How to Make a Ringtone for iPhone from Any Song (2026, Free)
Updated · 5 min read · MP3 Cutter Team
TL;DR
Cut the song to 30 seconds or less with a free online ringtone maker, save it to the Files app, then open GarageBand on the iPhone, import the clip, and use Share → Ringtone. The whole process takes about three minutes and needs no computer.
What you need
- An iPhone running iOS 16 or newer.
- The song as a file (MP3, M4A or WAV) — streaming tracks from Apple Music or Spotify are DRM-protected and can't be used.
- The free GarageBand app from Apple (or a Mac with Finder).
Step 1 — Cut the song to 30 seconds
Open the Ringtone Maker in Safari and tap Choose audio file. A 30-second window is selected automatically with a soft fade in and fade out. Drag it to the chorus, tap Preview result, then Cut & export MP3 and Download. Safari saves it to Files → Downloads.
Why 30 seconds? iOS rejects ringtones longer than 40 seconds, and a call rarely rings longer than 30.
Step 2 — Turn it into a ringtone with GarageBand
- Open GarageBand, tap +, swipe to Audio Recorder and tap Voice.
- Tap the Tracks view icon (the stacked lines), then the Loop icon in the top-right.
- Choose Files → Browse items from the Files app and pick your downloaded clip.
- Drag the clip onto the timeline so it starts at bar 1. Tap the back arrow → My Songs.
- Long-press the project → Share → Ringtone → Export.
- Tap Use sound as… → Standard Ringtone.
Alternative: use a Mac and Finder
Convert the clip to AAC (Music app → File → Convert → Create AAC Version), rename the .m4a extension to .m4r, connect your iPhone and drag the file onto the device in the Finder sidebar. It appears under Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Ringtone” missing in Share menu | The project is longer than 40 s — trim the region in GarageBand or re-cut it shorter. |
| Song file greyed out | It's DRM-protected. Use a file you own or royalty-free music. |
| Ringtone too quiet | Re-export with Volume at 130–150% in the cutter. |