How to Add Ringtones to iTunes

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This minHour teaches you how to add ringtones to your iPhone using iTunes (Windows/Mac Mojave and earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina or later). Since the update, you won't find a tones section in your iTunes or Music library, so you are unable to add ringtones directly to iTunes without adding them to your iPhone.

Using macOS Catalina and Later

Open Finder.

You’ll find this two-toned face icon on the Dock.

  • iTunes is no longer included with the latest versions of macOS. Instead, you’ll add ringtones using Finder.

Plug your iPhone into your computer.

Use the lightning cable that came with your iPhone or one that’s compatible. Plug the USB end of the cable into the USB port on your monitor or on the side of the computer.

  • If you’ve never connected your phone to the computer, follow the on-screen prompts on your iPhone to trust the computer.

Click the iPhone icon.

You’ll see this in the menu on the left side of Finder under “Locations.”

Make sure “Manually Manage Music, Movies, and TV shows” is enabled.

You’ll find this option in the “General” tab.

Drag and drop the ringtone file to your iPhone space.

The ringtone file should be in .m4r format to work on your iPhone. If dragging and dropping doesn’t work, try copying and pasting the file instead.

Using Windows and Earlier Mac Versions

Open iTunes.

You’ll find this program in your Start Menu or Application folder. If you have an older Mac with iTunes, see How to Make a Ringtone on iTunes.

  • To see if you have iTunes 12.7 (Windows only), go to the Help tab in the toolbar and click Check for updates. If nothing is there, you have the most recent version of iTunes. If you’re using an older Mac, you can check Help or About to find your current iTunes version.

Plug your iPhone into your computer.

Use the lightning cable that came with your iPhone or one that’s compatible. Plug the USB end of the cable into the USB port on your monitor or on the side of the computer.

  • Follow the on-screen prompts on your iPhone to trust the computer if you’ve never connected the two before.

Click the iPhone icon.

You’ll see this at the top and towards the center of the iTunes menu.

Click Tones.

You’ll see this in the menu on the left side of the window.

Drag and drop the ringtone file to your iPhone space.

The ringtone file should be in .m4r format to work on your iPhone. If dragging and dropping doesn’t work, try copying and pasting the file instead.

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