How to Set Any Song as Your Ringtone on an iPhone or iPad Using GarageBand
Introduction
If you'd like to set a custom ringtone or text tone on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps to do so. This can be accomplished without the need for any third-party apps.
Downloading the Track
Method 1 (Free - Recommended)
Use an online YouTube to MP3 converter to save a YouTube video as an audio-only file. Simply copy and paste a YouTube link into a YouTube to MP3 converter and download the file. Make sure you save the audio file inside the Files app. If you do not have the Files app installed, you can download and install it here.
Method 2 (Free)
Use an app designed for downloading ringtones. There are many options available on the App Store that will give you an audio file for almost any song. Make sure you save the audio file inside the Files app. If you do not have the Files app installed, you can download and install it here.
Method 3 (Paid)
If you are an Apple Music subscriber, you can use songs from your Apple Music library to make ringtones and text tones. If you decide to use this method, you will not need to save the audio in the Files app.
Getting the Track Ready to Be Set as Your Ringtone or Text Tone
Download, install and open the GarageBand app from Apple here.
Open GarageBand from the Home Screen.
Swipe left through the options until you see "Audio Recorder", and tap it.
Tap the button with 3 lines in it at the top left.
Tap the metronome button at the top middle to disable it.
Tap the loop icon at the top right.
You will now be presented with a dropdown where you can choose the audio file you downloaded earlier. You can either tap the "Files" tab and then "Browse items from the Files app", or you can tap the "Music" tab and choose a song from Apple Music.
Once you have chosen and selected the file or song, it will appear in the dropdown you opened via the loop icon. Now you can then press and hold the file, and then drag it towards the top left of the GarageBand track to add it to your project.
Setting the Track as Your Ringtone or Text Tone
Tap the square document icon at the top left to exit the project, and then you'll see a Files-app-style view where you'll see all of your GarageBand projects.
Press and hold the project you just created, which will most likely be called "My Song", and then choose "Rename", then give it a distinctive name.
Press and hold the project again and tap "Share".
In this popup that appears, choose the "Ringtone" option in the middle. After tapping this option, you will be prompted to choose if you want this to be your ringtone or text tone for all contacts, or just a specific set of contacts. After you've made your choice, it will automatically be set up for you.
You can now go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics, choose a category under the section titled "Sounds and Haptic Patterns" and change the sounds there. You can swipe to the left on any one of the custom ones you've added to delete them.
Conclusion
Done! You have now set up a custom ringtone or text tone on your iPhone or iPad!
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