Guides Nokia

How to: Use Songs as Ringtone in Nokia Lumia Windows Phone

“How can i use a MP3 song as ringtone on my Nokia Lumia?” This is a question which has been asked to me many times, so this post is my answer to all of those questions.

Windows Phone (both 8 and 7) does not inherit the functionality to set custom tones as ringtones, but Nokia did provide an alternative way (through an app) to set custom tones, such as MP3 songs as the phone’s ringtone. So here’s how to do it.

1. Download Ringtone Maker

Ringtone Maker is an app created by Nokia which can set any music file from your phone as long as it is DRM-free i.e. you have the rights to use that song. Download the app from the Windows Phone Store here or scan the QR code below.ringtone maker wp qr code

For WP7 devices, ringtone maker can only make ringtones out of MP3 files.
For WP8 devices, ringtone maker supports MP3, WMA, M4A, M4R, and AAC

2. Select your favorite song

After installing the app, open it and tap on pick a song to get started. Then browse through the music library that shows up and select your favorite song that you want to use as your phone’s ringtone.

ringtone maker library
Choose a Track

3. Choose Start and End points

Now you need to define the start and end points of the chosen MP3 track. You can select the duration of the ringtone and from what second of the song should ringtone start playing. Usually its good to skip the initial music and skip directly to where the voice begins.

ringtone maker nokia
Crop the Ringtone

4. Save and Set as Ringtone

That’s all that you need to do. Just save the ringtone with the name that you want. It will then be available in settings> ringtones + sounds> ringtone under the custom category at the top of the list. The same ringtone can also be used as the text messages, email or calendar.

wp custom ringtones
Save the Ringtone

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  • I an considering a change from Nokia windows to something else. I feel bullied with ringtones i cant change to suit my taste.

  • Its so boring why do you have to go through all that stress just to use an mp 3 song as ringtone . That is why android is most used by people
    everything with android os is so easy to do.

  • throw the damn design in garbage………I support AlishaSingh……… That is why apple is ever better

  • Who was the smarty-pants with so much brains they forget to make a way for A PHONE to have custom RINGTONES. I can’t even believe this is a problem. I bought a song, I want the WHOLE damn song for my ringtone, I don’t want piece. Why should I have to settle for this dotish app? What is this 2005? Have to jump through hoops to get a custom ringtone? If I had known about this before hand, I never would have bought this >_>

  • Doesn’t work on Lumia 625

    got some music on memory card then went to ringtone maker, selected the song, saved it but nothing there in the ringtone list.

  • Hi.
    I have an 8 second ringtone, and it says that it’s my ringtone, but when people text or call me it doesn’t seem to work

    • A better way is to just copy the music file to the ringtones folder in the phone memory and it will be available for selection.

      • my mobile is not set my favourit song as ringtone plz tell me the process to put the ring one my mobile is micro soft lumia 540 k

  • Hello.

    I am using Lumia 535 but i am unable add new ringtone . i followed steps but not finding custom tag.. Please let me know how to add

    new ringtone in Lumia 535

  • How to add the photo to contact in xolo win q1000
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  • Thanks a lot was really helpful. I even went to the Microsoft dealers and they could not sort it out for me. Your solution works perfect

  • Hi,

    For me also: no Custom category comes up while selecting the Ringtone. (Microsoft Lumia 640)

    Solution: Before transfer the MP3 from PC to Phone via USB, R-Mouse in File Explorer on the MP3, ‘Properties’, tab ‘Details’, ‘Remove Properties and Personal Information’. —> Select and Remove all.

  • Hey friends I am very glad to solve this problem , so friends just follow my points
    Go to store then download uc browser- open uc browser download your song whatever you want to make ringtone.
    When download will completed- click and hold the song in uc downloaded list you will see the option to make ringtone.
    thanking you.

  • Thanks buddy…… After downloading that app from store…. I’m able to custom ring tones….. I feel Android OS is much more bettr than Windows….

  • Now, finally I know why Apple is the one.

    I have done 10 hours to change Nokia 620 to Microsoft 725…

    Only thing what was easy to move phone/people/connection information, all other take me 9 hours to move betwen two windows phone.

    I have work 24 years in IT and know quite well how things work, even my englis is not so good 🙂

    Sorry to say but terrible to change windows phone to other, even you are willing to use MS cloud, try to move your favorite song to phone, not easy at all.

    I an lucky that I dont use that, not google also, but I can see why Apple is the one.

    S

  • Not working this way in Lumia 535, everything goes right till end, but no custom category comes while selecting the Ringtone. Anybody out there to reply for Microsoft Lumia 535

  • Hi, I have a Nokia Lumia 520, have downloaded Ringtone Maker and have my 2 songs as ringtone and text ring tone, however the songs are played quite fast and are very unclear. How on earth do I make these ringtone songs sound normal? Please help me. Thank you

  • My Mum has a Nokia luma 520 and I have tired to install this music maker and it keeps asking to log in to her Hotmail account but seeing as Microsoft won’t let me reset the password as I failed to give enough info to say it was my mum I ended up setting her up a g-mail account and is there any way to bypass the Hotmail and set it up using the g-mail account
    Do i have to wipe the phone totally and take back to factory settings
    Please help as i’m going round and round in circles and getting no where.
    Thanks every one

    • Hmm.. As the Ringtone Maker app does not include any such login system within, I suppose you’re unable to access the Windows Phone App Store. There are two situations now:
      1. A Microsoft Account is not configured on your phone: In this case, you’d just need to goto Settings> Email + Accounts and add a new Microsoft account (Hotmail, Outtlook, or any). You can then access the store normally and install the required apps.
      2. A Microsoft account is configured, but requires verification: In case a Microsoft account is already setup on your phone and it just requires you to verify the ownership by logging in again, unfortunately you actually need to somehow login to that same account. The only way to cahnge to a new Microsoft account will be a hard reset which will delete all data and apps. Considering that you forgot your Microsoft account password, you should backup your contacts and texts in case you go for a hard reset as they will not be synced back again.

      Let me know if you have any doubts 🙂

  • I’m trying to make a 2 second sound bite me text tone, but it only allows me to make 1 second ones. It keeps cutting my tone off, Any way around this?

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