How to make a ringtone from an MP3

A good ringtone is short, starts on a recognisable moment and does not blast at full volume from the first note. You can cut the clip here in a minute, then add it to your phone. Android accepts MP3 directly. iPhone needs one extra step through Apple's free GarageBand app.

1. Pick the moment

Play the song or sound and note the time where the part you want begins. A chorus, a hook or a distinctive intro works better than a slow build-up, because a call is often answered within a few rings. Aim for about 20 to 30 seconds. A phone loops a ringtone that is shorter than the ring time, so a clean loop of 15 seconds also works.

2. Trim it

1. Open the audio cutter and choose your MP3 or WAV file.
2. Enter the start time in seconds. One minute and twelve seconds is 72.
3. Set the end time 20 to 30 seconds later.
4. Add a fade in of about 0.5 seconds so the ringtone does not start with a jolt, and a fade out of 1 to 2 seconds so the loop point is smooth.
5. Preview, choose MP3 at 192 kbps, and prepare the download.

If the clip is quiet next to your other sounds, run it through the volume changer afterwards. Phone speakers are small, so a little extra level helps, but avoid pushing a loud music track any higher.

3a. Set it on Android

Android can use an MP3 as a ringtone directly. Menu names vary by manufacturer, but the route is similar on most phones:

1. Copy the MP3 to your phone, for example by downloading it on the phone or transferring it over USB.
2. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Phone ringtone (on some phones, Sounds → Ringtone).
3. Look for an add button, My sounds or From internal storage, and choose your file.

If your file does not appear, move it into the Ringtones folder in your phone's storage using the Files app, then look again.

3b. Set it on iPhone

An iPhone does not accept an MP3 as a ringtone. Apple's free GarageBand app can turn your clip into a ringtone on the phone itself:

1. Save the trimmed MP3 to the Files app on your iPhone.
2. Open GarageBand, start a new project with the Audio Recorder, then switch to the tracks view.
3. Open the loop browser, choose Files, browse to your clip and drag it onto the track.
4. Go back to My Songs, press and hold the project, choose Share → Ringtone and export it.
5. Choose Use sound as… → Standard Ringtone, or set it later in Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone.

Apple limits ringtone length, so keep the clip to around 30 seconds or less. GarageBand may shorten a longer clip.

Tips for a ringtone you will not get tired of

• Choose a section without long silences. A quiet first second can make you think the phone is not ringing.
• Test it at the volume your phone normally uses. Bass-heavy music can sound thin on a phone speaker.
• Use music or sounds you have the right to use. Personal ringtones from music you own are generally fine, but do not share or sell clips of copyrighted songs.

Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction