We always have that one song we want to keep as our phone ringtone instead of the pre-installed ones. On Android devices, you can easily change your ringtone to any song or music you want, but on iPhones, it is a very tedious process that requires many steps just to set a ringtone on your phone.

set any song as ringtone on iphone

That’s why in this article, we have a complete step-by-step guide on how to set any song as a ringtone for free on your iPhone using an application called Garageband that comes pre-installed on your iPhones.

Set Any Song as Ringtone on iPhone for Free

Apple is always limiting features on its devices to sell its services to users. In this case, the easiest way to set a certain song or music directly as a ringtone is to buy it from the iTunes Store. But such a basic feature should not really cost you anything.

There is a solution to this problem, but the process is a bit tedious. We will use Garageband to set any song you have downloaded as a ringtone for your iPhone.

First, download the song you want to use as a ringtone and save it to your Files app. After downloading the song, just follow the steps below to set any song as a ringtone on your iPhone for free.

Step 1: Download Garageband and Import a Song

  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone and download the Garageband application if you do not already have it on your phone.                                                                                         download garageband
  2. Once Garageband is open, swipe right or left until you find the Audio Recorder option. Tap on it to open it.
  3. Now tap on the Tracks option, which looks like a stack of gray lines on the upper left side.                                                                                                                                                audio recorder in garageband
  4. Now tap on the Metronome button to turn it off (from blue to gray). It looks like a little chime and is located to the right of the red recorder button.                    blue metronome in garageband
  5. Now tap the Loop button located in the upper right corner, along with the Settings button.                                                                                                                                                stop the metronome
  6. On the next screen, tap the Files option at the top. Then tap on “Browse items from Files app,” which you will find on the button on the left.
  7. Once your Files app is open, navigate to the folder where you saved the previously downloaded song, and then tap on the song to import it.                                       import song from files app
  8. In the next step, you need to hold the song you just imported and drag it to the track timeline. When you have done this successfully, you will see the song in the timeline with a blue color.drag song to the track

Related Read: Don’t Ask “What song is this, Siri?” Just tap on your iPhone

Step 2: Trim the Song into a 30-Second Loop

  1. Once you see the blue track in the timeline, tap the + button in the upper right to open the Song Sections option.
                                                                                             bars
  2. Tap the “8 bars” button here and change it to 30 by tapping the up arrow in the manual option, then tap Done. This will loop your song after 30 seconds.30 bars
  3. Next, select the part you want to keep as a ringtone by dragging the white lines on both ends of the song. This will select that particular part and make it a 30-second loop.trim the track

Step 3: Export the Loop and Make it the Ringtone

  1. Tap the arrow in the upper left corner of your screen, then select “My Songs.” This will save the loop as a file.                                                                                                          save the track
  2. Now press and hold on the file and rename it to your liking using the “Rename” option from the menu.
  3. Press and hold the renamed file and select the “Share” option from the menu.                                                                                                                                   rename and share
  4. On the next screen, tap Ringtone and then press Continue.                                                                                                                                                                                                    share as ringtone
  5. On the last screen, check the name of your ringtone and then press the Export option in the upper right corner of the screen.                                                                              continue exporting the track
  6. Once the export is complete, you can set the ringtone directly by selecting Use sound as from the pop-up or press OK to close it.                               export is successful
  7. Now head into the Settings app and go to Sound & Haptics.                                                                                                                                                                                                      sound and haptics on iphone
  8. Now go to Ringtone and select the song you just exported as your ringtone from the list. Yes, it’s that simple.                                                                                                     set ringtone

Set Any Song as Ringtone on iPhone for Free without iTunes

A simple task like setting a custom ringtone for your phone has been turned into such a long and tedious process by the fruit company just to make a few extra bucks. Well, now you know how to do it without spending a single penny. If you do not feel like cutting the song, you can also download 30-second clips of some of your favorite songs from websites like Zedge. This way, you’ll at least save yourself some time and stress while you are sweating trying to set a ringtone on your iPhone.

We may have to change our ringtone soon, so let us know your favorite song in the comments below, and also leave your suggestions regarding iPhones and iOS if you have any.

FAQs about How to Set Any Song as Ringtone on iPhone for Free

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Yes, you can use a song from Apple Music as a ringtone, but you need to have an Apple Music subscription and follow some additional steps to convert the song to a ringtone. Apple Music also has a dedicated section for ringtones which you can use.

Yes, there are several apps in the App Store that allow you to create custom ringtones for your iPhone. Some of the most popular iPhone ringtone apps include Ringtone Designer, GarageBand, and Ringtone Maker.

Yes, it is legal to use any song as a ringtone on iPhone as long as you have legally purchased the song and do not share it with others. However, some copyright laws may vary from country to country.

Here are some tips for using songs as ringtones legally:

  • Purchase ringtones from a legitimate source, such as the iTunes Store.
  • Create your own ringtones from songs that you own, but first, obtain permission from the copyright owner.
  • Be aware of the exceptions to copyright law, such as fair use.
  • If you are unsure whether it is legal to use a song as a ringtone, err on the side of caution and do not use it.

Yes, you can set a custom ringtone for specific contacts on your iPhone. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. Find the contact that you want to set a custom ringtone for.
  3. Tap Edit.
  4. Tap Ringtone.
  5. Choose a ringtone from the list.
  6. Tap Done.

There are several benefits to setting a custom ringtone on your iPhone. First, it allows you to personalize your iPhone and make it more unique. Second, it allows you to easily identify who is calling you without having to look at your phone. Third, it can be a fun way to express your personality.

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