What to Know
- If you want to make a voice memo a ringtone, first save the voice memo to the Files app.
- Once it's saved to Files, you can upload it to the GarageBand app.
- You can then use GarageBand to export the track as a ringtone.
Did you know you can create your own custom ringtones for incoming texts and calls? Simply record a voice memo and use GarageBand to create a unique ringtone without using a computer. We'll show you how to make a voice memo a ringtone on your iPhone in just a few simple steps.
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How to Make a Voice Memo into a Ringtone
To get started with creating a ringtone for your iPhone using the Voice Memos app, you'll need to first create a voice memo that you want to use as a ringtone and then save the voice memo to your Files app.
How to Save a Voice Memo to the Files App
You will need to have the voice memo saved within your Files to use it to create a custom ringtone. Keep in mind that you can use the voice memo to record a sound played on another device if you don't wish to make a unique recording using your voice or playing an instrument. This is how to make an audio file a ringtone on your iPhone.
- Open Voice Memos app.
![iphone spotlight search with a red box around voice memos app]()
- Tap the three dots next to the voice memo you want to use.
![iphone voice memos app with a red box around three dot menu button]()
- Tap Save to Files.
![iphone voice memos app displaying share sheet with a red box around save to files app]()
- Tap Save.
![iphone voice memos app displaying save to files window with a red box around save button]()
A ringtone can be up to 40 seconds long. If your voice memo is longer, you do not need to re-record it. You can trim it in GarageBand. To learn more hidden secrets about your iPhone, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
How to Make a Ringtone from a Voice Memo
Once you've saved the voice memo to the Files app, you will need to download GarageBand if you do not already have it installed on your iPhone. This is Apple's music production app and can be used to create songs and ringtones. Here's how to make a voice memo into a ringtone using GarageBand:
- Open the GarageBand app. You'll have to orient your phone into landscape mode while using GarageBand.
![iphone spotlight search with a red box around garageband app]()
- Under the Tracks tab, select Audio Recorder or pick any instrument. The instrument you choose does not matter.
![iphone garageband app with a red box around audio recorder instrument]()
- Tap the Tracks View button.
![iphone garageband app displaying song project with a red box around tracks view button]()
- Tap on the loop icon located at the top-right corner.
![iphone garageband app displaying song project with a red box around loops button]()
- Tap Files.
![iphone garageband app displaying loops window with a red box around files tab]()
- Select Browse items from the Files app.
![iphone garageband app displaying loops window with a red box around Browse items from the Files app button]()
- You should see all your recent audio files under Recent. You may have to Browse to find your voice memo or search the voice memo name. Select the voice memo recording.
![iphone garageband app displaying audio files in the files app window with a red box around a voice memo]()
- Wait for it to upload to GarageBand in the loop popup menu. Then, tap it to play it. If you are satisfied with how it sounds, drag it into the main window.
![iphone garageband app displaying loops window files tab with a red box around a voice memo]()
- Drop the voice memo into the track. You can also trim the voice memo as necessary.
![iphone garageband displaying tracks view with a red box around voice memo track]()
- Tap the Navigation button.
![iphone garageband displaying tracks view with a red box around navigation button]()
- Select My Songs. This will save it in GaradeBand Recents.
![iphone garageband displaying tracks view with a red box around my songs button]()
- Tap and hold the file.
![iphone garageband displaying my songs window with a red box around the current project]()
- Tap Share.
![iphone garageband my songs window displaying the share sheet with a red box around share button]()
- Select Ringtone.
![iphone garageband displaying share window, with a red box around ringtone option]()
- You can name your ringtone to make it easier to search for and identify. When you're satisfied, tap Export. This will export is as a ringtone.
![iphone garageband displaying export project window with a red box around export button]()
- Once it exports, a menu will pop up confirming that Ringtone Export was Successful. Tap Use sound as…
![iphone garageband my songs window displaying ringtone export successful window with a red box around use sound as button]()
- You can choose to select it as a Standard Ringtone, Standard Text Tone, or Assign to contact. Standard Ringtone will make it your ringtone for all calls. Standard Text Tone will make it the text tone for every text you receive. Assign to contact will allow you to set it as a ring or text tone for a specific contact.
![iphone garageband my songs window displaying ringtone export successful window with a red box around the options Standard Ringtone, Standard Text Tone, or Assign to contact]()
There are no confirmation prompts, so be mindful of which options you select. If you get tired of your custom voice memo as the ringtone, you can change the ringtone to something more standard from the Settings app. Remember that a ringtone will repeat itself until you pick up. If your voice memo recording is short, it can get annoying fast. You can combine two or more voice memos in GarageBand and even add instruments to make it more complicated. Just make sure to keep it under 40 seconds total.
Now you know how to make a voice memo a ringtone on your iPhone. You can create an original GarageBand ringtone for all your calls, text messages, or assign a special sound for all your loved ones. You can even create an individual ringtone as a text tone and another as a ringtone for a single contact. The only limit is your imagination! Next, find out how to change your ringtone on iPhone.
FAQ
- Can you customize text tones on an iPhone? Yes, you can get custom text tones on your iPhone. The iTunes Store has custom ringtones which you can purchase and set as text tones or ringtones. You can also use GarageBand to create custom tones, as demonstrated in the article above.
- How do I select a ringtone for a specific person? You can set ringtones for specific contacts. All you have to do is edit the contact card and select a specific ringtone. Check out our article on how to set specific ringtones for contacts on iPhone to find out more.
- How do I set a song as my alarm on my iPhone without iTunes? You can set a song as your alarm sound if you have Apple Music or if a song is downloaded to your device. Head over to our article on how to set a song as alarm on iPhone for all the details.
