Free Custom Ringtones for iPhone 3G using only iTunes
Create free ringtones for your iPhone using only iTunes and songs you already have on your computer (This method only works with songs that are DRM free. To create ringtones using DRM protected songs please follow this guide to strip the DRM off first). This method has been tested and works with iTunes 7.7.1 and iPhone 2.0.1 firmware.
Note: If you want to avoid the trouble of making custom iPhone ringtones following the steps below, you can get the iPhone Ringtone Maker to help you create ringtones for iPhone (fully compatible with iPhone OS 3.0).
To create custom ringtones using only iTunes:
1. Right click on the song you are going to make into a ringer and select “Get Info.”
2. Go to the options tab and go down to the “Start Time” and “Stop Time” check boxes. Check both boxes and input the time you want your ringer to start/stop. The ringer has to be 30 seconds or less. Click OK when you’re done.
3. Right click on your newly “clipped” song and select “Convert Selection to AAC.” The song will be re-encoded using the start and stop times determined (If your menu item does not read “Convert Selection to AAC” and reads “Convert Slection to MP3″ (or some other format) please go to iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing and change the “Import Using” drop down menu to “AAC Encoder”).
4. After the song is done encoding navigate to your iTunes Music folder, locate your song, and drag it to your desktop. After the song is on your desktop go back to iTunes and delete the clipped version from you iTunes library (It won’t delete it from your desktop, it will only remove it from iTunes).
5. Go back the song on your desktop and right click on your song and chose “Properties”. Go to the name and extension section and change the extension from .m4a to .m4r (or you can just change the extension right from your desktop).
6. After the extension is changed simply double click on the file to add it to your iTunes library under the ringtones section. Sync your phone with iTunes and you’re done!
Note: Remember to go back into iTunes and uncheck your custom start and stop times for the original version of your song.
Reference: http://theappleblog.com/2008/08/07/free-custom-iphone-ringtones-using-only-itunes/
Updated: If you are using iTunes 8, please head to Create free iPhone ringtones using iTunes 8.
FANTASTIC – At last simple easy to follow instructions to convert my purchased songs into ringtones, One up on Apple
Just need some instuctions on how to convert file extension (simple to do but needed other website to get instructions)
the new custome ringtone doesn’t repeat when somebody call my iphone? Somebody have a solution??
Good info, I’m going to try this with my iTunes. Thanks for sharing!
heck yeah. worked like a charm. nicely done.
Thanq Soo much
It really helped me…
and I Am happy now..
Thanx Again..:-)
when i right click on the file to go to properties at the end, there is no name and extension option to change to.m4r….help please!!!
you have to go into folder options, you’ll probably find that “hide file extensions” is checked. Uncheck it.
I do not have the name and extension option either and I have tried to locate the “hide file extensions” but do not know where the folder options is? please help.
I do not have the name and extension option either and I have tried to locate the “hide file extensions” but do not know where the folder options is? please help.
Thank you so much!!! This is why mine would not change and it took me FOREVER to figure it out!!
Is this only for mac or something? I am trying to turn the Song “Welcome Home” into a ringtone. I make starting at 1:05 to 1:30. I do convert to AAC. I drag it to desktop and delete the file in iTunes. When it says to rename it from .m4a to .m4r, its only entitled “Welcome Home”. Theres nothing to change. I tried putting .m4r at the end but it just went back into my iTunes library.
Go to your control panel and go to folder options and to apperance, you need to uncheck the box that says “Hide file extensions”
this really helped!! vital part of information!!
didn’t make sense.
Never mind. Got it!
Alex or anyone, have you figured out how to fix that? mine works fine but my husband’s iTunes does the same thing. when converted into AAC, it only shows the song title. we both have PCs. thanks in advance!
When the file extension is not shown, then it is hidden. Go to folder options, then view, and then uncheck “hid extensions for known file types”
So, im still confused, i did everything but rename the extention thing… i get its hidden.. How do i unhide it? please use detail. im not dumb. just a little SLOW. haha. ok peace. THANK U
Worked like a champ… thanks
I got to the step 6 but i could not add it under ringtone. How do i do that?
Thanks,
Tareq
Hey, I have windows vista and i don’t know where to find the option to un-tick “hide extensions for known file types”.
Can anyone help me out please, it would be much appreciated!
Alex
Like Tareq, could not add under Ringtones in iTunes — would only drop into Music. How do I make it go into Ringtones?
To those that can see it in the Ringtones folder in iTunes, but can’t sync it to your phone properly, the song has to be 40 seconds or less.
I am doing this on a PC and it’s not showing up in the ringtones section. I am using Itunes 7.7.1.11 and I suspect this upgrade has squashed this method. Any ideas anyone?
Andrew:
This method has been tested and works with iTunes 7.7.1 and iPhone 2.0.1 firmware.
Thanks that was so simple and amazing.
Wow! that was so simple, yet 100% effective. thanks
Does anybody know how to repeat the ringtone?
to those of you whom keep getting it stuck in the music folder do the following go all the way through the guide at the top up until you get to the part where it says to add the edited format ringtone back into itunes. before you do this delete the original file that you converted the ringtone from but keep it in its folder JUST DELETE IT FROM ITUNES. Then click on the ringtone add it and then go back in and add the original file back into itunes. worked for me when i had that problem
I think the problem people are having is un-hiding the .m4a extension(if all you see is the songs name). Follow all the steps for converting the file to AAC. Then, before you change the file name to .m4r, go in your itunes music folder click on Tools>Folder Options>View and then un-check the box = hide extensions for known file types. This will reveal the .m4a which then can be changed to .m4r.
I don’t see Tools anywhere..I feel so stupid where everybody says..go to “Tools” but there isn’t Tools in my folder nor when I go to my computer
thx… That was the issue I was having. Works great now
how many custom ringtones can u have on ur iphone?? i got one but when i tried to make another one it woundt work any help please…
Same thing happened to me….did you figure it out?
AWESOME!!!
Yea Paul, I have the exact same problem. Any help?
Wich one is my itunes music folder? :S
worked great thanks so much for the info
Does this really only work for songs purchased from iTunes?
amzin
it works on my new iphone 3g
wid new frimware 2.2 or somethin
THXXX a ton
You are the man!!!
which one is itunes music folder??
It does not appear to work with iTunes 7.7.1.11
The file is converted, a 25 second ringtone. Everything appears like it should work however iTunes simply seems to ignore the .m4r file and refuses to add it to the library. It kinda fakes like it will for a split second but then nothing appears, no error message or anything.
Can anyone confirm this working with the very latest version of iTunes?
I just did this today with iTunes 7.7.1.11 and firmware 2.0.2 – worked exactly as described. Very helpful…
your itunes music folder is in:
c:/My documents/My music/iTunes
Beautiful and easy solution. Many thanks.
Clever trick! Just did it and it worked like a charm. Continental forever!
i cannot add more than one song as a ringtone… is there any reason for this?
hi there I have just bought a 3G iphone and downloaded th 7.7 version of itunes. I cannot seem to get any ringtones onto my itunes and then in turn my phone at all and is very frustrating. y computer uses microsoft 07. Someone please help me as th conversion above tp m4r does no work for me. Thanks
So awesome. Great info sir. You rock!
Fantastic, thanks!
For PC users – open up any folder such as My Computer. Click on Tools/Folder Options. Click the View tab, and uncheck Hide extensions for known file types. Once this is done, follow the steps above and then you’ll be able to see the full file name and type which you can then change.
Showing the extension in MacOS, Windows XP, Windows Vista, location of iTunes music folder
In MacOS X, ctrl+click the file, choose Get Info, and under the Name section, check to see extension.
In Windows Vista, open ANY Explorer window, even Start->Documents or Computer will do, then type the “ALT” letter on the keyboard. By that I mean press and release it like you would a normal key, don’t hold it down. Now you get the menu bar back and can do as in Windows XP.
In Windows XP, in any Explorer window, open the Tools menu and choose Folder options, then the View tab and in the scrolling panel locate the option to “Hide extensions for known file types”, set it to Show.
Locations of the iTunes Music folder
Generally, in iTunes you can ctrl+click (Mac) or right click (Mac+Windows) any song and choose to open in FInder or Explorer.
Beyond that:
Your iTunes Music folder in Vista is C:/Users/yournamehere/Music/iTunes
On Mac its under your harddrive icon, usually Macintosh HD/Users/yourusernamehere/Music/iTunes (basically MacOS and Vista use same folder structure)
Windows XP: C:/Documents & Settings/yournamehere/My Documents/My Music/iTunes
People please help me, i follow al the step and i can see under libary there is ringtone folder, then i click on my i phone ringtone, clik on sync, but nothing happen
hi had a problem with converting the file to acc, itunes will not allow it due to it being protected. but does allow me to change it to a m4r manually, it even changes the icon to be a ringtone icon, but then still wont let me add to the ringtone folder
busy all ugly wood pets frog key watch mail house girl
Hi, can change the file and everything and put back into itunes but it will not let me drag the song into the ringtones playlist, anyone know why?!
PLEASE help!
Many thanks!
i converted it to .m4r itunes, adds it as a ringtone, i sync’d my ringtones with my phone, my itunes says my iphone has the iringtone but when i go to make it my ringtone it’s not on the list!
any ideas?
also im not the kelly that posted earlier in these comments
okay im an idiot, it has to be UNDER 30 seconds in length…
BUMMER!
i cant drag it to my ringtones
help?
I loved the post. I think your thinking is nearly matching the great sukrat’s cocept.
after dragging it into the ringtone folder. i put my iphone to sync but i dont see it
same problem as Swiss! after I synced my phone, my ringtones wouldn’t show up on the phone!!! plz help? thx!
IT WORKS! LOL! THNX!
It’s in my ringtones folder after sync, but it doesn’t show up under Sounds -> Ringtones on my iphone 3G!
Got if figured out, it HAS to be 0:00 to 0:29
Not 30 seconds, not 40 seconds.
For everyone saying they sync their phone but they don’t see the ringtone on the handset.
Make sure you delete the clip from itunes after you drag it to your desktop, That’s where I was failing.
Double click the .m4r ringtone on your desktop. For me it didn’t show up in my iphone ringtones in itunes, I synched and it was on the phone.
i’m using itunes v7.7.1.11 with iphone 3G version 2.0.2
(1) The ringtone can be exactly 30 seconds. I tested one file at 29 and 30 seconds.
(2) Convert to AAC.
(3) Copy original song file to desktop
(4) Copy AAC/m4A song to desktop.
(5) Delete the original and the AAC song file out of itunes (just do it, you can add it back because you did #3 & #4.)
(6) Rename the .m4a to .m4r
(7) Double-click the m4r
(8) Upon double-clicking, itunes should have put that file in the ringtones block. Syncing will put the ringtone automatically on the iphone.
(9) (a) Double click the original song file or (b) drag/import it.
I hope that is comprehensive. However, my reply is ~64 and I tried the previous 62 things before Smith at 63 finally solved my problem. oy. robthecomputerguy-dot-com is new but hopefully up and coming.
For those of you without “Ringtones” under your “Library” in Itunes.
Close itunes, and double click on your newly created ringtone file (someRingtone.m4r) that will add it the ringtone list, and the ringtone.
AWESOME!!! Worked like a charm on my 3G!!! Thnx!
Worked like a charm. Woooooot!!!
I tried to get more than one ringtone but it wouldnt let me.
how can i fix that?
wow! worked great once i figured out how to un-hide the extensions!
Ingenious!I didn’t realize it was that easy!
thanks!!!!!
THANK YOU!! It worked on my first try and I’m doing it on a MacBook so it works just about the same on the Mac.
Hi , I’v done each and every step including deleting the clip from itunes , it also appears in my ringtones in itunes . But after i sync it it does not appear in my iphone ringtone tab ,upon checking my “My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music” folder i find there is no Ringtones folder too . Could you please tell me where i am going wrong ? Am using itunes v7.7.1.11 with iphone 3G version 2 ,really appreciate a reply Tks
Thank you #64 worked like a charm! Couldn’t have made it simplier myself. Thanks again.
Oh i found out the mistake .. I hadnt enabled sync ringtones in the ringtone tab .. Tks a tn for the method
Hi, my itunes doesnt show ringtones under library anymore… and it doesnt have a convert to AAC just convert to MP3 and convert ID3 Tags… got the updated itunes? anyone know what happened?
TALK ABOUT WORKING LIKE A CHARM! I got everything up to the file extension change as many of you also had trouble with. If anyone is still having trouble with that… I went to my File Explorer (Hit the key with the Windows picture on it and the letter “E”) and when the screen popped up with all of my drives and folders I went up to the top where the menu bar is, Hit “Tools”, “Folder Options”, “View”, and unchecked the “Hide extensions of known file types”. After that I exited, went back out to my Desktop, right clicked on my song clip and changed the extension to .m4r . Double clicked on it and it went straight to my Itunes ringtones. Works great! Sorry I’m not a techie so I couldn’t describe it better to you guys
Alright, so my first ringtone is 40 seconds and it synced without any problem. I cannot get my other ringtones to sync. They appear in iTunes but not on my 3G or on the syncing list.
Wow… it is amazingly easy….but it is true that i can only put only one ringtone to my iphone?
WOW HOW EASY THANKS GUYS!!!!! WORKS GREAT!!!!! sry bout the dumb question before GO THE MIGHTY BRONCOS!!!!
hey,
i am using Itunes 7.7.1.11 on vista and i can convert the song to .m4r and get it into the ringtone section, and they will transfer on my iPhone (ver. 2.0.2), i can see the ringtones in iTunes but i cant see them when i go into the ringtone on my phone. i have tried a few times now and still nothing.
can anyone help??
I actually got 4 ringtones on my iphone. Also can go up to 40secs nice!
good advice the only problem is, I can only get as far as coverting the file into a ringtone, then i can’t get the last step…getting the file to go to ringtone folder of itunes it wont go there? then i go iphone go to ringtone tab check tone created for syncing and the file is empty but i can see the ringtone in my itunes library.Do you have any suggestions i bought a iphone that’s a year old 8gb and has version 2 installed and i only have silly sounds for the phone ringer
and no ringtone.plz Help me
I have a pc and itunes 8.0 and I could do everything but cannot change the extension to .m4r once I hit this step I’m stuck. I right click on the song that I already drug to my desktop and hit properties but it doesn’t give me the option to change the extension. Please help.
is this suppose to work for only non purchased songs from itunes? purchased songs wont work
and to mars… you have to make sure the file extension is songname.m4r not m4a. you need to also make sure you delete the song clip out of your itunes library after you put it on your desktop. To unhide the file extenstoin to change it you go to my computer> tools> folder options> view> look through the list and make sure the box that says “hide extensions for known filetypes” is unchecked. then you should be able to see the extension of the file on your desktop and change it to songname.m4r and drag it right into the ringtone section of itunes…. if that makes sense?
i’ve had no problem making more than one ringtone on my iphone 3g, i have about ten
To Krime,
For purchased songs, you have to remove the protection first.
This article introduces several ways you can take for your reference:
http://itunesm4ptomp3.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/remove-itunes-drm-windows-mac/
James: I have the same prblem as you do, but i can only convert ring tones downloaded from zedge.com. Try is website, download free ring tones and they will work and transferred to the iPhone. Don’t download the new iTInes 8.0 it will remove your conversion to AAC and I can’t located it anywhere under the new version.
Doesnt seem to work on new itunes. Did it on the old one, but when you have chosen the length of the song no new song is made and you are left with say a 4 min song but only 30 secs play. Before a brand new song was made
I have just tried making two ringtones on the following
iTunes Version 7.7.1.11
iPhone 3G Version 2.0.1
It works fine for me, this is the first time I am doing it.
Thank you.
I have deleted all files in iTunes before double clicking on the new created Ringtone, it will show in my iTunes under Ringtone. I managed to Sync it to my iPhone
Both were 40 sec, was wondering can I go anylonger than that?
Does anyone know a method that for sure works with the new iTunes 8.0 because and I have a PC not a Mac. Thanks
After trying out the new ringtone, it sounded distorted, very noisy background. Any way to make it clearer and better?
W00t! Great success – thanks!
I created four 30 second .m4r files for my G3 using iTunes 8.0 on my PC. I can sinc one ringtone no problem but when I add a 2nd or more I end up with a number of identical ringtones all named as the last uploaded and all sounding the same. Anyone know why? Any solution to this problem would be much appreciated!
Marc
hey guys do u know how to convert the mp3 files to AIFF format so that I can use it as a SMS tone?
so this all works wonderfully but only for m4a files. it wouldn’t work for my old mp3 files. when i tried it on the mp3s, i’d just get stuck in the music folder.
and to add to my comment above – you have to delete the file from your itunes AND empty your recycle bin or it won’t work.
Ok, sorry for the multiposts but i just want to help out since i had the MOST problems and finally figured things out.
1. make sure the file is an m4a. it doesn’t work with mp3.
2. make sure that the file you copy onto your desktop is in fact the ringtone and NOT the full song. this is the tricky part. pay attention – when you click “create acc” it seems like the file is converted and the thing you just clicked on is the shorter version. wrong. instead, do a search in your music folder, find the version of your song that is the 30 second version, and drag THAT onto your desktop.
3. before adding back in the ringtone to your itunes, delete the songs from your itunes AND empty your recycle bin.
after i did all this, the song finally showed up as a ringtone and finally showed up in my ringtones library and finally was able to sync with iphone. phew!
all this so i don’t have to spend 2 bucks!
to change extentions all .m4a files copy in c drive go to run enter “cmd” then press enter,, all .m4a files copy in c drive and then write this command c:\ ren “filename.m4a filename.m4r ” press enter
hi all,
im trying this for the first time, i have read all 102 posts and thought i had it down pat (the correct way to do it) but it didnt work for me.
i have a 3g iphone (2.0.2) and itunes 7.7.1.11, i have done all the steps, got the 30 second clip, transformed it to aac, dragged it to desktop (well i made a folder on desktop and put it in there), renamed it to .m4r deleted the .m4a out of itunes AND the recycle bin. added the .m4r to itunes and itunes made the ringtone ’section’ for me and it appeared in there. I connected my iphone to my PC (using vista), my iphone appeared on the list, i went throught the tabs until i found ringtones, the ringtones were listed there, i clicked sync all ringtones, then apply and sync.
itunes went through the sync process, a rigntones ’section’appeared on my iphone list (on the left hand sinde in itunes) and when i highlight that ringtone ’section’ the names of files are ‘greyed out’.
HOwever – when i disconnect my iphone and go to Settings->Sounds->Ringtone – the filenames i gave the ringtones are not in the list, only the original ones are there (ie Alarm through to Xylophone)
can anyone help ??
thanx in advance
You can only download multiple ringtones to your iphone if you automatically sync your phone that will include everything in your library. So if you’re manually adding songs to your phone you will only be able to add one ringtone.
in vista, use the original set of steps and place the cut version in any folder ad use the alt key to see the toolbar and use the steps to show the common file names, change it to .m4r and drag it back to itunes ringtones folder in the itunes app, works like a charm and now it doesn’t show up in the music folder instead, synced with my phone and now it works like a charm!
I am stil having problem with the sound quality despite having over 10 ring tones, 9 of them sounded distorted, any one can help?
Hey. I’m having a problem with mine. I can get the ringtones in the ringtone section of itunes and they are listed there fine but when I actually load them on my iphone under the ‘custom’ ringtones section there is a list of how many ever ringtones I loaded but they are all just the same one repeated. Any suggestions?
does this work on itunes 8?
All the recommended steps were followed and seem to work, BUT I cannot get new ringtone to sync and appear on the phone. This is V8. The new 2 sec ringtone appears and plays in iTunes sections for Device and Library. Multiple re-sync’s, etc. don’t solve it..Any suggestions? Thank you all for your kind help. Rob
***** This is awsome! A+++ good work, I love it!
Using ITunes 8.01 or whatever the version is as of today (10-4-08) it is still willy nilly what ringtones show up on my IPhone. They are in the folder in ITunes, and it doesn’t matter whether I say sync all or sync only the selected ones: out of the 15 custom ones in the folder, only 3 or 4 actually show up in the phone. Length of song doesn’t seem to matter, some are 17 seconds, some are 40 seconds. Some came from the MacMost ringtone podcast, some I have made using the instructions above on my MBP.
Also, is there any way to delete the stock crap ringtones from Apple?
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DON’T SEE THE RINGTONES ON IPHONE’S RINGTONE LIST,
MAKE SURE YOU CHECKED “SYNC RINGTONES” BOX FROM “RINGTONES” TAB ON TOP OF THE SCREEN
WHERE YOU NORMALLY SYNC YOUR IPHONE.
I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THERE WERE TABS.
IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ME.
(I’M USING VERSION 8 ITUNES)
hi all,
if your having the same trouble i did (see post no. 103), i searched the web some more and came up with a soluton.
Download a program called iRinger (free program), exe file is approx 3.5 MB, it does it all for you, all u need to do is press 3 buttons and your ringtone will be on your phone, easy as.
cya
Dan
Wow took some time doing it but with all of your help i have done it. thanks a bunch guys.
where does the clipped song go to when you press ok i cant find it anywhere help im desperate …
scratch that now know it stays where it was but now cant find the importing section in preferencies to chance to acc
holyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy mother,,,
k pppl ,
it took me 5 hours to complete this shit thing,,
but m glad at last i succeded…
yiippiii
My problem is when the “double clicking” then its supposed to go into the itunes ringtones folder. Well it doesnt, it goes to my music folder and starts playing.
Vista
Im using itunes version 8.0.0.35
and iphone 3g version 2.1
Please help
Well it’s October 21 and I’m unable to create ringtones! I’ve changed the extension on my m4a files to m4r and it’s not working. What’s strange is it was working last week and now NOTHING! Is there help out there for me? I see others had the problems earlier in the month, but I even was able to go to http://audiko.net/search/en.html?q=ringtone and get ringtones to add to my Iphone 3g! Hmmmmmmmmm…..I really would appreciate any help from someone out there for a moderately techie person like myself and probably others! Thanks in advance…
I’d like to add to this to the original post, BTW…I have iTunes vers. 8.0.1.11 on my laptop. I haven’t been able to find any help online for this version at all:
ORIGINAL POST: Well it’s October 21 and I’m unable to create ringtones! I’ve changed the extension on my m4a files to m4r and it’s not working. What’s strange is it was working last week and now NOTHING! Is there help out there for me? I see others had the problems earlier in the month, but I even was able to go to http://audiko.net/search/en.html?q=ringtone and get ringtones to add to my Iphone 3g! Hmmmmmmmmm…..I really would appreciate any help from someone out there for a moderately techie person like myself and probably others! Thanks in advance…
BTW…I have iTunes vers. 8.0.1.11 on my laptop. I haven’t been able to find any help online for this version at all.
Figured it out…….What an awesome release/find! Thanks alot.
For those of you having trouble getting more than one ringtone this is what i found. you can’t add them on one by one. and what i mean is you cant do song a then resync and do song b. when you sync you have to add all the previous ones. so if you want ringtones a, b and c then you have to resync selecting a,b, and c otherwise it’s showing that you only want c.
I can do everything fine but when i sync my iphone on itunes it seems to be going on there but once i check it i can’t find it. i am looking in settings, sounds, then ringtones can anybody help me please thanks.
i can do everything upto point 6, when i go to properties i dont have a section saying name and extension in order to change it from .m4a to .m4r can anybody help
Just received my iphone yesterday and was really disappointed to note that I could not use my music for ringtones. found this page and all is great. Couple of glitches on the way but the same problems as others so all sorted. Thanks.
renaming a filename or extension? if in windows: press F2 and change it.
GREAT post! Thanks for sharing!
fucken work unreal ! thanks boyz, so easy, if anyone is having problems just read all the examples above will fix all your problems ! thanks again !
I have iTunes vers. 8.0.1.11, I’ve changed the extension on my m4a and mp3 files to m4r and it’s not working. I really would appreciate any help from someone out there. It will not allow me to put the file in itunes or double click it to use itunes to play it. I need help.
Thanks in advance.
To Randy,
Since you are using iTunes 8, please refer to this page instead:
http://itunesm4ptomp3.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/create-free-iphone-ringtones-with-itunes8/
Thanks Daniel
i did everything correct but my songd doesent go to under ringtone it goes in itune library
pls help how to set under rintone sections
i using iphone 3g itunes 8
I couldnt change the file .m4a to .m4r can somebody tell me how to change it?
Wicked spent hours yesterday trying to work it out, (must remember to change the start and stop times back). And for those on Vista go to folder options in control panel and you are able to uncheck hid extensions.:)
Hi Jose it’s so frustrating when your trying to get something working especially a new gadget. Go to your control panel in the start menu, then select folder options, click on the view tab, scroll down till you see hide extensions for known file types. if there is a tick which i’m sure there will be uncheck it and bobs your uncle. If the file is already on your desktop right click go to properties the top bar should allow you to change m4a to an r and press ok. Hope this helps.
To Md if you dont delete the converted track from your music libaray in itunes it will automatically go to that folder again, you MUST DELETE it once you delete it double click from your desk top and it will automatically appear in your ringtones libary. I think I have encountered every single trouble shoot possible between last now and about 20 mins ago, so shout if you need help people.
was a lil frustrated with changing the extension fie… but once figured out… worked great!
thanx a heap!!
Omg. I am going gaga here. It’s 3.36 am and I’ve been trying to figure this iphone thing out for hours.
I do everything said, as I’ve read all 140 posts. (interesting reading btw.)
Anyway, I do everything, in order..create the file, aac, yadi da…move to desktop. delete from itunes. rename to .m4r click on my iphone device go to the ring tones tab, check sync ring tones, all is highlighted. And the Itunes does the sync process thing. And i wait. It finishes as says I can now disconnect my iphone, but I don’t. I check my iphone settings –> Sounds –> ringtones, but there is nothing there! PLEASE.
Some one help me before I go crazy.
Omg. I am going gaga here. It’s 3.36 am and I’ve been trying to figure this iphone thing out for hours.
I do everything said, as I’ve read all 140 posts. (interesting reading btw.)
Anyway, I do everything, in order..create the file, aac, yadi da…move to desktop. delete from itunes. rename to .m4r click on my iphone device go to the ring tones tab, check sync ring tones, all is highlighted. And the Itunes does the sync process thing. And i wait. It finishes as says I can now disconnect my iphone, but I don’t. I check my iphone settings –> Sounds –> ringtones, but there is nothing there! PLEASE.
Some one help me before I go crazy.
I think the best buy Iphone 3g 16 gb. and install it on his software version 2.2. Its large
touch screen and very comfortable realized sensory management. I bought a Iphone and happy!)
ha! i figured it out. For all of those who have problems that have the ringtone in your folder and cant get it onto your iphone. goto your iphone on itunes, click on the ringtones tab, then click the sync ringtones box. it automatically sent all my ringtones to my iphones.
HOORAY!!!
i’ve done all of the above, it worked for the first two, but I made a new one tonight and it wont work. its in the ringtone tab and its 30 sec all the boxes have been checked and it still wont download. help please.
Dont forget that once you have changed extension from .m4a to .m4r , you must double left click on the new .m4r file to make ringtone appear in your ringtone library.
i use windows vista and when i do everything it says i can not find where to change the .m4a to .m4r. nothing is hidden and it still will let me not change it. i don’t know what to do and this fustrating me.
Does this method change the quality of the sound file?
I tried the one with Garageband and the quality got crappy!
Thanks
Hey guys,
I’m having the ‘cannot see custom ringtones in Settings –> Sounds –> Ringtones’ issue.
I’ve got 2 iPhones synced to the same library with the same boxes checked in iTunes for both phones, and only one of them gets the ringtones.
Does anyone know why some get them and some don’t? Is it possibly the software the iPhone is running? Note the one that doesn’t work is running 2.2. Has anyone got it working with 2.2? I’m a bit weary of updating the other phone to 2.2 because of this…
Cheers for any help!
OK, I’ve found a tool that seems to make it work for the phone that is having the issues (see post 149).
Get this tool here:
http://www.efksoft.com/products/iphoneringtonemaker/download.htm
Install it and make the tool import the new ringtone into iTunes. Then sync your phone and wallah… it works. Don’t know what the difference between the 2 phones is but hey, this saves the frantic problem we have when we don’t see the new ringtone in Settings –> Sounds –> Ringtones and everything else is correct (even ringtones being checked in iTunes!!!)
FYI: I’m running iTunes 8.02 and the iPhones had 2.1 and 2.2 installed on them. 2.2 was the problematic one…
Cheers guys
I successfully setup the ring tones on my iphone at receiver’s end.
However, I want to get a custom ring tone instead of dial tone from the caller’s point of view.
I LOVE YOU! THIS WORKED GREAT!
“I think the problem people are having is un-hiding the .m4a extension(if all you see is the songs name). Follow all the steps for converting the file to AAC. Then, before you change the file name to .m4r, go in your itunes music folder click on Tools>Folder Options>View and then un-check the box = hide extensions for known file types. This will reveal the .m4a which then can be changed to .m4r.”
“Showing the extension in MacOS, Windows XP, Windows Vista, location of iTunes music folder
In MacOS X, ctrl+click the file, choose Get Info, and under the Name section, check to see extension.
In Windows Vista, open ANY Explorer window, even Start->Documents or Computer will do, then type the “ALT” letter on the keyboard. By that I mean press and release it like you would a normal key, don’t hold it down. Now you get the menu bar back and can do as in Windows XP.
In Windows XP, in any Explorer window, open the Tools menu and choose Folder options, then the View tab and in the scrolling panel locate the option to “Hide extensions for known file types”, set it to Show.
Locations of the iTunes Music folder
Generally, in iTunes you can ctrl+click (Mac) or right click (Mac+Windows) any song and choose to open in FInder or Explorer.
Beyond that:
Your iTunes Music folder in Vista is C:/Users/yournamehere/Music/iTunes
On Mac its under your harddrive icon, usually Macintosh HD/Users/yourusernamehere/Music/iTunes (basically MacOS and Vista use same folder structure)
Windows XP: C:/Documents & Settings/yournamehere/My Documents/My Music/iTunes”
READ THESE TWO COMMENTS AND ITS SIMPLE AS ANYTHING! TY ALL!
I tried this and it worked just fine the first 3 times. The 4th time, instead of adding the ringtone I was trying to add, it copied one of the three I had previously added. Now I have 2 copies. Anyone know how to remove it?
I love u eric (post 152) Helped me do it. Couldn’t hind the stupid extention thing!
your are the best took me 5 minutes.. last website i was on told me to do the same thing but didn’t mention it had to be 30 seconds or less. appreciate it so much and you are one smart individual or whoever figured it out. lata!
okay, i have completed all of the steps and song is in my ringtones but when i plug in my iphone the song is not added to my option list…. HELP!!
Thanks a lot, much simpler than other guides I managed to find.
Thanks So Much…….It worked……I dont have US account but that does not stop me to set customized ringtone….
I read all the posts, and finally made it work, through trial and error (and a few swear words!)
Follow all the steps, as it DOES work, make sure you delete song from iTunes library and recycle bin before syncing, as mine worked after I did that.
It’s now showing on my iPhone as a custom ringtone.
Thanks everyone in here.
Brilliant workround!!
I FIGURED IT OUT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!! The main problem i had and i see others had when using XP, is you can’t change the file extension part of the name. open a folder and go to “tools” then click on “options” unclick the option that says something like hide known file extensions then everything else falls into place as described above. Thanks well i’m off the create more ringtones, ciao.
OUTSTANDING! Now if it would only play music via stereo bluetooth without adding more hardware.
Thanks
i cant find folder options for the .m4r
i did everything and it went into itunes but it didn’t download into my ringtones section it went to my music section why?
This worked great, Until today! I tried creating a ringtone today and when trying to “Create AAC Version” I got a message that reads “Protected files can not be converted to other formats” Why is this song go different than all the rest I made ringtones from?
nancy,
For the protected songs purchased from iTunes, you need to remove the DRM first ( http://itunesm4ptomp3.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/remove-itunes-drm-windows-mac/ ). After the DRM is removed, you then import the music to iTunes and follow the steps to create ringtones for your phone.
It worked for the first 2 songs I did it with, but when I try putting in a different one, it doesnt sync
If the ringtones DO show up in iTunes as ringtones and you have already set iTunes to sync ringtones, but they still don’t show up on your iPhone, just drag the ringtones from your library to your iPhone. That’s what finally worked for me.
Thanks to everyone for the great tips!
Hello to all…
I follow Jay and it works on me….
(Jay says)
I think the problem people are having is un-hiding the .m4a extension(if all you see is the songs name). Follow all the steps for converting the file to AAC. Then, before you change the file name to .m4r, go in your itunes music folder click on Tools>Folder Options>View and then un-check the box = hide extensions for known file types. This will reveal the .m4a which then can be changed to .m4r.
Thanks heaps!! Had so much trouble with the conversion, thanks for your help
nice….
thanks alot. i finally can use my favourite ringtone from the previous phone.
Thanks a lot. Excellent instructions and a simple procedure at last. I had been battling this for the longest time…
Thank’s for the tips
SO basically this only works with songs you buy from itunes and not mp3’s that you dragged intoo itunes library yourself. Correct?
no it works for any MP3, I did it myself
Thanks a lot buddy…. it worked… it really worked and I am so glad to get my own ring tone
well every 1 ive been doing this now for hours and im giving up mine keeps saying the following song could not be synced because the item could not be found im so pissed off ive been doing this hours!! ive read every comment tried all the websites nothing works!! x
Good work – worked a treat.
it won’t let me change it from m4a to m4r…. i’m using windows vista….help anyone?
I just got my iPhone so im pretty new to it and i got the ringtone transferred into my iPhone but I cant find where it is on my iPhone…can someone please tell me where it is?
I got the ringtone transferred into my iPhone but I cant find where it is on my iPhone. Can someone please tell me where it is?
settings->sounds-> ringtones ->
great!!!!!thx a lot!
OMG I LOVE U
wow that was easy. to think ive gone a year without ringtones
to change m4a to m4r right click the icon on desktop then rename. change just the a (m4a) to r. change default program to open file with as itunes (if not already) and open file from desktop. it should open in itunes as a ringtone. then… sync.
Cracking stuff – worked first time, and no need for additional software! Thank you!
you are so cool. This actually works. THANKS!!!!!!
Am having trouble with ringtones created in iTunes. Have created 11 so far, but only 9 are showing up in my iPhone. I have updated averything, and my phone is a 3G purchased last year.
Need input.
Works with IPhone 3GS and iTunes 8.0 Thanks!
Most Useful info .Thanks a lot
worked the 64 step … EXCELLENT
thank you soooo muchhh this helped me so much i love it!!! bigbig help!
I use this iPhone Ringtone Creator to help me make custom ringtones for my new iPhone 3GS. It can convert any music audio (including DRM protected) to m4r iphone ringtone and extract audio clip from video files as iPhone ringtones as well.
Ok So I made the ringtone and now synced my phone and I can’t find the ringtone anywhere! Where does the tone go?!?! Please help!
I’m using Itunes version 8.0.0.35. Here’s my issue…When I go to convert whatever song i’m using for the ringtone into an AAC file, I lower the volume so it plays better on my iphone. I choose my start and stop time and it converts into an AAC file, that all works great. Now when i drag that AAC file to the desktop to change it from .m4a to .m4r and drag it back into itunes, the volume of the ringtone goes back to the default every time! I cannot figure out why it’s not keeping my ringtone volume setting when I import it back into itunes. Has anybody else run into this problem?? I’ve checked every audio setting in itunes and cannot figure out why when i import the ringtone file back into itunes it goes back to default volume level. Please help!!
Hi,
can somebody please give me your advice.
I tried to use the method discussed here. But I couldn’t find the ‘convert to ACC file’, When I right-click on the song, I only saw “Create ACC file”. Are they the same??
While presuming that they are the same, I create an ACC file of the song, and found that created song in my most recently added list.I dragged it to my desktop, and tried to change it to m4r, but failed to, as i couldn’t find a way to change it. Even if i changed the file name (by adding .m4r at the back), the file name now became XXX.m4r.mp4.
Please kindly advice
I am sorry, the new file name is XXX.m4r.m4a.
WAs that because the file was not an ACC file??
If yes, then how to convert it?
okay so i followed all the steps and the song came to my ipod part of my phone and its not coming to my ring tones how do i make i gotta a feeling into a ring tone .. someone said make it 40 minutes cause 30 minutes wouldnt work .. can anyone help me ?
Hi,
I have iPhone 3GS (with 3.1 firmware) and iTunes 9
I have the same problem as many others on this thread.
After creating the .m4r file (from .m4a), and addig it to iTunes, it will not sync to my iPhone, saying that it cannot find it.
Dragging the ringtone directly from library to iPhone also does not work.
I have to add, that it worked with small (or short) music, only longer music is screwed.
Any idea, how to make a complete song to be a ringtone?
hey its rod can i get a rington for my messages on my iphone 3G ?
it would be good ………
hey, I have an iphone 3gs and the ringtone thing worked on my computer Itunes, but I can’t get it to go onto my iphone, I try to click and drag, then sync, but it doesn’t work ..help please?
nevermind! I checked the syncing options, an it was unchecked.
i wanna put like four songs and it shows up in my itunes as all four in my ringtones but in my phone it just shows one of the songs four times instead of all four different songs!! what do i do?? helllpppp!!!
IRinger works wonderful, i tried a lot of trial & demo software before without success
Iphone 3GS, Win XP, Itunes 9.0.1.8
I have done everything up to the point where I need to change the file extension. I can’t find the section in properties that says name and extension.
I’ve even unchecked “hide file extensions” as suggested above but it still isn’t showing the name and extension section under properties when I right click on the file on my desktop.
..uhm…sry but the step are too complicated to me …can you please explain it more carefully…..and i also try many time … can u please help me T.T
I have an iPhone 3GS 3.12 and iTunes 9.0.1.8. I have many custom ringtones ready to add to my phone but I can only add 1 and that’s it. All my ringtones are iPhone compliant. Are there any limits as to how many ringtones I can have or is 1 the limit? Can anyone help please?
Hi,
My issue is that every thing is working fine, it shows up in the ring tone folder, I just don’t know how to choose it or even find it on my phone- only the default ringtones appear in the ringtone option under settings. How can I find it?
I’m having the same issue. Have you been able to resolve yours yet?
Absolutely awesome information!!! (the help comments helped big time too!!!)
I have the mp3 converted to m4a. I then converted to m4r and it shows up in my iTunes 9.0.1 rintone folder. My iPhone ringtone folder also shows that it is there but when I go onto my phone to change ringtones, nothing is there? Anyone know anything
I figured it out for the folks who have done everything up to changing the extension to m4r and can’t find the ring tone on their phone. Change the time on your ringtone. I had mine at 30 seconds, it didn’t work but when I changed the stop time to 20 seconds and then I converted to ACC, dragged file to desktop and renamed extension to m4r, then I synced it and it finally loaded onto my phone. I guess if the file is too big, your iPhone won’t take the ringtone.
Hi Joe Vang, mine is only 10 seconds but still doesnt appear to be on my phone. Were on ur phone did you look once synced??? thanks
Hi All, i think i am just being dumb but i have managed to convert the file and put it into the ringtones section in my itunes library and have synced but i cant find it on my phone!! any one have any ideas??? thanks in advance
heyyy.. i cant get the ringtone tab in my itunes and i dont know how to do it, hope this isnt a dumb question =s
Having the same problem as loads of other people.
It will only let me have a maximum of 2 custom ringtones on my iphone under settings-sounds-ringtones. Although I have more in my ringtones library on my computer and on my iphone ringtones library on my computer.
A lot of people have said that I need to check the sync box at the top of the ringtone tab – but if I do that it threatens to delete all my movies, songs and TV shows off my iphone and cannot cope with loosing all that for a couple of ringtones!! Can anyone help!!!
I have a problem. Where it says change the file .m4a to .m4r I see where it says .m4a but it doesnt let me change it to .m4r .. I dont get this ! Please help !!!!!
I’ve made some cool ringtones with garageband and posted them at http://www.iphoneringtones.ca
Anyone can download them there for free, or upload too if you have some cool tones to share…
Thanks so much, It took me a while to work out the hide extention bit, but now got ringtone!!