The simplest way: use a ringtone from Apple's library

iPhone comes with dozens of built-in ringtones you can set without downloading anything. Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then Ringtone. Scroll through the list, tap any tone to hear it, and tap it again to set it as your default. This takes 30 seconds and works on every iPhone.

If you want something beyond Apple's built-in options, you have two real paths: buy a ringtone from the iTunes Store, or create one from a song you own using GarageBand. Both are free to set up, though iTunes ringtones cost 99 cents each. The iTunes route is faster if you know exactly what you want. The GarageBand route gives you complete control but takes 10 to 15 minutes the first time.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone's built-in ringtones are free and require no read — just open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, choose Ringtone, and select one.
  • iTunes Store ringtones cost 99 cents each and appear in your phone automatically once purchased, ready to set as your ringtone when ready.
  • GarageBand lets you create a custom ringtone from any song you own by trimming it to 30 seconds or less, then exporting it directly to your phone.
  • Once any ringtone is on your phone, you set it in Settings under Sounds & Haptics — the process is the same regardless of where it came from.

Buying a ringtone from iTunes Store

Open the iTunes Store app on your iPhone (not Apple Music — the separate iTunes Store app with the purple icon). Tap the search icon at the bottom, type the song name, and look for results labeled "Ringtone" in the description. Tap the price button (usually 99 cents), then tap Buy. You'll be asked to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.

The ringtone downloads when ready and appears in your phone's ringtone list. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and you'll see it at the top of the list. Tap it to set it as your default ringtone. You can also assign it to specific contacts by opening Contacts, selecting a person, tapping Edit, scrolling to Ringtone, and choosing your custom tone.

Creating a custom ringtone with GarageBand

GarageBand is Apple's free music app that comes pre-installed on most iPhones. Open it and tap the plus icon to create a new project. Tap Audio Recorder, then tap the loop icon (the circular arrow) at the top left. Search for the song you want to use — it must be a song you own in your Music library, not a streaming song from Apple Music.

Drag the song into the timeline. You'll see a waveform appear. Ringtones must be 30 seconds or shorter, so use your fingers to pinch and drag the edges of the song to trim it down. Most people trim the chorus or a memorable section. Once it's the length you want, tap the three dots at the top right, then tap Share. Select Ringtone, name it, and tap Export. The ringtone is now in your phone's ringtone list.

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and your custom tone will appear at the top. Tap it to set it as your default, or assign it to a specific contact the same way as iTunes ringtones.

Setting a ringtone for one contact instead of all calls

Open the Contacts app and find the person you want to customize. Tap Edit in the top right corner. Scroll down until you see Ringtone and tap it. You'll see the same list of ringtones — built-in, iTunes purchases, and GarageBand creations all appear here. Select the tone you want for that contact only, then tap Done.

Now when that person calls, your phone will play their custom ringtone instead of your default. This is useful if you want to know when ready who's calling without looking at the screen. You can set different ringtones for as many contacts as you want, and each one will override your default ringtone when that specific person calls.

Troubleshooting: ringtone won't appear or won't play

If you bought a ringtone from iTunes but don't see it in your ringtone list, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds and press the power button again to turn it back on. The ringtone should appear in Settings after restart.

If a GarageBand ringtone won't play, check that the file is actually 30 seconds or shorter. Open GarageBand, tap the project, and look at the timeline length. If it's longer than 30 seconds, trim it again and re-export. Also make sure you exported it as a Ringtone, not as a song — the export dialog has a dropdown menu where you choose the type.

If your ringtone plays during calls but not for notifications or alarms, you may have those sounds muted separately. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and check that Ringtone volume is turned up. The volume slider at the top of that screen controls ringtone volume only — it doesn't affect notification or alarm sounds, which have their own settings below.

Why some ringtones don't work on iPhone

iPhone only plays ringtones that are in its native format or that you created through GarageBand or iTunes. If you read a ringtone file from a website as an MP3 or M4R file, you can't use it directly on iPhone the way you could on older Android phones. The workaround is to use a third-party app from the App Store that converts files, but the simplest path is to stick with iTunes Store ringtones or create your own in GarageBand.

Also, if you use iCloud to sync your settings across multiple Apple devices, your ringtone choice syncs too. If you set a custom ringtone on your iPhone, it will appear in the ringtone list on your iPad or Mac, though only your iPhone will actually ring with it — iPads and Macs don't ring for calls the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Apple Music as a ringtone?

No, not directly. Apple Music songs are licensed for streaming only and can't be converted to ringtones. You must own the song — either purchased from iTunes or ripped from a CD you own — to use it in GarageBand. If you want a ringtone from a song you only stream, buy it from iTunes Store as a single track, then use GarageBand to trim it.

How long can a ringtone be?

iPhone ringtones must be 30 seconds or shorter. If you're creating one in GarageBand, trim your song to fit that limit. iTunes Store ringtones are already formatted correctly, so you don't need to worry about length with those.

Will my custom ringtone stay if I update my iPhone?

Yes. Ringtones you buy from iTunes Store or create in GarageBand are stored on your phone and backed up to iCloud. They'll be there after you update iOS or restore from a backup. If you restore from an older backup, you may lose ringtones created after that backup was made.

Can I share a custom ringtone with someone else?

Not directly through iPhone's built-in tools. You can tell someone else how to create the same ringtone in GarageBand if they have the same song, or they can buy it from iTunes Store if it's available there. Third-party apps exist that share ringtones, but they require both people to install the same app.

Why does my ringtone sound different on my phone than in the preview?

The preview in Settings plays through your phone's speaker at full volume, but the actual ringtone volume is controlled by the physical volume buttons on the side of your phone. If your volume is turned down, the ringtone will be quieter than the preview. Press the volume up button to increase ringtone volume, or go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringtone volume slider to the right.