If you’ve ever tried to set a custom ringtone for one of your contacts on your iPhone, you know that it’s a laborious process. Users need to either connect their iPhone to a Mac to import third-party ringtones or edit the track using GarageBand. Both routes are unnecessarily complex, and many users will appreciate Apple simplifying the ordeal.
iOS 26 lets you set custom ringtones on your iPhone without using the GarageBand app. The setting is accessible when sharing an audio file via the Files, Voice Memos, and other compatible apps.
Here’s how to set a custom iPhone ringtone in iOS 26 with ease.
Steps to set a custom ringtone on iPhone in iOS 26
- Open the Files app on your iPhone.
- Tap on an MP3 or M4A audio file that is no longer than 30 seconds.
- Tap on the share button in the bottom-right corner of the screen,
- tap on More, and tap on Use as Ringtone.
That’s it! Now, the custom track will appear at the top of available ringtones in the Settings app under Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. Like first-party ringtones, you can set it for all calls or dedicate specific tunes for different contacts.
The Use as Ringtone option also appears for audio files in select other apps, including Voice Memos. Once you select the desired audio track, tap the Share button, scroll to the bottom of the list, then tap the all-new Use as Ringtone button. (If you don’t see the new option, it may be hidden behind the More button in the share sheet.) That audio file will be listed as a ringtone option in the Settings app under Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
To delete a custom ringtone from the list, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. There, you can swipe from right to left on the custom track, then hit Delete to permanently remove it. Adding and removing custom ringtones work similarly on iPadOS 26.
Setting custom ringtone on iPhone in iOS 26 works for everything—MP3, M4A, or other supported audio files, a clip you’ve received via iMessage, something you recorded, it all works.
See also: 8 Best Free Ringtone Apps for iPhone
Currently, it is not possible to set Apple Music songs as custom ringtones for free, even with a subscription.
Apple continues to sell 30-second song ringtones for $1.29 each through the iTunes Store app on iOS 26, but this is a legacy feature.
