You hear a reel with a song that gets stuck in your head for the whole day. Maybe it is an old Bollywood track with a new beat, a Punjabi hook or a Lo-fi remix nobody can name. You want that tune to play every time your phone rings. The good news: setting an Instagram reel song as ringtone takes about two minutes, it is free, and you do not need a computer.
This guide shows the full process on Android and iPhone: how to get the reel audio as an MP3, how to cut it to the best part, and where to set it on Samsung, Google Pixel, Redmi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, OnePlus and every iPhone. If you have been searching for reel ka gana ringtone kaise banaye, you are in the right place.
Quick answer: copy the reel link, paste it into the DownIGVideo Instagram audio downloader and tap Download MP3. On Android, open Settings, then Sound and vibration, then Ringtone, and add the MP3. On iPhone with iOS 26 or later, open the MP3 in the Files app, tap Share and choose Use as Ringtone (the clip must be 30 seconds or shorter).
Table of Contents 12 sections
- What You Need Before You Start
- Step 1: Download the Reel Song as an MP3
- Step 2: Trim the Song to the Best Part
- Step 3: Set the Instagram Reel Song as Ringtone on Android
- Step 4: Set the Instagram Reel Song as Ringtone on iPhone
- Which Method Should You Use?
- Set a Reel Song for One Contact Only
- Use It as an Alarm or Notification Tone Too
- Ringtone Not Working? 7 Quick Fixes
- Is It Okay to Use a Reel Song as a Ringtone?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
What You Need Before You Start
To set an Instagram reel song as ringtone, you only need three things, and you probably have all of them already:
- The reel link. It must be a public reel. Songs from private accounts cannot be downloaded.
- A browser. Chrome on Android or Safari on iPhone is enough. No app install and no Instagram login.
- A few MB of free space for the MP3 file, which is usually smaller than a single photo.
One thing to clear up first: the Save audio button on Instagram’s audio page only bookmarks the sound inside the app. It does not create a file on your phone, so it cannot be used as a ringtone. You need a real MP3 file, and that is Step 1.
Step 1: Download the Reel Song as an MP3
To use an Instagram reel song as ringtone, you first need its sound as an audio file. Our free Instagram audio downloader pulls the sound out of any public reel and converts it to MP3 right inside your browser.
On Android
- Open the reel in Instagram, tap the share (paper plane) icon and tap Copy link.
- Open Chrome and go to the Instagram audio downloader.
- Paste the link and tap Download.
- Tap Download MP3. The file saves to the Download folder in your phone storage.
On iPhone
- In Instagram, tap the share icon on the reel and choose Copy link.
- Open Safari and visit downigvideo.com/instagram-audio-downloader.
- Paste the link, tap Download and then Download MP3.
- Safari saves the file in the Files app, inside the Downloads folder. Leave it there for now.
Reels with original audio work best. Some reels that use licensed tracks from Instagram’s music library are locked by Instagram and may not download. If you also want the video itself, use the Instagram Reels downloader instead.
Get the reel song as MP3
Free, no login, no app. Works on Android, iPhone and PC.
Step 2: Trim the Song to the Best Part
A ringtone usually rings for 20 to 30 seconds before a call goes to voicemail. Before you set the Instagram reel song as ringtone, listen to the start of the file. If your MP3 starts with five seconds of talking or a slow intro, that is all your caller (and you) will ever hear. Cutting the clip so it starts right on the hook makes a big difference.
Why 30 Seconds Matters
On iPhone, a custom ringtone must be 30 seconds or shorter. Apple’s new Use as Ringtone option rejects longer files, so aim for 25 to 29 seconds to stay safe. Android has no strict limit, but a short clip that starts on the best part still sounds better, because the phone always plays from the beginning of the file and loops it.
Good news: most reels are already short. If the reel was under 30 seconds, you can often skip this step completely.
Trim on Android
Many phones can trim audio in their built-in music player or voice recorder. If yours cannot, any free audio cutter or ringtone maker app from the Play Store will do it. Load the MP3, drag the two handles to the part you want, add a short fade in and fade out if the app offers it, and save the new file.
Trim on iPhone
The free GarageBand app from Apple is the most reliable way to trim on an iPhone. Step 4 below shows how GarageBand can trim and export the ringtone in one go, which is also the method for older iOS versions.
Trim on a Computer
If you downloaded the MP3 on a laptop, the free Audacity editor gives you the most control. Select the part you want, choose Export as MP3, then send the file to your phone with a USB cable, Quick Share, AirDrop or WhatsApp to yourself as a document.
Step 3: Set the Instagram Reel Song as Ringtone on Android
Every Android brand puts the option in a slightly different place, but the idea is always the same: open the ringtone settings and add a file from your storage. Here are the exact paths for the phones most people use in India.
Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings and tap Sounds and vibration.
- Tap Ringtone. If you use two SIMs, pick SIM 1 or SIM 2.
- Tap the + icon at the top right.
- Find your MP3 in the Download folder, select it and tap Done.
Some Galaxy models show a Highlights only switch on that screen. Turn it on and the phone tries to start the song at its catchiest part, which is handy if you skipped trimming. Samsung explains the same steps in its official support guide.
Google Pixel
- Open Settings, then Sound and vibration.
- Tap Phone ringtone, then My Sounds.
- Tap the + button (on some versions it says Add ringtone) and choose the MP3.
- Make sure it is selected and tap Save or go back.
Redmi, Xiaomi and POCO
- Open Settings and tap Sound and vibration.
- Tap Ringtone.
- Choose the option to pick a ringtone from your device storage. It is often called Choose local ringtone or shows a folder icon.
- Select the MP3 and confirm.
Vivo, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus
Go to Settings, then Sound and vibration (or Sounds), then Ringtone. Look for Custom, Local music or a + button, pick your MP3 and save. The menu names change a little between software versions, but the ringtone screen is always under the sound settings.
Tip: if your file does not show up in the list, move it from Download to a folder named Ringtones in your internal storage using the Files app. Every Android phone scans that folder for tones.
Step 4: Set the Instagram Reel Song as Ringtone on iPhone
For years, iPhone users needed a computer or a long GarageBand routine. Since iOS 26, Apple lets you turn any short audio file into a ringtone straight from the Files app. Check your version in Settings, then General, then About.
iOS 26 and Later: The Files App Method
- Open the Files app and go to the Downloads folder.
- Touch and hold the MP3 (or open it and tap the Share button).
- Tap Share, scroll down and choose Use as Ringtone. You may need to tap More to see it.
- Open Settings, then Sounds and Haptics, then Ringtone. Your reel song appears at the top of the list. Tap it so it gets a tick.
If the option does not appear or shows an error, the file is probably longer than 30 seconds. Trim it first, as explained in Step 2. To remove a custom tone later, swipe left on it in the Ringtone list.
Older iOS Versions: The GarageBand Method
- Install GarageBand from the App Store. It is free and made by Apple.
- Open it, start a new song and choose the Audio Recorder.
- Tap the tracks view icon at the top left, then the loop icon at the top right.
- Open the Files tab, tap Browse items from the Files app and pick your MP3.
- Drag the song onto the track. Tap the + at the top right of the timeline and turn on Automatic for Section A so the song is not cut after 8 bars.
- Drag the edges of the clip to keep only the part you want, under 30 seconds.
- Go back to My Songs, touch and hold the project, tap Share, choose Ringtone and tap Export.
- Tap Use sound as and pick Standard Ringtone.
It looks long, but after the first time it takes less than two minutes.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Your phone | Best method | Trimming needed? | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings, Ringtone, + icon | Optional (Highlights only helps) | About 1 minute |
| Pixel, Redmi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, OnePlus | Settings, Sound and vibration, Ringtone | Optional | About 1 minute |
| iPhone on iOS 26 or later | Files app, Share, Use as Ringtone | Yes, 30 seconds or less | About 2 minutes |
| iPhone on older iOS | GarageBand export | Yes, done inside GarageBand | 3 to 5 minutes |
Whichever phone you have, the first step is the same: get a clean MP3 from the reel. After that, setting an Instagram reel song as ringtone is just a few taps in Settings.
Set a Reel Song for One Contact Only
Want the song to play only when your best friend or your mom calls? You can set an Instagram reel song as ringtone for one contact and keep your normal tone for everyone else.
- Android (Google Contacts): open the contact, tap the three dots at the top and choose Set ringtone. On Samsung, open the contact, tap Edit, then View more, then Ringtone.
- iPhone: open the contact, tap Edit, tap Ringtone and pick your reel song from the list.
This way you know who is calling without even looking at the screen.
Use It as an Alarm or Notification Tone Too
The same MP3 can wake you up in the morning. On Android, open the Clock app, tap an alarm, tap the sound and add your file (look for Your sounds or a + button). On iPhone, open Clock, edit an alarm, tap Sound, and your custom ringtone is listed there too. A loud, upbeat reel track is a much nicer way to wake up than the default beep.
Ringtone Not Working? 7 Quick Fixes
If something goes wrong when you set an Instagram reel song as ringtone, one of these fixes almost always solves it:
- The file is not in the list (Android). Move it to the Ringtones or Notifications folder in internal storage, then restart the phone so the media scanner finds it.
- Use as Ringtone is missing (iPhone). Update to iOS 26 or later, and make sure you open the file from the Files app, not from WhatsApp or another app.
- The iPhone shows an error. The clip is longer than 30 seconds. Trim it to about 29 seconds and try again.
- The ringtone is silent. Play the MP3 in your music player. If it is silent there too, download it again; the reel may have had no sound or the download was interrupted.
- It plays a slow intro. Trim the start of the file so it begins on the hook, or turn on Highlights only on Samsung.
- It switches back to the default tone. You moved or deleted the MP3 after setting it. Keep the file where it was, or set it again from its new folder.
- The volume is too low. Some reels are mixed quietly. Use a ringtone maker app that can boost the volume, or pick a different reel with louder audio.
Is It Okay to Use a Reel Song as a Ringtone?
Using an Instagram reel song as ringtone on your own phone is personal use, and it is what most people do with songs they love. Do not upload the MP3 to other sites, sell it or use it in your own videos without permission, because the song still belongs to the artist and the music label. If the reel uses the creator’s original voice or music, a quick thank you comment is a nice touch. You can read more in our Disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set an Instagram reel song as ringtone without any app?
Yes. Download the reel audio as an MP3 in your browser with the DownIGVideo audio downloader, then add it in your phone’s ringtone settings. On iPhone with iOS 26 or later, the Files app can set it directly with Use as Ringtone.
How long can a custom ringtone be on iPhone?
30 seconds or less. Longer files are rejected, so trim the clip to around 25 to 29 seconds.
Is there a time limit for ringtones on Android?
No strict limit. Android plays the file from the start and loops it while the phone rings, so a short clip that starts on the best part sounds better.
Why can I not find the downloaded MP3 in the ringtone list?
Move the file into the Ringtones folder in internal storage and restart your phone so the media scanner picks it up.
Does the Save audio button on Instagram download the song?
No. It only bookmarks the sound inside Instagram. You need a real MP3 file on your phone to use it as a ringtone.
Can I download songs from private Instagram accounts?
No. Only public reels can be downloaded. Private and age-restricted posts are not supported.
Do I need a computer or iTunes for an iPhone ringtone?
Not anymore. On iOS 26 or later, use the Files app method. On older versions, the free GarageBand app does everything on the phone.
Can I use the reel song as my alarm?
Yes. Once the tone is added, it appears in the Clock app’s alarm sound list on both Android and iPhone.
Will the creator know I used their reel audio?
No. Instagram does not notify anyone when a public reel’s audio is downloaded.
Final Words
Setting an Instagram reel song as ringtone is simple once you know the three steps: download the MP3, trim it to the best part, and add it in your phone’s sound settings. Start with the free Instagram audio downloader, and if you want to keep the full video as well, here is our guide on how to save Instagram reels to gallery. Next time your phone rings, it will be the song you actually love.
