Shortly after the release of iTunes 7.5 users noticed that the main difference between ringtones and regular audio files were their file extensions. Regular AAC files have the file extension .m4a, while ringtones use the file extension .m4r.
iTunes 7.5 will automatically create a new folder for storing ringtones in your music library the first time you open a .m4r file, provided you have the “Keep iTunes Music Folder Organized” option checked. This folder is where you’ll want to put your ringtone files, but first you’ll need to edit the song down to a suitable size. The size of an allowed ringtone on the iPhone tops out at around 3 megabytes.
For Mac users, there are several ways to whittle down your tracks. You could use Apple’s Quicktime Pro or Garageband if you have them. You can also edit MP3s in the free Audion 3, which features a nice waveform editing tool. Windows users can edit audio files with the free Audacity. Pick the 20 to 30 seconds you want to use as your ringtone, and save the file as an MP3.
- Add the shortened MP3 file to your iTunes library, then right-click on it in iTunes and choose “Convert Selection to AAC.” The clip will need to be an AAC file in order to be used as a ringtone.
- Right-click on the AAC converted file and choose “Show in Windows Explorer” to locate the converted file.
- Change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, and double-click the .m4r file to play it in the “Ringtones” folder in your music library. This file will be added to your iTunes library automatically. (Some are reporting a size limit for the music file, so if you have trouble, using a smaller file may help)
- Finally, click on your iPhone in iTunes, and go to the Ringtones section. You should now see your new ringtone.
- If you want to be sure about the sync, feel free to click “Selected ringtones:” and check off the file explicitly, though this shouldn’t be required.
- Now SYNC your phone. You’re Done!
Since both Windows and Mac OS X like to hide file extensions, the renaming part can be tricky. Make sure you aren’t just appending a file extension to the hidden one. On a Mac, choose “Get Info” in the Finder and make sure “Hide extension” is unchecked. In Windows, make sure the “Hide extensions for known file types” option in Windows Explorer is turned off.
When you sync your iPhone, you should see the new ringtones displayed in your phone’s sound settings.
*Update* How to Make Custom iPhone Ringtones with Windows 7, iTunes 9 and Audacity 1.2.6
Posted by Ringtones - Find out about the latest Ringtones » How to Make Custom IPhone Ringtones with iTunes 7.5.0.20 and Audacity on January 7, 2008 at 11:25 pm
[...] to Make Custom IPhone Ringtones with iTunes 7.5.0.20 and Audacity 3g audio free ringtones wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptApple started selling iPhone [...]
Posted by tufan on January 12, 2008 at 11:43 pm
the problem is you can not move anything to file called “ringtones” in your library.
Posted by liem on January 14, 2008 at 10:43 am
did not work. Itune did make a file for the ringtone but the ihone would not sync!!! help please
Posted by Jade on January 14, 2008 at 11:49 am
Please retry the following steps above. I guarantee it works!
Posted by Gaby on January 15, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I shortened the file to 24 seconds and it finally worked for me. Try that!
Posted by Dale on January 18, 2008 at 12:52 am
Thanks, Jade–this is exactly what I was looking for! It worked perfectly. I noticed that the only time it wouldn’t sync was if the mp3 file was too long. It makes sense, though. I made a ringtone from the intro to Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” and if someone were to call me and I made them wait until Mick Fleetwood’s cowbell before I answered, they’d have already hung up.
Posted by grey580 on January 18, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Well I actually broke down and bought an iPhone after playing with a friends.
And of course I’m trying to figure out how to do all the cool stuff. Yesterday I learned how to make custom ringtones for the iPhone. In this tutorial I will teach you how to also pwn the iPhone ringtone.
Posted by DC on February 8, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thank you very much for the tip!! This is the easiest way I’ve found to do this!
Posted by churchingvirus on February 11, 2008 at 1:25 pm
no ringtone comes in the sound settings and there is no change in the storage memory. rest everything was done as explaned
Posted by Ajit on March 9, 2008 at 5:49 pm
this did not work, it did not even go to the ringtone folder in itunes. what is the file size that works? mine is 366 kb
Posted by robinson Guzman on March 10, 2008 at 2:54 pm
It works for me but when i put more then one ringtone it repeats it self on my custom list why is that?
Posted by Jade on March 10, 2008 at 4:18 pm
What about renaming the file?
Posted by Dre on May 14, 2008 at 8:14 am
Why download a software to make ringtones when you can use iTunes.
InstructionsDifficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
iPhone
iTunes
Mac or Windows Computer
Step1Open iTunes.
Step2Find the song that you want to make into a ringtone.
Step3Listen to the song and find the part of it you want to use. The chorus may be a good place to start.
Step4Write down the start and stop times of the clip.
Step5Right-click the song and select “Get Info.”
Step6Click the “Options” tab.
Step7Type in the start time of your ringtone in the text box next to “Start Time” in the minutes:seconds (i.e. 2:01) format.
Step8 Type in the end time of your ringtone in the text box next to “Stop Time.” Make sure the ringtone is no more than 40 seconds long.
Step9Click “OK”.
Step10Right-click your song again and select “Convert Selection to AAC”. Wait for iTunes to convert your song. It will create a duplicate version.
Step11Right-click the ringtone and select “Delete”.
Step12Click on the “Keep Files” button.
Step13Find the file. It’s usually in your User folder under Music > iTunes > iTunes Music and under the band’s name. It will have an extension of “m4a.”
Step14 Replace the “m4a” extension of your ringtone with “m4r”. You can either double-click slowly to re-name your file, or right-click and select “Get Info” on a Mac or “Rename” on a Windows PC.
Step15 Click “Use .m4r” or the PC equivalent when the system warns you that the change may affect the use of your file.
Step16 Double-click the ringtone file. ITunes will automatically add it to your ringtones folder in your iTunes Music Library.
Step17Connect your iPhone and sync your ringtones.
Tips & Warnings
For everyone having problems syching the ringtones to your iPhone: Find the ringtone in your Ringtones folder and change the extension back to .M4A & attempt to sych again.
Instead of deleting it, you can also drag the newly converted ringtone to your desktop from iTunes and follow the rest of the steps.
There may be some problems with the latest version of Leopard – renaming the file may not work properly, and you won’t be able to add it to the ringtones folder.
Posted by TheKing on June 18, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Dre’s way of doing it works, thanks for the info dude. But once you change it from a m4a to a m4r you have to drag and drop it to the ringtones section of itunes then sync your phone
Posted by ZED on July 30, 2008 at 6:30 am
i’m a bit confused re. Extension……how do you mean. please explain
Posted by forhim123 on August 12, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I have iTunes 7.7.1.11. I have done as you suggested. I have the ringtone in my directory. I double click on it and nothing happens. However, my iTunes states that the only ringtone can be purchased form online.
Am I stuck?
Posted by josh from america on August 21, 2008 at 12:15 am
These are joke instructions, they absolutly DO NOT WORK
Posted by josh from america on August 21, 2008 at 12:21 am
Ok It works, just took it 3 minutes, sorry for the lack of faith
Posted by faith on August 29, 2008 at 11:08 am
wasn’t appearing in the sounds > ringtones section for me at first, but that was because i made it too long. worked straight away when i shortened it.. thanks!
Posted by Beeniebombshell on September 13, 2008 at 1:02 pm
i did everything as supposed but once i clik on the m4r in the finder, it does Not automaticly put it in any ringtone folder. As a mater of fact, i dont even have a rinhtone folder in itunes
Posted by baaloudj on October 6, 2008 at 12:30 pm
thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks
Posted by Caffiend on October 8, 2008 at 2:04 am
Works like a charm – I have iTunes 8.0, these step-by-step instructions still work.
For those of you who are having trouble, re-read the instructions and try again. At least in my case, these instructions are spot on perfect.
Thank you.
Posted by lexito. on October 28, 2008 at 5:46 pm
This might help in regards to the file extension.
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/how-to-change-a-file-extension/
Posted by Ms.Iphone on November 26, 2008 at 7:12 pm
T H A N K Y O U! worked perfectly…..
Posted by Lexia on November 27, 2008 at 12:27 pm
If you are having trouble getting the clip into your itunes Ringtone folder, just drag it from the windows explorer into the folder. It is usually easier if you open the folder into a new window and the directly drag and drop into it! Hope this helps out!
Posted by becca on November 30, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I have no idea where “Hide extensions for known file types” is.. specifics?
Posted by Mike on November 30, 2008 at 2:50 pm
If you’re having trouble with the above or are just looking for some more control/functionality, check this out:
http://mikekordell.com/Home/iPhoneStuff/tabid/1179/Default.aspx
Posted by Make your own iPhone Ringtone « The Data Monkey on April 13, 2009 at 6:38 pm
[...] http://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/how-to-make-custom-iphone-ringtones-with-itunes-75020... [...]
Posted by Mari on May 21, 2009 at 12:13 am
If your having trouble renaming the file. Just right click and rename the music file from your desktop. If you can’t see the file ext. then you need to go to your:
Contol panel>Appearance & Personalization>Folder Options>Show Hidden Files and unclick (Hide Extension for Known File Type)
This will help with renaming your music file M4a to M4r.
Posted by John on June 24, 2009 at 6:43 am
Thanks!! Awesome post and works like a charm!!
Posted by Nieuw tekstbericht : eigen geluid - Pagina 3 - iPhone Forum - alles over de Apple iPhone, iPhone 3G en iPhone 3GS on July 9, 2009 at 10:49 am
[...] How to Make Custom iPhone Ringtones with iTunes 7.5 and Audacity hyper-ballad’s blog [...]
Posted by Ringtone ? - The iPhone Blog Forums on October 12, 2009 at 12:43 am
[...] can follow these steps.. Or you can download other free ringtones from different [...]
Posted by Ringtone Requests - Page 11 - The iPhone Blog Forums on October 24, 2009 at 6:45 pm
[...] [...]
Posted by Dan on November 17, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I am using itunes 9 with vista and I tried to change the file ext to m4r and all it does is add the extension into the songs name. Any suggestions on this would help it’s highway robbery to pay .99 cents for a ringtone to a song you already own.. Err Steve Jobs why why??