Standard iPhone ringtones are honestly kind of soul-crushing. That "Reflection" chime is the universal sound of "I have a meeting I don't want to be at," and "Opening" is basically a trigger for morning anxiety at this point. You’d think in 2026, Apple would make it a one-tap process to turn your favorite song into a notification, but they haven't. They want you to buy a 30-second clip from the iTunes Tone Store for $1.29. Don't do that. It’s a waste of money when the tool to do it yourself is already sitting in your "Extras" folder.
Learning how to make ringtone on GarageBand is one of those tech skills that feels like a "hack" because it bypasses the entire iTunes ecosystem. You don't need a Mac. You don't need a PC. You just need a bit of patience and a finger that can drag-and-drop.
The reality is that GarageBand for iOS is a surprisingly powerful Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), but we’re going to treat it like a simple scissors tool. Whether it’s a niche synth-wave track you found on a royalty-free site or a voice recording of your kid saying "Pick up the phone!", the process is the same. Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works without making it sound like a manual for a flight simulator.
Getting Your Audio File Ready
Before you even open the app, you need the file. This is where most people get tripped up. GarageBand can't "see" songs that are DRM-protected. If you’re thinking about using a song from your Apple Music subscription or Spotify, stop. It won’t work. The file needs to be locally stored on your iPhone in the Files app.
Most people download a track from a site like Pixabay or use a screen recording they've converted to audio. If you have a video of a sound you like, you can use a "Video to MP3" shortcut or app to extract the audio. Once that .m4a or .mp3 file is sitting in your "Downloads" folder in the Files app, you are golden.
The GarageBand Setup
Open GarageBand. If it opens to a previous project, tap the folder icon to go back to the "My Songs" browser. You want to hit the "+" plus sign to create a new project.
It might try to force you into the "Live Loops" grid. Ignore that. Swipe through the instruments until you find Audio Recorder. It looks like a microphone. Tap it.
Now you’re looking at a screen that looks like a studio. It’s intimidating. Look at the top left. There’s an icon that looks like a bunch of bricks—basically a series of vertical bars. Tap that. It switches you from the "Microphone" view to the "Timeline" view. This is where the magic happens.
How to Make Ringtone on GarageBand: The Trimming Phase
Here is the secret sauce. Most people forget this step and end up with a ringtone that is 8 minutes long or starts with 5 seconds of silence.
🔗 Read more: Clean Install macOS: Why You Should Probably Do It (And How Not To Mess It Up)
- The Loop Browser: In the top right, look for the icon that looks like a little loop-de-loop (next to the settings cog). Tap it.
- Files Tab: Tap the "Files" tab at the top.
- Browse: Tap "Browse items from the Files app" at the bottom. Find your song.
- The Drag: Once it appears in the list, long-press the file and drag it onto the timeline.
Now, look at the top right of the timeline for a tiny "+" plus icon. Tap it. Change "Section A" from "8 Bars" to Manual and crank it up to something like 30. Why? Because an iPhone ringtone can only be 30 seconds long. If your project is too short, your song gets cut off. If it's too long, GarageBand will just trim it automatically later, which is fine.
Precision Editing
Trim the clip. Drag the ends of the blue waveform. You want that perfect chorus. You want the beat to drop the second your phone vibrates.
Honestly, it’s better to have a ringtone that starts slightly quiet and builds up. Sudden, loud noises are a great way to drop your phone in a public place. Once you have your 30-second masterpiece, tap the downward-pointing arrow in the top left and select My Songs. Your project is saved.
Exporting the Secret File
Your project is currently just a GarageBand file. It’s not a ringtone yet.
Long-press on the project you just created (it’s probably called "My Song"). A menu pops up. Tap Share.
You’ll see three options: Song, Ringtone, and Project. Choose Ringtone.
If your clip is longer than 30 seconds, a notification will pop up saying "Your ringtone needs to be adjusted." Just hit "Continue." GarageBand is smart enough to just take the first 30 seconds of whatever you made.
Give it a name. "Best Song Ever" or "Mom Calling." Hit Export.
Setting the Tone
Once the export is successful, you don't even have to go to Settings. A dialog box will ask if you want to "Use sound as..."
- Standard Ringtone: For everyone.
- Standard Text Tone: For messages.
- Assign to Contact: For that one person you always want to ignore.
If you hit "Done" and want to change it later, just go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. Your new creation will be sitting right at the top of the list, above the default "Reflection" and "Arpeggio."
Why This Method Still Beats Everything Else
There are dozens of "Ringtone Maker" apps on the App Store. Most of them are predatory. They charge a subscription fee or force you to watch 30-second ads just to save a file. They basically act as a middleman for the GarageBand process anyway. They "export" the file to GarageBand, and you still have to do the final steps yourself.
Using GarageBand directly is the only way to do it for free. Plus, you have more control. You can layer sounds. You can record yourself playing the keyboard over a drum beat. You can even use the "Sampler" in GarageBand to turn a sneeze into a melody if you’re feeling particularly chaotic.
✨ Don't miss: Why Every School Bus with Horn Systems Needs Better Maintenance
Common Pitfalls and Nuances
A common issue is the "Ghost File" problem. Sometimes, the file you want to use is greyed out in the Files browser. This usually happens because it's stored in the cloud (iCloud Drive) but isn't actually downloaded to your device. Go to the Files app, find the song, and tap the little cloud icon with the downward arrow to make sure it's physically on your iPhone storage.
Another thing: volume levels. GarageBand projects can be quiet. Before you export, make sure the track volume isn't bottomed out. You can access track settings by swiping right on the track header (the icon of the instrument on the left side of the timeline).
Actionable Next Steps for a Perfect Ringtone
If you want the best possible result, follow these final tweaks:
- Fade In/Out: Don't let the song just stop abruptly. Use the "Automation" tool in GarageBand (tap the track, then tap Automation) to create a smooth fade-out at the 28-second mark.
- Check the Peak: If the waveform is hitting the top and bottom of the track and turning red, it’s going to sound distorted on your iPhone’s small speakers. Lower the track volume slightly.
- The File Format: While GarageBand accepts many formats, a high-quality .m4a (AAC) usually yields the cleanest result compared to a heavily compressed MP3.
- Clean Up: Once you've exported the ringtone, you can actually delete the GarageBand project to save space. The ringtone file is stored in a separate system folder once it's exported.
This process takes about three minutes once you've done it once. It’s the most reliable way to customize your device without spending a dime or tethering to a computer. Your phone should sound like you, not like every other person in the grocery store checkout line.