You can use any audio file on your computer to make an iPhone ringtone in about five minutes

A custom ringtone is a sound file you create or edit yourself and set as the sound your iPhone plays when someone calls. Unlike the built-in ringtones Apple includes, a custom ringtone can be a song clip, a voice recording, a sound effect, or anything else you want to hear when your phone rings. You make it on your computer using iTunes or Finder, then transfer it to your iPhone.

The process has one hard requirement: the audio file must be in M4A format (Apple's audio format) and no longer than 40 seconds. If you have an MP3 or WAV file, you convert it first. If you have a song longer than 40 seconds, you trim it to the part you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom ringtones must be in M4A format and shorter than 40 seconds, or your iPhone will not recognize them.
  • You create the ringtone on your computer using iTunes (Windows or older Mac) or Finder (newer Mac), not on the iPhone itself.
  • The easiest starting point is a song you already own in iTunes, which you can trim and convert in seconds.
  • Once you transfer the ringtone file to your iPhone, you set it in the Sounds & Haptics settings under Phone Ringtone.

Converting an audio file to M4A format

If you have an MP3 file or another audio format, you need to convert it to M4A before your iPhone will accept it as a ringtone. The simplest way is to use iTunes on Windows or a Mac running an older operating system (before Monterey). Open iTunes, go to Preferences, and under the Import Settings tab, change the import format to "AAC Encoder" — this creates M4A files. Then right-click the audio file in iTunes, select "Create AAC Version," and iTunes will convert it for you.

On newer Macs (Monterey and later), iTunes no longer exists — use Finder instead. Open Finder, locate your audio file, right-click it, and select "Open With" and then "Finder." Drag the file into the Music app. In the Music app, right-click the file and select "Song Info," then go to the Options tab and set both the start and stop times to trim the audio to 40 seconds or less. Once trimmed, right-click the file again, select "Show in Finder," and the M4A file is ready to use.

Trimming audio to 40 seconds or less

iPhone ringtones cannot be longer than 40 seconds. If you are using a song, you will need to cut it down to just the part you want to hear. In iTunes on Windows or older Mac, right-click the song, select "Get Info," go to the Options tab, and set the Start Time and Stop Time fields to the section you want. For example, if you want the chorus starting at 1 minute 15 seconds and ending at 1 minute 50 seconds, enter those times. Click OK, then right-click the song again and select "Create AAC Version" — iTunes will export only that trimmed section as a new M4A file.

On newer Macs using the Music app, the process is the same: right-click the song, select "Song Info," go to Options, and set your start and stop times. The Music app will create the trimmed M4A file automatically. Keep the original song untouched — the trimmed version becomes a separate file you will use for the ringtone.

Transferring the ringtone file to your iPhone

Once you have an M4A file that is 40 seconds or shorter, you need to move it from your computer to your iPhone. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. On Windows or older Mac, open iTunes, click the iPhone icon at the top, and go to the Sounds tab. Drag your M4A file into the Sounds section, or click the Add File button and select your ringtone file. Click explore or Sync, and iTunes will transfer the file to your iPhone.

On newer Macs, the process is different because iTunes no longer handles file transfers. Instead, use Finder. Connect your iPhone, open Finder, click your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations, go to the Files tab, and drag your M4A file into the window. Finder will copy the file to your iPhone's Sounds folder. You do not need to sync or press any buttons — the file transfers automatically.

Setting the custom ringtone as your default or for a specific contact

After the file is on your iPhone, open the Settings app, go to Sounds & Haptics, and tap Phone Ringtone. Your custom ringtone will appear in the list. Tap it to select it as your default ringtone — the sound that plays for all incoming calls. If you want to use it only for certain people, go to Contacts instead, open a contact, tap Edit, scroll down to Ringtone, and select your custom ringtone from the list.

Test the ringtone by having someone call you, or by asking Siri to call you from another device. If you do not hear the custom ringtone, check that your iPhone is not in Silent mode (the mute switch on the side of the phone should not be in the down position) and that the volume is turned up in Settings under Sounds & Haptics.

Troubleshooting: File not appearing on your iPhone

If your M4A file does not show up in the Sounds & Haptics settings after you transfer it, the most common reason is that the file is longer than 40 seconds. Check the file length by right-clicking it on your computer and viewing the properties or info — the duration should say 0:40 or less. If it is longer, trim it again using the steps above.

The second most common issue is that the file is not actually in M4A format, even if the filename ends in .m4a. To verify, right-click the file, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look at the file type or kind. It should say "MPEG-4 Audio" or "AAC audio file." If it says something else, convert it using iTunes or the Music app before transferring it again. If you have already transferred the file and it still does not appear, disconnect your iPhone, delete the file from your computer, and start the transfer process over.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Songs from Apple Music are protected by copyright and cannot be converted to ringtones. You can only use songs you own outright — either purchased from iTunes, ripped from a CD you own, or recorded yourself. If you want to use a song from Apple Music, you will need to purchase it separately from iTunes.

What if I do not have iTunes or a Mac?

On Windows without iTunes, you can use a free audio editor like Audacity to trim your audio file and export it as M4A format. read Audacity, open your audio file, select the section you want (up to 40 seconds), and go to File, Export, Export as M4A. Then transfer the file to your iPhone using Finder or a third-party tool like iMazing.

Can I make a ringtone directly on my iPhone without a computer?

Not with the standard method. You cannot create or trim audio files on the iPhone itself. However, you can use third-party apps like GarageBand (Apple's free music app) to record a voice memo or short sound on your iPhone, then use a ringtone app to convert it. This is more complicated than using a computer, so most people find the computer method faster.

Will my custom ringtone work if I update my iPhone?

Yes. Custom ringtones stay on your iPhone through updates. However, if you restore your iPhone from scratch (not from a backup), the ringtones will be erased. To keep them, back up your iPhone to your computer before the restore, and the ringtones will return when you restore from that backup.

Can I share a custom ringtone with another iPhone user?

Not directly through AirDrop or Messages. You would need to send the M4A file to the other person's computer, and they would follow the same transfer steps to add it to their iPhone. You cannot send ringtones between iPhones the way you can send photos or contacts.