iPhone ringtone guides

How to make, set and fix custom tones on iPhone, starting with what your phone already does for free.

Making a ringtone

How to make a ringtone on iPhone (iOS 26 and older)

Make a custom iPhone ringtone from a song, voice memo or video. The iOS 26 Use as Ringtone method, the GarageBand method for older iOS, and the 30-second rule.

Setting tones

How to set a custom text tone on iPhone

Make a custom text message sound on iPhone from a song, voice memo or recording: the iOS 26 steps, the right length, and per-contact tones.

Songs, videos and memos

Can you use an Apple Music song as a ringtone?

Apple Music songs can't become iPhone ringtones because they're copy-protected. Why, how to tell, and the song sources that do work.

How to make a ringtone from a video on iPhone

Turn the sound from a video into an iPhone ringtone: pull out the audio, trim to 30 seconds and set it. A free Shortcuts method and the quick app route.

How to set a voice memo as your ringtone on iPhone

Turn a Voice Memos recording into your iPhone ringtone. The free iOS 26 method with Voice Memos' own trim, plus the GarageBand route for older iPhones.

Fixing problems

"Use as Ringtone" not showing on iPhone? 5 fixes

Use as Ringtone missing from the share menu, or saying the file is too long? Why it happens on iPhone and how to fix each cause, from iOS version to file type.

The rules

iPhone ringtone length limit: why 30 seconds, and what to do

iPhone ringtones max out at 30 seconds. What happens with longer files on iOS 26 and in GarageBand, and how to choose the best 30 seconds of a song.