone on it for your iPhone.

Step 1

First, download imyPass iPhone Transfer on your Windows or Mac laptop, install and launch it. Make sure the laptop has the latest iTunes or Finder installed.

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(Optional) Then, connect your iPhone to the laptop with a USB or Lightning cable. If it is successfully connected, you will see the following interface. If your iPhone is unable to connect to iTunes, imyPass iPhone Transfer also can't recognize your iPhone.

Step 2

Click Toolbox at the last one on the left bar. You will see the Ringtone Maker button on the screen. Select it.

Step 3

Choose the original audio file of any format on your iPhone or directly on the computer. By the way, if you choose music from the laptop, you don't need to connect your iPhone in Step 1.

Step 4

You will then enter the ringtone editing screen. You can drag the slider to set the starting and ending points, adjust the volume, set the fade-in and fade-out time, etc. After that, select the output folder and export it. You can also check the Add to device box so that the files will be synced to your iPhone.

Apple also provides solutions to create a customized ringtone on the iPhone directly. Just download the GarageBand app on your iPhone and make ringtones.

Part 2. How to Set the Customized Ringtone on iPhone [iOS 18 and Older]

Now you have gotten the customized ringtone on your laptop. For iPhones running iOS 18 and older, you need to use iTunes or Finder and set the customized ringtone on the iPhone. Let's see how to do it.

Step 1

Connect your iPhone to your laptop. Open the latest version of iTunes or Finder.

Step 2

Choose your iPhone name, and then click the General tab.

Step 3

This step is essential: drag the customized ringtone file to the iTunes or Finder interface directly. And you will see the uploading bar at the bottom, which means it has been uploaded successfully.

Step 4

Now, go to the iPhone Ringtone screen. The uploaded file is already here, and you can set it as your ringtone.

Part 3. Customize Ringtones in iPhone Settings [iOS 26]

iOS 26 is known as its Liquid Glass redesign. However, the ringtone setting is also a significant iOS 26 new feature. Users no longer need to download new apps to make ringtones. All the ringtones making and ringtones setting process can be made in the default apps on iPhone. Let's see how to set a song as a ringtone on an iPhone.

Step 1

Open the Files or Voice Memos app, press and hold an MP3 or M4A type file. It should be shorter than 30 seconds.

Step 2

Tap the three dots button at the top, and then choose Share in the pop-up menu.

Step 3

Choose Use as Ringtone. You'll then see the song listed on the ringtone page. Check it here: Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. You can set it as the default ringtone or delete it when you dislike it.

Part 4. Tips for Setting a Customized Ringtone on iPhone

No matter whether you are using the latest iOS 26 or iOS 18 and older, you now know the methods to make and set a custom ringtone on your iPhone. To make sure you can get the desired result, you can refer to the following ringtone-making tips.

1. Where to download music files?

You can download files from streaming music platforms such as Spotify. Just choose a song you like and download it to your iPhone. Music resource platform is also a good choice, like Soundstripe and Mobygratis.

2. What is suitable for being set as a ringtone?

Pure music is generally suitable for a ringtone. But what you like is always the first!

3. Trimming skills

Always keep in mind that an iPhone ringtone should be shorter than 30 seconds. Moreover, please at least set a 3s fade-in and fade-out time.

4. Output formats:

The output formats of ringtones for iOS 18 and older should be M4R. Generally, every ringtone maker is able to export your ringtone as M4R, so you don't have to worry about it. iOS 26 supports setting MP3 and M4A as ringtones.

Conclusion

Now, do you know how to make your own ringtone? Download a music file you like and make it a ringtone in imyPass iPhone Transfer Toolbox or GarageBand. Then, import it to your iPhone using iTunes or Finder, or set it directly as a ringtone if you are using iOS 26.

Clara Prescott

Clara is an editor from imyPass. She specializes in data recovery. You can find professional tutorials and solutions for recovering lost data from any device. Many users reported that his tutorial is easy and useful.