What you need for iOS 26 ringtonesThe iOS 26 update doesn't make it easy to add custom ringtones, but with a few tools and some patience, you can still do it for free. The catch is Apple has never made custom ringtones a smooth experience, and iOS 26 hasn't changed that . Apple retired iTunes as a desktop app in 2019, which left many users assuming custom ringtones had gone with it. You can still create custom ringtones in iOS 26, but the process requires GarageBandApple could modernize the system with iCloud syncing or an easier import option, but it hasn't. You can still create custom ringtones in iOS 26, but the process requires GarageBand or a Mac along with some file tinkering.