Sync a ringtone from Finder or iTunes
In short: Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable and unlock it. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder, select the iPhone in the sidebar and drag the M4R file onto it. On Windows or an older Mac, use iTunes and drag the file onto Tones under the device. Then pick it in Settings.
Make an M4R to sync from your computer
Step by step
- Open RingtoneEditor on the computer, click iPhone, then Save the ringtone. It goes to your Downloads folder.
- Connect the iPhone with a cable, unlock it, and tap Trust if the phone asks.
- On macOS Catalina or later, open Finder and click the iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
- Drag the .m4r file onto the iPhone in the sidebar or into its window. If nothing seems to change, click Sync.
- On Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier, open iTunes, click the device button, and drag the file onto Tones under On My Device.
- On the iPhone, open Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone and choose the new tone.
Which program your computer uses
Apple changes these windows between versions. If you see no Tones section, try dropping the file on the device name itself. Apple’s newer Apple Devices app for Windows is not covered here, because we have not confirmed that it accepts tones.
| Computer | Program | Where to drop the file |
|---|---|---|
| Mac, macOS Catalina (10.15) or later | Finder | On the iPhone in the sidebar, or into its window |
| Mac, macOS Mojave (10.14) or earlier | iTunes | Tones, under On My Device |
| Windows PC | iTunes for Windows | Tones, under On My Device |
When the computer route makes sense
- Your iPhone runs iOS 18 or earlier and you would rather not install GarageBand.
- You want to add several tones in one go.
- You already sync this iPhone with this computer.
Read this before you sync
If the iPhone was last synced with another computer, iTunes may offer to erase the phone’s library and replace it. Cancel if you see that message. The Files route on iOS 26 and the GarageBand route never touch your library.
Common questions
Does the file have to be .m4r?
Yes. Only M4R files go into the tone list. An MP3 renamed to .m4r often copies across and then never appears in Settings.
The tone copied but is not in Settings. Why?
Most often it runs over 30 seconds or is not real AAC. Unplug, restart the iPhone and look again, then work through the page on ringtones missing from Settings.
Can I do this over Wi-Fi?
Only if Wi-Fi syncing was switched on earlier while the iPhone was connected by cable. The first connection always needs a cable.