iOS 26: Setting your own ring tones is clearly simplified

With iOS 26, creating your own ring tones on Apple’s iPhone is significantly simplified. In the update that is to be released in autumn, it will in future be possible via the share menu to export music and tones into the appropriate format with a button and to access the ring tones.

The desire to set your own ring tones is great for many users. There are a number of instructions on the net, as can be done with the previous iOS versions. Perhaps with a view to copyright concerns, Apple has long had no trouble simplifying the process. Therefore, users either had to connect their iPhone to a Mac and the ring tones from there transferred to their device. Or you import sound files in Apple’s app garage band on the device and export the sound directly into the ringtones.

New button in part dialogue

In contrast, export is now very easy in the first development beta of iOS 26. Export as the ringtone is now offered in the part dialogue. A new button called “Use the ringtone” and a musical note as a symbol in iOS 26 appears there. For example, an MP3 file can be called up via the files app via iCloud and the sound or piece of music there can be transferred directly into the settings as the ringtone. The new procedure is also possible in language memos and several other apps.

Exported ring tones appear in the settings of the iPhone on the corresponding page at the top of the list. They can be removed again at any time by swiping. Different formats can be used as ringtones. In tests, files in the formats MP3, M4A and WAV worked, among other things.

In an early test phase

Since iOS 26 is still in an early test stage and the system still contains all sorts of errors, users should be patient until the final version in autumn or at least wait for the public beta that is expected for July.

With iOS 26, Apple also introduces a new design called “Liquid Glass”, expands its AI functions called Apple Intelligence with new possibilities such as live translations and sets up protection against unwanted calls in the telephone app.