Which audio files work for custom ringtones?

Check the contents, not just the name

A file called “sound.mp3” can still be empty, damaged or contain something other than MP3 audio. Renaming a video or protected music download does not convert it. First play the source locally, then import it into the editor you intend to use.

GarageBand documents support for AIFF, WAV, AAC, MP3 and Apple Loops. Ringy’s reviewed iPhone import code accepts readable audio and video through the device’s media frameworks. This does not mean every file with one of those extensions will decode successfully.

Downloaded versus available online

A visible cloud item may still need downloading before an editor can read it. Check the file’s local availability and your free storage. A streaming app’s offline download remains part of that service’s playback system; it is not necessarily an exportable song file.

Keep the source and export separate

Keep a copy of the original. Trim and export a short ringtone from that copy, then give the result a clear name. A project file belongs to an editor and may contain editing instructions rather than finished audio. Choose an audio or ringtone export action when you want to use the result outside that editor.

What to send support

Report the extension, source app, approximate length and the exact error. Do not send a protected subscription download or account credentials. If the file is private, try a harmless test recording first: if that imports, you have narrowed the problem to the original source.

Related guides

• Can Spotify or Apple Music songs become ringtones?
• Fix Ringy import and ringtone export problems
• Trim a ringtone so the right moment plays first