[2 Ways] How to Convert MP3 to iPhone Ringtone 2023

Can you convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone?

Apple offers a lot of default ringtones for you to choose from. However, by now you are bored with these ringtones so you want to set a custom one. Usually, you can buy a ringtone from the store for a dollar or more. But you've come up with a better idea: set your favorite song as iPhone ringtone.

A song cannot be used directly as a ringtone, as you already know. So can you convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone? Fortunately, the answer is YES! There are 2 ways to help you convert MP3 to ringtone for iPhone. Just keep reading to get all the details.

How to convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone                 

To convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone, MP3 to iPhone ringtone converter is needed. You can choose to use GarageBand or iTunes depending on your situation. GarageBand can help you convert ringtone on iPhone and iTunes can help you convert ringtone on Windows.

Way 1. Convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone using Garageband

GarageBand is one digital audio workstation for iPhone developed by Apple, which can help you convert songs stored on iPhone into ringtones. Generally, this tool is installed on the iPhone by default. If you don't find it, you can go to App Store to get it.

Now let’s start to see how to convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone using Garageband. If you have the MP3 ready to use on iPhone, you can skip to Step 2 to get started.

Step 1. Transfer MP3 to iPhone

The easiest way to transfer MP3 to iPhone is to use a transfer tool. Here we recommend FoneTool, a professional iPhone data transfer tool for Windows users. This tool can help you transfer MP3 to Apple Music app and it will not erase any existing songs on your iPhone.

• Download FoneTool on your computer.

• Launch FoneTool > Connect your iPhone to computer via cable.
• Choose Phone Transfer > Go to PC to iPhone and click Get Started.

• Click the Music tab > Drag and drop MP3 files to the box or you can click the box to choose the MP3 files.

• Click Start Transfer and that’s it.

Step 2. Convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone using Garageband

Launch GarageBand

Open GarageBand > Tap the Project icon and then then the Loop icon (close to the top-right corner of the screen).

Choose MP3 file

Tap Music or Files to choose the MP3 file > Long-press on the file and it will import to Garageband.

Trim the MP3 file

Tap on this track and drag both ends to trim the audio. A ringtone should be less than 30 seconds.

Save the ringtone

Then tap the Downward Arrow icon at the top left-hand side corner > Choose My Songs to save it > Find the clip you made and long-press it > Tap Share > Choose Ringtone option.

Set iPhone ringtone

Name the ringtone > Tap Export option > Then tap Use sound as... > Set the ringtone as default ringtone, text message, or for a specific contact or you can tap Done and go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to change ringtone on iPhone.

Way 2. Convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone using iTunes

If you want to know how to convert MP3 to M4R iPhone ringtone on Windows, then iTunes is the way to go. It can help you convert any song in your library to iPhone ringtone. After that, you can sync ringtones to iPhone using iTunes or transfer ringtones to iPhone via other tools.

Let’s start to see how to convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone using iTunes.

Add MP3 to iTunes library

Open iTunes and click File > Choose Add Files to Library > choose the MP3 files you want to convert.

Trim the MP3 file

Go to Songs or Recently Added to find the MP3 file you’d like to convert > Right-click the song and choose Song Info > In the new window, choose Options > Check the box next to start and stop > Input the start and stop time of the track. It should be a 30-second period in the song you want to use as a ringtone > Click OK to confirm.

Convert the MP3 file

Select the MP3 file, then click File > Convert > Create AAC Version. Then you will see a new song appear in the library next to the original one.

Rename the file

Right-click the reduced version and choose Show in Windows Explorer > You can copy the track to another place > Change the extension from .m4a to.m4r. (Apple uses a .m4r extension for ringtones instead of the familiar .m4a.)

Sync ringtone to iPhone

If your iTunes supports ringtones management, you can simply drag the m4r file to the Tone section and sync ringtones to iPhone.  After that, you can go to Settings app to choose the ringtone you created.

Final words

That’s all about how to convert MP3 to iPhone ringtone. You can either use GarageBand or iTunes to achieve the goal but the former is more recommended. iTunes does help you convert MP3 to ringtones for iPhone, however, it may not be able to sync ringtones to iPhone. If you have MP3 files stored on computer, you can transfer them to iPhone via FoneTool and then use GarageBand to make custom ringtones.