In this guide
Save a usable audio file on your phone, trim the passage if needed, then set it as your ringtone with Files by Google or your phone's sound settings. Test the result with an incoming call.
To make a custom ringtone on Android, save a compatible audio file on your phone, choose the section you want, and set the saved file as the ringtone. Files by Google offers a Set as ringtone command; Samsung Galaxy phones also let you add a stored file from their ringtone settings. Menus differ by device and Android version.
Start with a recording you made or a song file you are allowed to use. A song downloaded for offline playback inside a streaming app is not necessarily an accessible audio file; Samsung says streaming-service tracks cannot be selected as its custom ringtones.
1. Save and choose the audio
- Find a usable file. Save a compatible audio file on the phone and note its location, such as Downloads. Keep the original so you can make another edit.
- Choose the start. Listen for a phrase that is recognizable immediately. A short excerpt can be easier to hear when a call arrives, but Android devices do not all impose the same ringtone duration.
- Check the format. If the file does not appear in your phone's picker, consult its supported formats. Samsung lists MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC for its Galaxy ringtone workflow; exact compatibility can vary with device and file.
2. Trim the section you want
If you want a particular chorus or sound rather than the beginning of the whole recording, create a separate short file first. In the free audio trimmer, choose a supported mono or stereo MP3 or WAV up to five minutes and 50 MiB, enter a start and end time, then prepare and preview the output. Download the excerpt to your phone; WAV output must also fit 50 MiB. The tool processes locally in a compatible browser, makes one continuous excerpt, and does not change your ringtone setting.
For example, to use the section from 1:05 to 1:20, enter 65 and 80 seconds. Listen to the first note and the ending in the prepared file. MP3 is re-encoded; WAV is 48 kHz, 16-bit PCM. If the phone does not list a WAV, try a supported MP3 copy and listen again.
3. Set the file using Files by Google
- Open Files by Google on the Android phone. If needed, locate the saved excerpt under Audio or in the folder where it was downloaded.
- Find and play the file. Tap More (the three-dot menu), then Set as ringtone.
- If a permission dialog appears, tap Continue and allow the app to modify system settings as requested. Return to the app and look for the confirmation that the ringtone was set.
- Ask someone to call or make a test call to the phone. Check that sound mode and ringtone volume allow you to hear the result.
Google documents these steps in its Files by Google ringtone guide. The command and permission prompt can differ with app and Android versions; if it is not available, try your device's sound settings.
Set a custom ringtone on Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings → Sounds and vibration → Ringtone. Choose the SIM if your phone asks.
- Tap Add or the plus sign, then select the audio file stored on your phone. If it is not under Tracks, Samsung suggests looking in Folders.
- If available, review Play selected highlights only. Samsung says turning it off starts the song from the beginning; turning it on selects a portion. For an exact passage, use a trimmed file and check the result.
- Tap Done, then test an incoming call. Samsung's Galaxy ringtone instructions describe the plus button and highlight option.
To use a different sound for a contact, Samsung documents opening the contact, choosing its ringtone option and selecting a stored file; steps can vary by device. See its contact and custom-ringtone guide.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| The song does not appear | Check that it is an accessible file on the phone, not only an offline streaming item. Look in its folder and verify the device supports the format. |
| The wrong part plays | Trim a separate excerpt and set that file. On supported Samsung phones, also check whether selected highlights are enabled. |
| No sound during a call | Check ringtone volume, silent or vibrate mode, and any contact-specific ringtone. Test with an incoming call. |
| The cut clicks or misses the first note | Move the boundary slightly earlier or try a short edge fade, then listen to the new file. A fade can soften the attack. |
Common questions
Can I make a song my ringtone without a computer?
Yes. With a compatible accessible audio file, you can trim it in a supported phone browser and use Files by Google or the phone's ringtone settings. The available controls depend on your device.
Can I use a Spotify download?
Samsung says tracks played through streaming services such as Spotify cannot be set as its custom ringtones. Use a compatible file you have permission to use rather than assuming an offline app download is accessible in Files.
Does trimming the file set the ringtone?
No. Trimming creates a separate audio file. Select that saved file using Files by Google or the device's ringtone settings, then verify it with a call.
How do I make a ringtone on iPhone?
The process is different: follow the iPhone ringtone guide to import a usable file into GarageBand and export it as a ringtone.