Easy ways to create custom ringtones for Android and iPhone

In a world where everyone uses the same apps to communicate, it’s nice to stand out. Now that we’re more reliant on our devices than ever before, why not make the best of it?

Emojis are tried and true but there’s not much in the way of individuality. You can make your own avatars to share with friends, family and even your coworkers. Tap or click here to check out four free avatar apps.

Your phone comes with a host of ringtones that sound the same as everyones. Tired of Pachelbel’s Canon? You can create your own custom ringtones without too much difficulty, though it’s a bit more work to get them onto your phone. We’ll show you how to do it.

AVCWare Ringtone Maker

The first step is to create the ringtone itself, and we found AVCWare Ringtone Maker to be a solid option. This free desktop tool can convert video and audio files into MP3, WAV, M4R, M4A, OGG and AMR formats.

You can then load these into most smartphones as a ringtone. You can add fading effects to the intro and outro of your new ringtone and review it before applying it.

iTunemachine

Don’t let the name fool you. This site works for both iPhone and Android. Go to itunemachine.com/name-ringtone/maker to access the name ringtone generator. This is a unique way to tweak a ringtone. You can upload a ringtone or choose one from the library. Below that, type in your name and choose a message from the dropdown list such as “You have a call.”

Next, choose a voice and then select Create Ringtone to download the file for your Android or iOS device. The ringtone will play the song you picked along with a message telling you to answer your phone. Want to keep things private? Tap or click here for four tips on customizing your Apple AirPods.

Ringtone Maker

Ringtone Maker is a site that lets you upload AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, WAV and WMA sound/music files to create your own ringtone. Once it’s in there, choose a start and stop time and preview it with the Play button. Choose M4R for iPhones and MP3 for most other phones. When you’re ready, select Make Ringtone.

If you’re not sure about what you want, check out these nine free ringtone sites for inspiration.

You have your ringtone, so what’s next?

Creating the perfect ringtone is only half the job. Now you have to install it on your phone for yourself and the world to enjoy. Piracy is bad for everyone involved, so make sure you’re okay to use any audio files you work with.

Setting a custom ringtone on your iPhone

Things get tricky when it comes to custom ringtones on iOS. One way to get the job done is to use a computer and iTunes.

  • First, check your iTunes settings. Open the Preferences menu and go to General > Import settings. Make sure Import Using is set to AAC Encoder.
  • Once you have the file loaded onto your computer, open iTunes and choose File > Add to library and locate the file.
  • Now that it’s uploaded, click File > Convert > Create AAC Version.
  • If the file isn’t a .m4r file, change it by highlighting it and going to File > Show in Windows Explorer (for Windows) or Show in Finder (for macOS). Change the extension to .m4r and keep the window open.
  • Now connect your iPhone to your computer and select it in iTunes and go to Tones. Select and drag your .m4r file from the open window into the Tones pane. Let it upload.
  • Finally, open Settings > Sound & Haptics and select your new ringtone.

Setting a custom ringtone on your Android phone

Things are a little more straightforward for Android custom ringtones.

  • First, you need to get the ringtone onto your phone. You can email it to yourself or use Google Drive or Dropbox, or simply connect your phone to a computer and drag the file over to the ringtones folder.
  • Once the file is on your phone, restart it so it can recognize the new file.
  • Go to Settings > Sound > Phone ringtone. On Samsung phones, you’ll use Settings > Sounds and vibration > Ringtone. Find your new ringtone and select it.

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That’s it! Now you have some fresh new ringtones on your device that will set you apart from the crowd. Go ahead and add as many to your device as you need to set a custom ringtone for people in your contact list. It’ll let you know who’s calling without even looking at your phone. Pretty cool.

Tags: Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, Apple iTunes, custom ringtones, Dropbox, emojis, Google Drive, piracy, ringtone maker