How to Make a Custom iPhone Ringtone

iPhone ringtones are AAC audio files with the .m4r extension, up to 40 seconds long (alert tones up to 30 seconds). Any song or recording you own can become a ringtone once it is trimmed and saved in that format.

SoundBench's Ringtone Maker does the trimming, fades and M4R export in your browser. You then copy the file to the iPhone with a computer or with GarageBand on the phone.

Step 1: Make the M4R file

• Open the Ringtone Maker and drop in the song.
• Choose 30 or 40 seconds, then drag the selection to the part you want, such as the chorus.
• Add a short fade in and a 2 to 3 second fade out so the ringtone does not start or stop abruptly.
• Keep M4R selected and click Export. The .m4r file downloads to your device.

Step 2a: Add it with a Mac (Finder)

• Connect the iPhone to the Mac with a cable and select it in the Finder sidebar.
• Drag the .m4r file onto the iPhone's window in Finder. It syncs to the phone's Tones.
• On the iPhone, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and choose it.

Step 2b: Add it with Windows

• Install Apple Devices (or iTunes on older Windows versions) and connect the iPhone.
• Open the device, go to the Tones section or On My Device > Tones, and drag the .m4r file in.
• Choose it on the iPhone under Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.

Step 2c: No computer? Use GarageBand

Save the exported file to the Files app, open it in GarageBand on the iPhone, then use Share > Ringtone. GarageBand can also trim the clip if needed.

Making an Android ringtone instead

Export MP3 instead of M4R. On most Android phones you can pick the file directly in Settings > Sound > Phone ringtone, or copy it to the Ringtones folder in internal storage.

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