How to Create iPhone Ringtones using iTunes
Create iPhone ringtones free by using iTunes and music files that you have on your computer, you don’t need to pay for iPhone ringtones. Just follow the guide below to create iPhone ringtones absolutely free. This method works on both Windows and Mac.
Note: Only use DRM-free songs to create ringtones for iPhone.
- Don’t use songs download from iTunes Music Store these songs have DRM (Digital Rights Management).
- Only use those songs download form DRM-free (P2P, Amazon, etc.) or ripped from a disc.
STEP-1
Open music file in iTunes that you want to convert into iPhone ringtone. Play the file and note down the start and end time of your favorite part that you want to extract form music file (Make sure its not more than 40 seconds).
STEP-2
Ring click on the music file and select Get Info
STEP-3
Under the Options tab enter the Start and Stop time and press OK button. In this example i want to create first 30 sec ringtone, so the Start Time is 0:00 and Stop Time is 0:30
Note: Make sure ringtone time is not more than 40 seconds, otherwise you could not sync with your iPhone
STEP-4
Now right click on song again and select Create AAC Version. If you didn’t find this option then try to find under one of the following menu according to operating system and iTunes version:
on Mac OS X:
- iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing and change the ‘Import Using’ drop down menu to ‘AAC Encoder’.
- iTunes > Preferences > General > Import Settings button and change the ‘Import Using’ drop down menu to ‘AAC Encoder’.
on Windows:
- Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings button and change the ‘Import Using’ drop down menu to ‘AAC Encoder’.
This will extract and create a new AAC version of file as shown below
STEP-5
Drag and drop that new file on your desktop
(In Windows you can Right click on new file and select Copy and then on your desktop right click and Paste)
STEP-6
Change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r
on Mac OS X:
select file and then click on its name and change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r and hit enter, this will prompt Click ‘Use .m4r‘ button
on Windows:
Right click on the file and select Rename change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r and hit enter, this will prompt Click Yes button
If the extension of the file is not showing after file name you need to do the following steps first
Windows XP
Double click on My Computer.
Click on Tools menu then Folder Options.
Select View tab and uncheck the ‘Hide extension for known file types’ option
Click OK buttonWindows Vista/7
Click on Start Button.
Type Folder Options in Search field and click on Folder Options above in Search results
Click on View tab and uncheck the Hide extension for known file types option in Advanced settings
Click OK button
STEP-7
Now we don’t need AAC version file in iTunes so delete it, Right click on AAC version of file select Delete, This will prompt for confirmation hit Remove then Move to Recycle Bin/Trash
STEP-8
Double click on file that you have copied on desktop, This will be added in Ringtones section of your iTunes
STEP-9
Connect your iPhone with computer, browse the device from iTunes and sync the Ringtones
After sync completion of iPhone ringtones, check the new ringtone in your iPhone under Settings > Sounds > Ringtone
Note: Don’t forget to restore the STEP-3 to original start and stop time. To do that uncheck both check boxes of Start and Stop time and hit OK button
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Tags: AAC Version, iPhone Ringtone, iTunes, m4a, m4r, Ringtone, Sync iPhone, Sync Ringtone
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Enjoy free iPhone ringtones……
Hi there, your guiding steps were amazingly clear and easy to follows and I am now have some fantastic ringtones in my iphone. You made my day. Cheers, Jon.
Excellent methos to create free iPhone ringtones, Thanks
i have created ringtone for my iphone 3gs
In step6 i have copied the ringtone file form itunes to desktop in windows, but the file extension is not displaying. Please help me to create ringtone form my iphone
First you need to show the files extensions to do that
Double click on My Computer
Click on Tools menu then Folder Options
Select View tab and uncheck the Hide extension for known file types option
Click OK button
Thanks for help
Hey thanks for this! Finally works!
Other forums were a replica of each other!
I just use your provided guide to create free ringtones of my favorite songs for my iPhone, thanks a lot for sharing this fabulous post. Keep it up
can i use this on mac, i am using mac os x?
Yes, this method to create ringtones for iPhone can be used on both Mac and Windows
i always use this iphone ringtone maker to create custom ringtones for my iphone 3g:
http://www.softdiggs.com/iphone-ringtone-maker.php
it can turn virtually any music or sound sources into iphone ringtones.
the site also offers a way to make free ringtones for iphone using only itunes.
Does this work with itunes version 9.0? I’ve tried but it doesn’t seem to cooperate. Suggestions?
This Guide created with iTunes 9.0 to create iPhone Ringtones. What problem you are facing to create ringtones
i am having problems with this method. the ringtone option on my itunes doesn’t show like its supposed to according to the directions, any suggestions?
In step-4 if you didn’t find the option ‘Create AAC Version’ in iTunes 9
Go to iTunes menu > Preferences > Advanced > Importing and change the ‘Import Using’ drop down menu to ‘AAC Encoder’.
Now you will find that option while you performing Step-4
I had the same problem but it’s easy to fix:
In Itunes, go under Edit then Preferences and under the General tab, click the Ringtone box.
None of this is working with iTunes 9.
Can you tell me what problem you are facing to create ringtone?. i made this guide using iTunes 9
I’ve created the ringtone, it’s in iTunes, it says my iPhone has successfully sync’ed (it ran into problems when I didn’t delete the AAC version from the iTunes music library but I’m good now).
But, the ringtone doesn’t show up in my ringtones list on the iPhone when I go to Settings->Sounds->Ringtone. Any ideas?
Everything worked, even the synching… or at least it *seemed* to. But even though the file is showing up in the ringtone folder in both iTunes and iPhone, it is not showing up as an option under Custom ringtones.
If you have synced the iPhone properly then it should be in your iPhone.
I have the same kind of a problem. Every think is going well but the new ring-tone doesn’t show up in my iPhone (3GS). I did this process properly several times. The ring-tone file length is 15 sec. I’m using Windows 7 and the latest version of iTunes! Any ideas?
Delete the AAC version of file that you have created. See step7
I have deleted the AAC file! Anyway it doesn’t work! I followed all of the steps one by one!
I don’t have any prob. this guide is perfect, you must be doing something wrong. Try to do once again
I also have the same problem. Everything is successful and the ringtone is in my ITUNES ringtone file, but after I sync, it does not show up on my phone. I have tried it 3 times.
i tried to use this but when i click the icon that i saved on my desktop to press the f2 button it didnt suggest anything where i had to choose yes so its not even showing up in my ringtones folder…. help please!!!
If you are on Windows: select file and press F2 key from keyboard and change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r and hit enter, this will prompt Click Yes button.
Then perform the step-7 and so on as given above in the post, Fell free to ask any question, Thanks
It works pretty well, I don’t know why you guys have problems to create iPhone Ringtones using iTunes, I even create rigtones through iTunes 9.
Harko,
how did you did it? just follow every single step or did you did something different?
the problem i do everything until i get to the point to the create ACC it looks like it’s doing but i dont see the copy of the file.
ok so, i got everything work except when i press f2 on the keyboard, the thing just goes to like…rename the song. so i i put the mr4 after the name and when i double click it it doesnt open on the ringtone folder….ANY HELPS?
Are you on Windows or Mac?
Did you check the Ringtones section of iTunes as shown in Step-8 screenshot?
Hi, mr4? The original was m4a all you need to change is the a to r. It becomes m4r.
I am using iTunes 9 and iPhone 3G3 with OS 3.1 and I can create the ringtone in iTunes but it will not transfer to ringtones my iPhone.
If I sync with the button on the ringtones tab, since I already have ’sync manually’ selected on the summary tab it insists on deleting my entire music library before syncing ringtone. The ringtone is not on the iPhone after this either.
Any thoughts? Thanks!
Only use DRM-free songs to create ringtones for iPhone.
- Don’t use songs download from iTunes Music Store these songs have DRM (Digital Rights Management).
- Only use those songs download form DRM-free (P2P, Amazon, etc.) or ripped from a disc.
DO you manually manage music?
If so, I believe that you must drag ringtones, etc over as well. I don’t think you can sync and manually manage at the same time.
I have the same issue on my 3gs. The ringtone shows up in itunes when I browse to my phone but it isnt in my phone. Also, when I try to sync ringtones it wipes my entire music library.
Please help…?? The ringtones tab in itunes stays blank though
Check steps 1, 6 and 7 carefully. Secondly you must sync your iPhone to that computer (iTunes) from where you have synced your music and apps. Don’t use any other computer.
Thank you, I just got my 3GS iPhone yesterday and lost the ringtones from my old Verizon phone. At first I paid Apple .99 to convert one of my songs but your plan works like a charm!!!
I am really waiting for the answer to goosekicker question before i try because i have the same set ups.
Please somebody help us here….
i had problems making it work too….if the extension doesnt show up when you drag the file onto your desktop you should first go to the start menu and click on my computer and then the tools menu…choose folder options and click view….there u should see the box thats marked “hide extensions for known file types” unclick it and click ok and try repeating the process that worked for me using itunes 9
SCORE!!! You’ve so just helped me… I’ve been at this for hours. Problems solved
Hi Guaflo! i followed all steps written by trickYguY to create iPhone ringtones
hey man, thanks a lot, really. great step by steps after apple really doesnt give any info or instruction to other people.
i tried to create ringtone using itunes 9. After I clicked Create AAC Version, i saw the status at converting, i even hear a small sound after conversion but the AAC file did not appear. Please help. Thanks
See the Music section under Library in your iTunes, AAC ver. of the file should be there.
Great Thanks!
i have everything working – except sync to iphone. song is DRM free. It is in ringtones section of itunes, but will not appear in ringtones of iphone?
You need to Sync the ringtone with your iPhone.
i have created my ringtone using the steps. it appears on my ringtone library on itunes but not appearing in my iphone sync ringtones list? may i know how can i solve this? thank u
* Make sure your ringtone duration is not more than as specified in Step-1.
* Also Perform the Step-6 and 7 carefully
Nice guide to create free ringtones for iphones
Nice step by step guide, no need to pay for ring tones
Thanks
Thanks goodness Apple removed DRM protection from iTunes, that removes a step from the process.
hey this is good it worked the first time but now it wont show up in the ringtones folder on my iphone what could be wrong?
I am still having probs (same as goosekicker)…can create ACC file fine, renamed on desktop but when i drag back to itunes it just goes back into main music lib not ringtone folder. I am using DRM free songs
You don’t need to drag back the file to iTunes. After changing the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, just double click on it this will automatically added to Ringtone section of iTunes. To confirm click on Ringtone section as shown above in Step-8.
Feel free to ask!
I’ve got the same problem as goosekicker. No problems creating the ringtones and getting them in to the iTunes ringtone folder but can’t get them on to my phone as when I tick “sync ringtones” I get a message saying “Are you sure you want to sync ringtones? All existing songs etc will be removed from my iPhone.”
Tried it and it does, lost about 50 albums before I unplugged my phone.
Can’t drag them over to the phone ringtone folder either.
Help
You cannot manually manage and sync at the same time.
managing music manually?
If so, you must drag ringtones, etc over as well.
The ringtones won’t drag over either.
I think its file renaming problem, if you are using Windows make sure show file extension option is enabled
- Double click on My Computer
- Click on Tools menu then Folder Options
- Select View tab and uncheck the ‘Hide extension for known file types’ option
- Click OK button
now rename the file from YourFileName.m4a to YourFileName.m4r. After renaming extension double click on it instead of dragging back to iTunes. I hope this will display back in Ringtones section of iTunes.
The file renaming is ok and if I double click the ringtone fron desktop it goes in to the iTunes ringtone folder with no problems. Only problem is getting it from
there on to my phone ringtone folder. Drag it across and it doesn’t add to my phone
Make sure you are extracting less than 40 seconds ringtone form the music file in step-3.
You can not sync ringtone longer than 40 seconds.
I’m only using 30s. Keep the advice coming. Sure I’ll get it sorted eventually
Did you delete the AAC version of file from iTunes after dragging the file to desktop.
I mean did you perform step-7.
Hi Mike,
I have the same prob a Weealb, I got to very last step, my song showed up in ringtone in iTunes. I sync many times, everything else are sync but except my song won’t show up on iphone. I deleted the short version 20 sec. of the song from music library but I kept the full length song with .mp3, not acc. Would you please help me?
Thanks!
Make sure the length of the tone is correct, approx 30sec.
ok, I have followed all instructions, I made 2 the first night, synced iphone, they were there and played great. I made more the next night, these will not sync to phone. I read somewhere to unclick all the ringtones, sync, then reclick them, sync again. Now my original two are no longer on my phone and none of the new ones. I have the (!) beside all ringtones in itunes. It says the original song cannot be found. I did notice that ALL my songs in itunes now are AAC files? what did I do wrong and how do I correct it? thank you in advance for all your help. Tracy
Am using iTunes 9.0.1 on Mac OS 10.6.1, have created a 10sec clip from a ripped CD. All ok including the change of the extension to m4r, but when I double-click that file, it does not show up in the ringtones section of iTunes (nor can I drag it there)
In step-5
- Drag AAC version of file to desktop
- Change file extension from .m4a to .m4r
- Delete the AAC version from iTunes (important)
- Double click on .m4r file that you renamed on desktop
now ringtone file should be in Ringtones section of iTunes.
This worked – excellent! Thank you very much!
Dude! it works like a charm
Very good easy to follow Tutorial, I had similar problem “not seeing the converted m4a file”, but your instruction to check the Music section under Library solved the issue.
it will be great if you can add this note to the tutorial, because it seems many are facing it
Keep the good work coming
Thanks for way to create free ringtones
hey i am havin trouble with once i hav done all the steps that u hav givin me but wen i changed the file name and clicked on it, it still doesnt show in my ringtones playlist nor itunes playlist it is really annoyin me as i want to b able to make my ringtones please help asap thanks kermitboy91
Okay I got it!!!! UNCHECK the hide file extensions. Then the HIDDEN .m4a shows up to you can now delete the .m4a and put in the .m4r, Awesome i have a knack for explaining!!!
Nope, this method used to work, but it doesn’t work any more with latest itunes9.
Doubleclicking (or dragging) ONLY adds the file to the music library but it WONT show up as a ringtone. In fact if you right-click on the file (in the music library, where it only shows up) there is now an option which appears called ‘Create Ringtone’ click on that and an error now comes up reading:
“A ringtone cannot be created from the song XXX.
You can create iPhone ringtones ONLY from songs purchased from the iTunes store.”
So it looks like Apple have monopolized this one and now it ONLY works with their files, DRM and all. Fascists.
Hi
i brought an iphone 3g yesterday and i have try to follow instructions but its not working i cannot change format to m4r, im on windows vista and i havent got a my computer option or a folder option and ringtones does not show on my itunes 9… can u help pls???
thanks
hi,
ive done it now thanks for your help
I did as you said, i see the file in ringtones in my itunes, but can’t synchronise with iphone. I canæt choose “Selected ringtones”…
free method to create iphone ringtones
thanks for these instructions to create free iphone ringtones
I have created the ringtone successfully and it comes up in my ringtones section on itunes, however, on the iphone sync it will not let me select “selected ringtones”
i have tried syncing everything, but it still doesnt come up on my phone anywhere!
p.s. other instructions were great
HELP!
Ringtone should not be more than 40 seconds
the guide is perfect. works with itunes 9.0
i just followed the steps to the letter.
thank you boss!
Same problem for me…I have been creating ringtones for my iphone for a while, so I know the process very well, but as soon as I upgraded itunes to 9.0, the ringtones will not sync to the iphone… I NEED HELP….
This guide created using iTunes 9, it should work.
I have been using this method to create ringtones for awhile but I can not get it to work in Itunes 9.0.2
Everything goes according to plan except when the m4r file gets transferred back to itunes.. it go to the Ringtones folder but it will be the entire length of the song.. not the 30 second edited version. This is driving me insane lol
I was having the same problem. Followed all the steps but on last step when I double clicked to add it to ringtones it did nothing. If you are having the same trouble with adding the ringtone after double clicking on it with the latest version on itunes 9.0.2.25, just
click on File then
click Add File to Library,
locate file on desktop click open
and it should be there. Just worked for me!!!
i love you and want to have your children!
thanks for your help!
Step 4 doesnt seem to work for me. i make sure it’s 30 seconds long in the start and end time, but the new file is always 1:40 mins. I used to make ringtones with itunes 8 so…. help?
This guide created in iTunes 9, i am not sure about iTunes 8. Can you download and install iTunes 9 and then try this to create ringtone?
I’ve tried using itunes 9… it does seem to work. It was the same process for itunes 8 so i thought i would give it a go with itunes 9, but i get stuck a step 4…
Its working for me, you must be doing something wrong.
Thanks, its really free
Thanks
ringing new tones
Yes!!!! I succeeded to create tones for iphone through this method, thanks
Hey guys, im running windows I did all the steps looked at peoples comments but i still cant do it on my 3gs phone. I click on it on my desk top, it will go to my playlist but it wont go to my ringtones. I cant drag it there, i cant do anything with it. Any suggestions?
Before double clicking on file that you have dragged to the desktop make sure:
1- You have deleted the file from iTunes that created in Step-4
2- Show the file extension from Folder Options in Widnows, Do the Step-6 carefully.
Feel free to reply, thanks
your guided method really works to create iphone ringtones via iTunes
It´s working beautifully! thank you so much! do you know if It is possible to make the volume fade away slowly at the end of song?
cheers,
Thanks!. This saves me money big time, l0l!.
But i run into a problem wit some of my ringtones i’ve created, when i try to sync the ringtones to my phone, some of the ringtones d0n’t show on my iphone but it shows on my itunes!. Can you help me?!
Make sure total length of the ringtone is not more than 30sec.
Still no joy with 3gs and latest iTunes. Have given up as I’ve followed all the instructions and the further points that contributors have made.
For those who have gotten to the point where they were able to sync the ringtone from iTunes to their phone but it did not show up in the Custom Ringtones I think I found the answer. I was facing the same problem.
So I tried it again. This time I went through the steps and just after creating the new ACC file I copied it to my desktop. Then I deleted the new ACC and the original MP3 from iTunes.
Then I renamed the file on my desktop from m4a to m4r. I double cliked it and then synced it. Now it works.
So it is impreative there is no version of the original on the iTunes music library.
thanks a lot for this method to create free ringtones for iphone.
much thankful for sharing this process to create free iphone ringtones
trickYguY
I looked and looked trying to find something that would work with Itunes 9….well, you had it and I thank you very very much. I just refused to pay 1.29 for ringtones that I already had on my PC. You made it so easy. I had trouble finding out how to rename the clip…then you gave specific instructions and made it EASY.
Thanks Again!
It have worked perfectly! Just one thing: if you had chosen “Manually Manage yor Musics” you cannot darg the ringtones from ITunes to Iphone, it just don’t work. I think we always have to sync it and this is not good for those who use the “Manually Manage”thing. You can Sync and then all your songs will be erased from the Iphne and the ringtone will be on your Iphone. But then if you Manually Manage again the ringtone still will be on your Iphone.
I think this syncing issue is the key thing that frustrates the heck out of me. I just keep music on a backpack drive (and an original set on my music server at home which I regularly sync with my backpack). Given this environment, I manually manage my music on teh phone. I love my iPhone but this whole syncing thing drives me nuts – I have much more music in total than the iPhone will hold, and just want the iPhone to hold what I tell it to. I run various laptops and netbooks for work, home and travel, and plug the backpack drive into whatever I’m using, since most of their drives are too small to hold my collection. Trying to manage the iPhone over multiple PCs and with email and contacts from Outlook almost manages to overpower the sheer delight of using the device. The first time I followed your great directions, and then sync’d the ringtone to get the ringtone on the phone I lost all my music and screwed up my contacts – all just to drop just one tiny file onto the phone. I was just soooo frustrated and annoyed.
Is there a 3rd party alternative to iTunes that allows drag and drop for music/data/ringtones etc without this nonsensical syncing?
Works like a charm on ITunes 9.0. THANKS!!!!
OK..spoke to soon. the first ring tone I created worked perfectly, just as advertised here. When i created another ringtone, using the exact same steps, it works, but for some reason will not synch to my phone. I’ve synched three times now, twice only using the ‘ringtone tab’ and once doing a full synch and it isn’t coming over.
I try this with iTunes 9 your guide works perfectly. thanks a lot!
OK..I’m good. I looked through the rest of the comments and I see others had the same problem. I had not deleted the file I created before I synched. Went back and did that, synched and it works like a charm! You are the best trickyguy!
Great!
I was using a program to make ringtones for a regular phone and bluetoothing them to the phone. My girl just bought me the 3GS. Tried do ringtones the same way. Wasn’t happening. I saw your guide and tried it. Worked the first time, no problems! You are the f@#$# bomb man! I really appreciate you takeing the time to put this up!
I must be a total idiot. I can get the ringtone into my itunes and apparently synced to my iPhone but I don’t see the new ringtone “custom” section of the ringtone selector.
I’m using iTunes 9.0.2.25
Be sure you delete the ACC file (in iTunes), before you click on the ringtone from your desktop. And be sure the file is less than 30 seconds.
I’m pretty sure that the ACC file was not in iTunes. I removed everything related to this ring tone from iTunes and then added it back and after a sync it was available.
Thanks!
Hi Jason – I had the same issue for awhile. I got around it by synching a few times while checking and unchecking the boxes in the ringtones section. Eventually the “custom” section just popped up and it worked like a charm!
Is there any way to tell if a file has DRM? I pulled another ringtone file down, went through the steps which have worked, but that file is still not coming over to my iPhone.
I’m having the same issue as Steph. I’ve made numerous ringtones on itunes 8 using these exact steps with no problems, but with the latest version of itunes, I enter the start and stop times totaling 30 seconds, but when I create the AAC version, the new song starts at 0 and ends at the ending time I entered. It won’t start at the start time, therefore making the new song much longer than 30 seconds since my chosen start time isn’t the beginning of the song. It’s completely ignoring the start time I enter even though the start and stop boxes are checked. Any suggestions?
Hey Frustrated. I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to do this. I finally got to that stage you are at and had the same problem and i managed to fix it!!!!
My original song was 4 min something
i was entering start time 2:05 and end time 2:35 but it would make it a 2:13min song not a 30 sec song!!
What is happening if you listen to that new song is, it is starting where you want it but just going for the rest of the track (which was the 2.13min)
So now i went into the new ACC version (2.13min length) and entered a end time of 30sec, create ACC again and OH MY GOD a 30 sec track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then follow the normal instructions and IT FRIGGEN WORKED! I ran around my house like a idiot! It was the greatest moment of my life…. please keep in mind i spent over 3 hours trying to do this!!!
Good luck!!
Thanks for the input lil_leash
lil_leash, you ROCK!!! Thank you SO much, it worked!!! I had tried changing the start and stop times of the newly created AAC version, but didn’t think to make a 3rd AAC version and change those times. You’re a genius! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I was having the same problem in iTunes 9…where the ACC file was NOT the start and stop time I indicated. It drives me crazy cause in iTunes 8 I had no problems at all…but suddenly after getting iTunes 9 (fresh clean install), it messes up the start, stop time. I’m starting to think Apple has caught on to people making free ringtones and purposely made it difficult for people in iTunes 9. Anyway…
I just want to make sure I understand this correctly:
–From the original song file, do the usual (check start & stop time boxes and enter in the times you want), convert to ACC. Example: Song is 3:25, I enter start 1:05 stop 1:35.
–The ACC file (I’ll call it ACC 1) that just got created, that now has the wrong duration.
Example: ACC 1 file is now playing for 1 min 40 seconds, instead of the 30 seconds I indicated.
–Go into that ACC 1 file and change the start & stop times again…and create another ACC file from ACC 1??
–So you should see listed in your iTunes: original song file, ACC 1 file (that had wrong duration) then another ACC file that was created from the first ACC.
…is all this correct?? Thank you.
i tired everything i must be the dumbass doing something wrong no matter what i do it goes back to music folder.
i created acc first
then i copyed it to desktop
then i deleted one from music folder
then i renamed it to .m4r
then try to drag it back to itunes and it automatically goes to music folder not ringtone folder someone help please
after you rename it, you do not drag it back in. Double click to launch it and it will automatically be in your ‘ringtones’ folder on your computer’s version of itunes. Then sync. good luck.
hi, everything worked out perfectly until i had to rename the file into m4r. I have windows vista and i don’t understand cos when I go to “computer”, there’s no option of “tools” to click on so i dunno how to enable the file extension option! please please help! thank you
Control Panel (be in classic view)
> Folder Options
> Click “View” tab
> un-tick “Hide extensions for known file types”
> click OK
hey ,
i have a PC btw , help !? 
this isnt working for me neither.
i got this new laptop and iphone for christmas ,
i cant change the file to mpr or whatever .
i tried everything even your imput BIGROBERTO but its not workign
m4r*
Fantastic Tutorial!
I’ve had issues with other tutorials. My problem was solved by changing the CD “Import Settings” to AAC Encoder instead of mp3.
Just put on my favorite tracks as ringtones.
Thanks
OK, so I am using the latest version of Mac OS, iTunes, and have a 32g iPhone 3Gs. I have
1. Changed the stop time on the track I want to use to 0:26
2. Created an AAC version
3. Changed the extension to to m4r
4. Deleted the other versions of the song/file
5. Double clicked the new AAC file
6. Looked in “ringtones” and the ringtone is there and is only 26 seconds long
7. Gone to my iPhone menu and selected the ringtone (it is present)
8. Synced…
and now it doesn’t show up on the iPhone at all. There’s nothing. I even used the search feature on the phone and there is no file. What am I doing wrong?
Same problem here. I just got the 16GB 3GS, followed all steps mentioned – The m4r file shows up under ‘Ringtones’ in iTunes, is present in the iTunes folder on my comp – BUT does not show up on my iPhone. My ringtone is 29secs.
Pl help..
Thanks so much for the instructions! Just what I needed. I had a little trouble, but the extra comments from other users really helped me out.
Ha ha, as we say darn south in Portsmuff…you r the dogs bollox, Nokia was easy to do ringtones on and Steve Jobs was winding me up big time…now I have my ringtones thanx to you Trickyguy.Ta muchly
Very thank you…………
thanks for sharing your skills
MAKE SURE YOU DRAG THE RINGTONE TO YOUR IPHONE ICON, NOT THE RINGTONE FOLDER!!!!
I have done everything up to step 8, but step 9 doesn’t work. The file is in the main ‘ringtones’ file but not in the ‘ringtones’ file on the actual iphone. I click on the iphone file and i have the ringtones box clicked but nothing is listed there.
Why isnt the iphone ringtone file syncing with the computers ringtone file?
Everything is great … the ringtone is in my itunes … i tried to sync … it odesnt apear on my phone
Any ideas ???
TO GET AROUND THE SYNC ISSUE:
Follow steps 1-8, then when you have your phone connected, drag the ringtone to the column on the left that lists your phone, making sure to drop it on your phone icon, and NOT the ringtone folder.
Once you follow these steps, the ringtone will appear in your phone under ringtones.
In trying to do that, I get the big circle with the line through it..meaning no go. I tried both from the ringtones folder and from my desktop — dropping it right on the phone icon while connected, but not during a synch. Any idea?
Nice one randomone. Don’t know why I hadn’t tried that. Many thanks for pointing it out.
I’m off to make some ringtones
Works like a charm
MAKE SURE THAT THE AAC FILE IS 40 SECONDS OR LESS
Perfect! Tks a lot!!!
Amazing, all the other websites had me tearing my hair out but this worked perfectly!!
[...] Create your own ringtones. You can assign them as custom ringtones for selected contacts, and you can also use them as the alarm for timers and alarm clocks. [...]
It worked great up until the step “add the ringtone to the ringtone section” I don’t have a ringtone section and don’t know how to add one… please help!
got it!
Hey i do everything good,but when i double click the file hi dont go the ringtonres folder,hi just starting play in itune?Any sugestions pls?ty
Delete the AAC ver. file from iTunes, do the Step-6 and 7 carefully
thanks been trying all week…thanks a million
hey ,
everything is working fine untill i have to change the file to m4r.
i have windows vista and i dont have anything it says in my control pannel/my computer thing .
please help
To show files extension in Windows Vista/7
- Click on Start Button
- Type Folder Options in Search field and click on “Folder Options” in Search results
- Click on “View” tab and uncheck the “Hide extension for known file types” option in Advanced settings
- Click OK button
thanks so much ,
i think it will actually work ,
but yeah thanks agian :]
I used your guide to create iPhone ringtones through iTunes and i was successful, thanks.
I’m having trouble with the time frame of the ringtone. On the option of the song, where it say start and end, i put a range of 30 sec. Two things usually happens, where i type the time in usually goes back to zero and the start and end section or if it does go through, the acc version of the song just have all zeros instead of the time that i set.
This happens when you put start of end time greater than the actual music file time or star time position is grater than end position, make sure you are not doing that. Can you tell me which version of iTunes you are using?
Awesome! Thanks for method to create free iPhone ringtones
This is great way instead of using any third party application. One application to create and sync ringtone.
okay so i followed all the steps up to the file name change & my computer refuses to rename it to a m4r. i have tried everything i can think of, but nothing is working. i even unchecked the hide extension thing & it still dont even show that the file is a m4a until you check the properties. ugh… someone please help.
(i am using the newest version of itunes on windows system)
this is exactly whats happenin to me !
Its impossible, there must be a file extension. Again make sure the file extension is not hidden, uncheck the “Hide extension…” option.
I don’t know what i’m doing wrong, but when I right click on the song theres no option to create an aac version… so obviously im not getting very far. lol. please help. Im using itunes 9 on windows 7…
Read step4 carefully for solution, run iTunes and change some settings. See step4.
I followed all the steps… but when i go to click on the file that is on my desktop that has been changed to m4r … nothing happens. it does not come up in my itunes or anything. What can i do to fix this?
im using itunes 9 on a windows vista.
Did you removed AAC version from iTunes?
Didnt think I was ever going to manage this ….brilliant guide and finally have a decent ringtone
Brilliant! Thank you so much. It was brilliant to get my iphone, but I was so disappointed to realise it’s disadvantages in terms of ring-tones and blue tooth. Anyway, you made the ringtone soooo easy – can’t thank you enough.
Tracy xx
Using itunes 9.0.2. I cannot convert to aac, only to mp3. There are no options under ‘advanced’ nor under ‘preferences’ > ‘advanced’ to change to aac
help?
I fixed my problem by trashing the Itunes preference list, then when starting itunes again, I answered no when asked to have things done automatically. Maybe ditching the preference list might have been enough, i don’t know, but I got my ringtones on my iphone. thanks!
Easy to follow and now have the tunes in my ringtones that I wanted – thanks a million!
Hi iv created m4r file in desktop but when clicking it back to itunes it does to music and not ringtone folder why is this
Remove the AAC version file first.
i am having the same problem and that doesnt work.. any other ideas please
please help
i have got the file onto my desktop and renamed with the extension .4mr you then double click the renamed file for it to show in your ringtones on itunes, but its not appearing in itunes, i have deleted the acc converted file and followed all steps correctly, but no luck…. has anyone got a solution. it would be much appreciated thanks 
Make sure file extension is not hidden. see step6 above how to show file extensions in Windows
Yeah! I created free iPhone ringtones through your guide.
Okay, well I created 3 ringtones with NO PROBLEMS
But, I went to create a fourth and I converted to AAC and dragged to desktop and then doubled clicked and iTunes opened it as Ringtone but its showing 1:50 even though the AAC converted one before dragging is showing 31 seconds and I can’t get it to go to 31 no matter how many times I re-convert and open it? Can somebody help me ?
I’m using Mac OSX 10.5 btw iTunes 9.03 ;D
Never mind, I fixed it.
I had to convert again and then drag then DELETE (OOPS) and then double click
awesome tutorial.
I’m now a happy iPhone Custom Free Ringtone er :]]]]]]
Wow, I am embarrassed to have to say that I can not drag the 30 sec song to the desktop successfully. I click on it and hold down the clicker while moving it to a blank space on my desk top and there is a little plus showing on the line while moving but it does not show up on the desk top. I am feeling so dumb…any thoughts would be appreciated. I am using a new mac and just got my new iPhone today.
Right click on the file and select Copy and then Paste on desktop.
There is no right click on a mac that I know of but I click on the highlighted line…go up to the edit and hit copy then click on the blank desk top. Under the edit button the only copy is to copy firefox…no paste darkened. Without clicking on the desktop before trying to paste…paste is not darkened in the list..so no can do.
Did make 2 ringtones through apple last night but can’t play or transfer…just keep getting the message that my computer is not authorized…so fill in info…to receive the message that my computer is authorized so click to play…get same message again. Yipes. Any thoughts? Many thanks for your help.
Okay, googled right click on a mac and learned that but still no copy on desktop. I right click copy and then still no paste darkened in top menu and right clicking does not offer a paste option on the word choices. Oh, my.
Ive made the ringtone without any mis-haps and the file is in the ringtone folder of itunes but as soon as i try to syn it to my phone the file diassapears!!!!!! any ideas please, its driving me crazy!! thanks guys
Thanks for this tutorial. I am through all 9 steps successfully. When I go into my IPhone and ringtones, there is no ’standard’ or ‘custom’ categories. All the standard ringtones are listed and my custom is not.
Any suggestions? I live in Canada. Phone is 32gb 3gs
Make sure ringtone time is less than 40 sec. and read NOTE about DRM-Free in second paragraph above in the guide.
Thanks. I am ok on the 40 sec and DRM issues.
I had read another ‘how to’ that said if you were having issues, change the file back to m4a and it could still be used as a ring tone. I undid that fix back to m4r and my phone then properly recognized the file.
so I am set; thanks again for the detailed instructions.
worked a treat in itunes 9.0.3.
nice one
I created free ringtones for my iphone by following your instrcutions, thanks a lot and keep this work continue.
I can’t get the CREATE ACC button (in step 4) to show up on my drop down menu. I followed the instructions for looking for it and setting the import settings for ACC, but it still isn’t showing up on mine!
Very nice and easy ringtone guide
Thank you so much! After several attempts to assign a ringtone and looking at different websites for the answer, this has worked! I’m so happy and the instructions were straight forward and uncomplicated. thanks
This worked for me the first time I tried it (a couple of months ago) but I’ve just tried to do it again. Have converted songs, they’re all less than 30 seconds, synced my iphone and got an error “some of the items in the itunes library were not copied to the iphone because they could not be found”. In the ringtones folder, all the ringtones have exclamation marks beside them. It’s even deleted the ringtones I had managed to get on to it! It worked before, but not now???? someone please help me I’m going crazy trying to figure this out!!!
Ok unnecessarily difficult like most things on the iphone…. Found my answer so just in case anyone has the same problem… I think when I updated my iphone there was new settings to prevent ringtones syncing or something? Anyway, what you need to do is delete all the tones that have the explanation mark (!) beside them. Go to trash and restore them so they dont have (!) beside them. When iphone is plugged into itunes, go to Summary tab (the page that usually appears when iphone is plugged in) and untick “Automatic Sync”. Tick Manually manage music and video. Apply. Go to ringtones tab. Sync. This will delete ALL your music from iphone. Once the tones are successfully synced go to Music tab. Click “Sync Music”. Go back to Summary tab, click “Automatic sync”, apply and voila! Longwinded and completely unnecessary but hey, it’s free (just like every other mobile phone out there where you don’t need to spend hours pulling your hair out to get a decent ringtone). iphone or ibald….?
great! this worked:)
working like a charm. I knew all the steps already but I was stuck on windows7 with the m4a to m4r step. Cool!
You are freaking awesome. This is the best guide I’ve read. I tried heaps of time, but couldn’t see the .m4a part on my computer. Thanks to your guide I have made the ring tones. THANKS!!!!