With iOS 26, Apple finally lets iPhone users set custom ringtones directly much like Android: How to use

India Today

16-06-2025

iOS or Android — which is better? That's not the easiest question to answer. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what works best for you. And that's completely fine. But let's be honest — no matter which team you're on, neither operating system is perfect. Take Android, for instance. It's great — open, flexible, full of customisation. But it still doesn't match iOS when it comes to things like ecosystem integration, consistent UI across devices, or features like AirDrop. On the other hand, iOS, for all its polish and reliability, is only now catching up to certain basic features Android users have enjoyed for years, like a T9 dialler or native call recording.advertisementAnd now, in another long-overdue update, Apple is finally letting iOS users set custom ringtones in iOS 26. Yes, that same feature Android phones have had forever. But as late as it is, this new feature comes as a welcome relief.Finally, an easier way to set a custom ringtone on iPhoneUntil now, if you wanted a custom ringtone on your iPhone, you had just two options — pay for one on the iTunes Store, or go through a painfully complicated process using GarageBand. Both were annoying in their own way.
But with iOS 26 (developer preview only for now), Apple has made it easier, kind of. You still can't just download any audio from the internet, but at least setting a custom tone is much simpler now. Here's how you do it:advertisement— First, make sure the audio file you want to use is already on your iPhone — either in the Files app or in Voice Memos.— If the file is in Files, long-press it and tap Share.— If it's in Voice Memos, tap the three-dot icon next to the file, then tap Share.— In the Share menu, swipe up a little, and tap Use as Ringtone.— That's it. You've set your custom ringtone. It'll now also show up in the Ringtones section under Sounds & Haptics. And once your custom tones are saved, switching between them becomes super easy.While setting a tone is now easier, getting your hands on the right audio file is still a bit of a headache. For example, I wanted to relive some nostalgia and set a classic ringtone, which was one of my favourites, on my Nokia N8. Found it online in seconds, but couldn't download it directly on my iPhone. Why? Because iOS doesn't let you download MP3s or MP4s from the browser. Not even ringtones.So, here's what I had to do:— I downloaded the ringtone on my Mac.— Then I used AirDrop to send it to my iPhone.— It instantly appeared in the Files app, ready to use.advertisementAlternatively, you can ask someone to email you the file or send it on WhatsApp. iOS will let you download it from there.So yes, you can now finally set custom ringtones in iOS 26. Now, if only Apple would let us download audio files directly to our iPhones — that's next on my wishlist.