How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with/without iTunes

How to set MP3 as ringtone on iPhone? Read and follow this tutorial to get two general methods of setting MP3 as ringtone on any model of iPhone.

By Joy Taylor | Posted on: Nov. 06, 2018, Last Updated: Aug. 20, 2019

As an iPhone user, you may want to set loved songs as ringtones on your iPhone, and set different ringtones for some particular persons like mum and dad, and also set custom alarm clock ringtone. However, Apple only allows you to customize unique ringtones for your iPhone by making a ringtone from an MP3 file. You cannot automatically add MP3 files to iPhone, then set as ringtones. To set MP3 as ringtone on iPhone, you must with the aid of iTunes to convert MP3 to the correct format firstly so that your iPhone can recognize it as a ringtone.

Since the traditional iTunes method is so complicated, here we’d like to recommend you another easier way firstly, which lets you set MP3 as ringtone on your iPhone in just 1 click. Also, the traditional iTunes method will be shown in detail.

Method 1. How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone

The easiest way to set MP3 as ringtone on iPhone is using AnyTrans, which has helped plenty of iOS users to do the task and highly recommended by these users for Setting MP3 as ringtone. AnyTrans will automatically convert MP3 as m4r format (m4r is the only format that iPhone can recognize as ringtone) for you so that you can set as ringtone directly, which is iTunes can’t do.

Now, Free Download AnyTrans on your Mac or PC firstly, and then follow the steps below to set MP3 as ringtone on iPhone.

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* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 1 Launch AnyTrans > Connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable > Choose Ringtone Maker.

Choose Ringtone Maker in AnyTrans for iOS – Step 1

Step 2 Click Customize Ringtone, you can directly drag and drop music file to the editing bar, or select one from your computer, device or iTunes Library.

Customize Ringtone in AnyTrans for iOS – Step 2

Step 3 Open the music file, then you can drag the slider to set the duration of the ringtone. After finishing it, click the “Import to Device” button to transfer the ringtone to your iPhone. Then, you will see it in the tone list on your iPhone, and you can set it as ringtone now.

Transfer Ringtone in AnyTrans for iOS – Step 3

Actually, AnyTrans can also help you manage kinds of iPhone iPad iPod data in a convenient way, including photos, videos, music, ringtones, messages, contacts, notes, books, Safari bookmarks, iBooks and so on.

Method 2. How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with iTunes

This iTunes way to set MP3 as ringtone on iPhone is much more complicated than Method 1, obviously. Besides, you need also notice that:

1. For now, the latest iTunes 12.7 does not support such ringtone making feature, since the Tones tab has been removed.

2. To help users get used to such change gradually, Apple released the transition version – iTunes 12.6.3, bringing back the Tones tab with ringtone making and syncing. However, this version is not recommended by Apple official, without technical support.

So to make your setting MP3 as ringtone journey more smoothly, we sincerely recommend you moving to Method 1, for a better choice.

Step 1 Open iTunes and connect your iPhone as well.

Step 2 Add the MP3 to iTunes. Right-click the song and choose Get Info.

Step 3 Click the Options tab.

Step 4 Set the Start Time and Stop Time, you can customize the length, but generally we set it as 30 seconds. Then Click “OK”.

How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with iTunes – Step 4

Step 5 Click the song again and click file > Choose Create AAC Version. iTunes will convert your specified 30 seconds into a new song.

How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with iTunes – Step 5

Step 6 Drag the new AAC version out of iTunes and into the folder you select.

Step 7 Delete the 30-second version from iTunes.

Step 8 Open the folder containing the 30-second AAC file you dragged out of iTunes, right-click and choose “Rename” to change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r and confirm.

How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with iTunes – Step 8

Step 9 Double-click it and it will be added to iTunes’ ringtone library.

How to Set MP3 as Ringtone on iPhone with iTunes – Step 9

Step 10 Finally, sync your iPhone. Then you can head into the Settings and select your new ringtone.

Can’t Miss: How to Transfer Playlist from iTunes to iPhone >

The Bottom Line

As you can see, Method 1 is easier than Method 2 to set iPhone MP3 ringtone. Using AnyTrans you can easily set mp3 as ringtone on iPhone without tedious operations. In addition, you can transfer multiple songs at the same time at once. Besides, you can also use AnyTrans to transfer songs among iPhone/iPad/iPod and computer. Now, download it to have a try >