Earlier this week, Apple officially previewed iOS 26, featuring a Liquid Glass UI, handy AI tools, and support for deeper system customizations. Like all major OS updates, the upcoming release also packs plenty of smaller additions and changes that Apple didn’t have time to discuss during th keynote. Here’s one that you’re going to love: With iOS 26, you can finally assign third-party ringtones without jumping through endless hoops.
If you’ve ever tried to set a custom ringtone for one of your contacts on your iPhone, you know that it’s a laborious process. Users need to either connect their iPhone to a Mac to import third-party ringtones or edit the track using GarageBand. Both routes are unnecessarily complex, and many users will appreciate Apple simplifying the ordeal.
As spotted by Macworld, iOS 26 developer beta 1 introduces a hassle-free option for setting custom ringtones. The setting is accessible when sharing an audio file via the Files, Voice Memos, and other compatible apps. Once you select the desired audio track, hit the Share button, scroll to the bottom of the list, then tap the all-new Use as Ringtone button. (If you don’t see the new option, it may be hidden behind the More button in the share sheet.)
That’s it! Now, the custom track will appear at the top of available ringtones in the Settings app. Like first-party ringtones, you can set it for all calls or dedicate specific tunes for different contacts. It works for everything—MP3, M4A, or other supported audio files, a clip you’ve received via iMessage, something you recorded, it all works.
To delete a custom ringtone from the list, head to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. There, you can swipe from right to left on the custom track, then hit Delete to permanently remove it. Adding and removing custom ringtones work similarly on iPadOS 26.
iOS 26 beta 1 is currently available to those enrolled in Apple’s developer program. The public beta should launch next month, followed by the stable release in September. We advise you to refrain from installing early developer betas on your primary iPhone, as essential apps could stop working—but we understand if this feature is just too tempting to wait.
