How To Convert Voice Memos Into IPhone Ringtones

Sometimes the best ringtones are those that have been recorded directly on the iPhone. What's better than a unique, homemade ringtone that also costs nothing to add to your device? Since the stock iOS audio recording app is Voice Memos, here are instructions on how to convert a voice memo recording into a ringtone.

Start by recording the voice memo you wish to convert to a ringtone. Limit the voice memo to a length of 40 seconds or less, otherwise iTunes will not sync this ringtone to the iPhone. Once you have selected the voice memo, tap the share button in the lower left corner. Email the voice memo to yourself, so the file can easily be transferred to a computer.

After the voice memo file has been emailed, follow these steps to convert the track into an iPhone ringtone:

1. Download the voice memo from your email to your computer.
2. Rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r and confirm this change if prompted by the computer.

3. Plug your iPhone into the computer via USB cable, and allow the device to trust the computer.
4. Open iTunes, then navigate to Devices -> Your iPhone -> Tones
5. Drag and drop the voice memo file into the Tones library on your device.

6. Once imported to iTunes, the voice memo will appear under Tones. You can preview the tone by playing it in iTunes.
7. To use the new ringtone, navigate to Settings -> Sounds -> Ringtone on your device.
8. The voice memo you converted will appear in the list. Choose the voice memo to use it as your ringtone.


Any audio recording created with the Voice Memo app can be converted into a ringtone using these steps. Note that carriers will limit the number of seconds that an iPhone rings. In most cases, the ringtone will stop playing long before the 40 second limit enforced by iTunes is actually reached.

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