Changing the tone of the iPhone’s ring is a way of making your gadget represent a part of who you are, or make it easy to identify a contact by linking it with a specific song. As much as Apple offers preset ringtones, there is no feeling as good as that of hearing your favorite song every time the phone rings. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can assign a song of your choice to as your ringtone through your iPhone of course your device then rings to the song of your choice.
1. Why Customize Your iPhone Ringtone?
Customization of the ringtone is not just the way of giving a creative touch to the gadget, but still. It can also help you immediately identify your phone ringing even if you’re at a crowded setting or in a noisy environment. Whether it is the lyrics to the favourite song or the happy whistle that you like, own ringtones make an iPhone personal.
Also, making it possible to assign particular ringtones to particular individuals makes you answer the call without even having to look at your caller’s ID.
2. Requirements for Setting a Song as a Ringtone
Before you start, ensure you have the following:
- An iPhone (iPhone 12 or newer is preferred, but this works on earlier models with iOS 13 or later).
- A Mac or PC with the latest version of iTunes (for the iTunes method).
- GarageBand (a free app on the App Store).
- The song you want to use, either downloaded from Apple Music or saved on your device.
Note: Songs streamed via Apple Music or Spotify cannot be directly used as ringtones due to DRM restrictions.
3. How to Use iTunes/Apple Music to Set a Song as a Ringtone
iTunes is a classic method for converting any song into a ringtone. Follow these steps to make it happen:
Step 1: Open iTunes or Apple Music on Your Computer
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes or Apple Music, depending on your setup.
Step 2: Select the Song
- Choose the song you want to use as a ringtone. Keep in mind that the maximum length for ringtones is 30 seconds, so select the portion of the song you want to use.
Step 3: Trim the Song
- Right-click the song and select Song Info.
- In the Options tab, set the start and stop times for the 30-second section you’d like to use.
- Click OK to save.
Step 4: Create AAC Version
- Right-click the song again and choose Create AAC Version. This will generate a 30-second clip of the song.
- Once done, drag the new file to your desktop.
Step 5: Change File Extension
- Change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, which is the format iPhones recognize as ringtones.
Step 6: Add the Ringtone to Your iPhone
- Drag the .m4r file back into iTunes under the Tones section.
- Sync your iPhone, and the new ringtone will be added to your device.
4. Using GarageBand to Create Custom Ringtones
If you prefer not to use iTunes, or you don’t have access to a computer, GarageBand offers an alternative solution directly from your iPhone. Here’s how:
Step 1: Install GarageBand
- Download GarageBand from the App Store if it’s not already on your device.
Step 2: Open GarageBand and Select an Instrument
- Open the app and choose any instrument (don’t worry, you won’t actually be playing anything).
Step 3: Import the Song
- Tap on the Tracks View icon, then tap the Loops icon to open your music library.
- Find the song you want to use and drag it onto the timeline.
Step 4: Trim and Adjust
- Adjust the length to ensure the song is 30 seconds or less.
- You can also fade the music in or out for a more polished sound.
Step 5: Export as Ringtone
- Tap the Downward Arrow at the top-left corner, select My Songs to save.
- Tap and hold your song file, choose Share, then select Ringtone.
Step 6: Set the Ringtone
- Name your ringtone, and GarageBand will export it to your iPhone’s ringtone section.
- You can now select it as your default ringtone or assign it to a specific contact.
5. Setting a Custom Ringtone on Your iPhone
Once your new ringtone has been created and saved, you can set it as your default ringtone with the following steps:
Step 1: Go to Settings
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
Step 2: Select Sounds & Haptics
- Tap on Sounds & Haptics, then choose Ringtone.
Step 3: Choose Your Ringtone
- Your custom ringtone will appear at the top of the list under Ringtones. Tap on it to set it as your default ringtone.
6. How to Assign Ringtones to Specific Contacts
Assigning unique ringtones to individual contacts can help you identify who’s calling without needing to glance at your phone.
Step 1: Open Contacts
- Open the Contacts app and select the contact you wish to assign a custom ringtone.
Step 2: Edit Contact
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
Step 3: Choose Ringtone
- Scroll down to Ringtone and select the custom one you just created.
Step 4: Save Changes
- Tap Done, and your selected ringtone will now play whenever that contact calls.
7. Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions
At times, you will find that it is problematic when you are setting custom ringtones. Here are a few common problems and how to resolve them:
- Ringtone Not Showing Up: Make sure that the file is of the right format and is well synchronized via iTunes or garage band or any other Apple related things.
- Ringtone Is Too Long: Ensure it’s a 30 seconds ringtone. If needed to make it shorter use iTunes or even GarageBand for cutting it.
- Can’t Import the Song: If you are using services that provide fully copyrighted tracks from iTunes and other streaming services, you should know that DRM protected tracks cannot be put to ringtones.
Conclusion
Making your favourite song as your iPhone ringtone is still one way of making your own Apple iPhone unique whether you do it because of your preference for the song or because it will help you figure out who’s calling. You have more wiggle room if, for example, you are using iTunes or GarageBand because it will simply come down to your preference on which one you would rather employ. After you’ve gone through the ringer you will never have to put up with Apple’s standard ringtones again.
