How to Transfer Ringtones From iPhone to iPhone (2026)

Moving custom ringtones between iPhones isn’t as obvious as it should be. Apple doesn’t offer a built-in “share ringtone” button, but there are several workarounds that get the job done in under 5 minutes.

We tested five methods on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 18.3 and an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.4. AirDrop worked the most reliably for .m4r ringtone files, while GarageBand gave us the most flexibility for creating and transferring tones without a computer.

#How Do You Transfer Ringtones With AirDrop?

AirDrop is the fastest way to move a ringtone file from one iPhone to another. The catch is that you need the .m4r file accessible in the Files app first.

1. On your old iPhone, open the Files app and locate the .m4r ringtone file.

2. Long-press the file and tap Share, then select AirDrop.

3. Choose your new iPhone from the AirDrop list.

4. On your new iPhone, accept the incoming file.

5. When the file opens, tap Share > GarageBand to import it as a ringtone project, then long-press the project and tap Share > Ringtone.

The whole process took us about 30 seconds when we tested it with both phones sitting next to each other. The tricky part is step 5, where you route the file through GarageBand to register it as a usable ringtone in Settings.

If AirDrop isn’t showing your other device, make sure both iPhones have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. According to Apple’s AirDrop troubleshooting page, both devices need to be unlocked and within Bluetooth range for the connection to work. Our guide on AirDrop stuck on waiting covers additional fixes.

#Using GarageBand to Create and Share Ringtones

GarageBand is a free Apple app that can turn any audio clip into a ringtone directly on your iPhone. No computer needed.

Creating a ringtone from a song:

1. Open GarageBand and create a new Audio Recorder project.

2. Tap the track view icon (third icon from the left at the top), then tap the loop icon in the top right to open the file browser.

3. Browse to the song or audio file you want. Drag it onto the timeline.

4. Trim the clip to 40 seconds or less by dragging the edges.

5. Tap the down arrow in the top left, choose My Songs, long-press the project, and select Share > Ringtone > Export.

According to Apple’s GarageBand support page, ringtones exported from GarageBand appear immediately in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. The 40-second limit is a hard iOS restriction that applies to all custom ringtones.

Sharing the ringtone to another iPhone:

After exporting, go back to your project in GarageBand, long-press it, and tap Share > AirDrop to send the project file to the other iPhone. The recipient opens it in GarageBand and exports it as a ringtone from there.

#Syncing Purchased Ringtones Through iCloud

If you bought ringtones from the iTunes Store, they’re tied to your Apple ID and can be re-downloaded on any iPhone signed into the same account.

1. On your new iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.

2. Tap Download All Purchased Tones at the very top of the ringtone list on the screen.

3. Wait a few seconds for the downloads to finish.

Based on Apple’s tone purchase documentation, you can re-download purchased tones on any device using the same Apple ID at no extra cost. This only applies to ringtones bought from the iTunes Store, not custom tones you created yourself.

When we tested this on our iPhone 16, all 4 previously purchased ringtones appeared within about 15 seconds of tapping the download button. Custom tones we’d made in GarageBand on the old phone didn’t show up through this method.

#Transferring Ringtones via a Computer

Using a Mac or PC gives you the most control over ringtone transfers, especially if you have multiple custom .m4r files stored on your computer.

On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later:

Connect your old iPhone, open Finder, and back up the device. Ringtones are included in the backup. Then connect your new iPhone and restore from that backup.

For individual ringtone files, drag the .m4r file onto your iPhone in Finder. According to Apple’s custom ringtone guide, you can add .m4r files to your iPhone by connecting it to your Mac and dragging the file into the Finder sidebar entry for the device.

On a Windows PC:

Open iTunes, connect your iPhone, and go to the Tones section under the device. Drag .m4r files from your computer into the Tones list. If you don’t see a Tones section, try syncing the device first.

If iTunes won’t recognize your iPhone, our iTunes connection troubleshooting guide walks through the most common fixes step by step.

#Can You Use Messaging Apps to Send Ringtones?

You can send ringtone files through iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, or email as attachments. Save the .m4r file to the Files app on the receiving iPhone and use the GarageBand method above to register it as a ringtone.

Extra steps are involved. GarageBand must be installed on the receiving device to convert the file into a system ringtone.

One workaround we found during testing: rename the .m4r file to .m4a before sending. Some messaging apps block .m4r as an unfamiliar format, but .m4a goes through without complaints. The recipient just renames it back after downloading. The audio data inside the file is completely identical either way.

If you’re setting up a new iPhone and want to bring over more than just ringtones, a full device transfer through Quick Start or a computer backup is usually the better path.

#Making Custom Ringtones From Any Song

You don’t need to buy ringtones or use third-party apps. Any audio file on your iPhone can become a ringtone.

What you need: GarageBand (free from the App Store) and a song or audio file in your library.

The key rule is that iPhone ringtones must be 40 seconds or shorter in .m4r format. GarageBand handles the format conversion automatically when you export as a ringtone, so you only need to worry about trimming the audio to your favorite 30-second section.

For ringtones based on YouTube audio or other online sources, you’ll need to download the audio file first. We’ve got a detailed walkthrough in our guide on making a YouTube song your ringtone on Android that covers the download process (the audio extraction steps apply to iPhone too).

If you’re adding ringtones to a newer iPhone model, the GarageBand method works across all iPhones running iOS 15 and later.

#Bottom Line

AirDrop is the quickest way to send a ringtone from one iPhone to another. Purchased tones re-download automatically through Settings.

For custom tones, GarageBand handles everything: creation, trimming, exporting, and sharing. It’s free, it works on every iPhone running iOS 15 or later, and the only real constraint is the 40-second maximum length that Apple enforces on all ringtones.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#What format do iPhone ringtones need to be?

.m4r format, 40 seconds or shorter. GarageBand converts audio files to .m4r automatically when you export as a ringtone, so you don’t need any separate conversion tools.

#Can I transfer ringtones between iPhones without a computer?

Yes. AirDrop and GarageBand both work entirely on the iPhone. Send the file via AirDrop, open it in GarageBand on the receiving device, and export as a ringtone. The whole process takes about a minute without touching a computer.

#Why doesn’t my custom ringtone show up in Settings?

The file probably wasn’t exported through GarageBand’s ringtone export function. Simply saving an .m4r file to the Files app doesn’t register it as a system ringtone. Open the file in GarageBand, then share it as a ringtone from there. It should appear in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone immediately after export.

#Do purchased ringtones transfer to a new iPhone automatically?

Only if you’re signed into the same Apple ID. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and tap Download All Purchased Tones. Custom ringtones you made yourself don’t carry over this way.

#How many ringtones can an iPhone hold?

There’s no official limit. Ringtone files are tiny at about 500 KB each, so even 500 custom tones would only take up 250 MB.

#Can I make a ringtone from a voice memo?

Yes. Open Voice Memos, tap the three-dot menu on your recording, and select Save to Files. Then open GarageBand, import the file from the loop browser, trim it to 40 seconds or less, and export as a ringtone. The whole process takes about 2 minutes once you know where the buttons are.

#Does resetting my iPhone delete custom ringtones?

Yes. A factory reset removes all custom ringtones. Purchased tones can be re-downloaded from the iTunes Store, but custom ones are gone unless you backed them up to a computer or cloud storage beforehand. Always export your .m4r files to the Files app or a cloud drive before erasing your device.

#Can I set different ringtones for different contacts?

Yes. Open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap Edit, then tap Ringtone. You can assign any installed ringtone to that specific person. This works for both default Apple ringtones and custom tones you’ve added through GarageBand.