How to Set Your Ringtone Using GarageBand on iPhone

TL;DR

iOS requires the final ringtone step to go through GarageBand — and Ringtone Genius provides guided steps to take your exported M4A there and set it as your ringtone, so you're not left guessing at Apple's process.

Steps

Export your ringtone as an M4A in Ringtone Genius.
Open the app’s guided GarageBand steps.
Bring the M4A into GarageBand as instructed.
Use GarageBand’s share as ringtone option.
Set it under Settings → Sounds as your ringtone.

Why it works this way

Apple doesn’t let apps set a ringtone directly — the last step has to go through GarageBand, which trips up most people. Ringtone Genius does everything up to that point (creating and exporting the correct M4A) and then hands you clear, guided steps for the GarageBand part, so the one awkward bit of the iOS process is spelled out instead of guessed at.

Tips & edge cases

Export the M4A first — that’s what GarageBand needs.
Follow the guided steps exactly; the GarageBand flow is particular.
Then pick it in Settings → Sounds & Haptics.

FAQ

Why do I need GarageBand? iOS routes custom ringtone setup through GarageBand; Ringtone Genius gives you guided steps to complete it.

What do I move over? The ringtone-ready M4A you exported from Ringtone Genius.

Is it complicated? The guided steps walk you through it, so the GarageBand hand-off is straightforward.