Tired of the default ringtone? You can make your own from the chorus of a favorite song or a recording of your kid's voice. The FreeSoundTools Ringtone Maker first picks the loudest 30 seconds of your file, lets you adjust the section, then saves an M4R for iPhone and an MP3 for Android. Your file never leaves your device.
Rules to know first
- iPhone: ringtones must be M4R files of 40 seconds or less. Longer files don't show up in the ringtone list. For alert tones, go shorter (5 to 10 seconds).
- Android: you can use an MP3 as a ringtone as-is. Length limits vary by phone, but around 30 seconds is safe.
- A ringtone that starts at full volume can be startling, so a 1 to 2 second fade in at the start is a good idea.
How to make it
- Add a song or recording to the Ringtone Maker. MP3, M4A, WAV and video files all work.
- Listen to the section it picked, then drag the waveform or type start and end times (to 0.01 s) to adjust it. The 20 s, 30 s and 40 s buttons set the length instantly.
- Press Space to play and pause. The arrow keys move the section by 0.1 s (1 s with Shift).
- Turn on fade in and fade out. If it's quiet, turn on "Match -14 LUFS".
- Press "Save M4R" for iPhone or "Save MP3" for Android. If your browser can't encode AAC, the M4R button is disabled and tells you why.
Adding it to an iPhone
iPhone has no built-in way to set a downloaded M4R file as a ringtone directly, so there is one more step. The most common way is to connect the iPhone to a computer and drag the M4R file onto the device in Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app / iTunes (Windows). It then appears at the top of Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. You can also import the file into the GarageBand app and export it with Share > Ringtone. Menu names may differ slightly by iOS version. Full steps: How to make an iPhone ringtone.
Adding it to Android
Download the MP3 to your phone, then go to Settings > Sounds and vibration (or Sound) > Ringtone and tap "+" or "Add from phone" to pick the file. Menu locations vary by phone and Android version. Full steps: How to make an Android ringtone.
Tips for a better ringtone
- Start right on the beat where the chorus begins so it doesn't sound chopped. Sharp spikes on the waveform are usually beats.
- Calls are often answered quickly, so put the most memorable sound in the first 5 seconds.
- Keep ringtones made from copyrighted songs for personal use and don't share the files.
Making a ringtone from a recording
Besides songs, you can use recordings such as a family member's voice or your pet. Recordings are often quiet, so turning on "Match -14 LUFS" makes them ring at about the same level as other ringtones. Trim long silences at the start and end so the sound plays as soon as a call comes in. Short recordings loop, so a gentle fade out at the end keeps the restart from sounding abrupt. Save both the iPhone and Android versions from the same file so you don't have to redo it when you switch phones.
Frequently asked questions
Why do iPhone ringtones have a 40-second limit?
iPhone only lists M4R ringtone files that are 40 seconds or shorter. Longer files don't appear, so the tool blocks M4R saving past 40 seconds.
The Save M4R button is disabled.
That happens when your browser has no AAC encoder. Try the latest Chrome or Edge, or save the Android MP3 instead.
Can I use the sound from a video?
Yes. Add a video file such as an MP4 and the tool uses just the audio to make the ringtone.
Can I use it as a message or notification sound?
Yes, if your phone supports custom notification sounds. Keep notification sounds short, around 5 seconds.