Being able to choose your own ringtone on your phone is something that should be pretty easy, but not on the iPhone. Apple say that you can buy your ringtones through iTunes, but I’ve never found any on there. So how do you get round this? How do you get your own ringtone on your iPhone?
It’s actually pretty simple, and even more importantly its free and legal! All you need to create your own ringtones is iTunes on a PC or Mac and a song in either MP3 or AAC format that is DRM free. DRM files are normally songs that have been purchased online from places such as the iTunes Store, or imported to your computer using Windows Media Player.
Change import Settings to AAC
Before you start, you need to check some settings in iTunes. In the Preferences window, click on “Import Settings” on the General Tab and make sure that “import using” is set to AAC Encoder.
Show File Extensions
This step is important! If you’re on a PC, you’ll need to make sure that you can view file extensions (music files should show .mp3 or .m4a after the filename). If your PC doesn’t, you can change this by opening your “My Documents” folder, and clicking Tools-> Folder Options. On the “View” tab, you should see an option “Hide extensions for known file types,” Make sure that the box next to this is not ticked, and then hit ok.
Right, now for the fun bit. Find the song you want as your ringtone and play it in iTunes. iPhone ringtones can be a maximum of 30 seconds long, so you’ll need to know the start and end points for the song clip that you want to use, so play the song, and write down how many seconds there are to the part of the song you want as your ringtone. You’ll need the end time too, but this can only be a maximum of 30 seconds.
Select Start and End Times
By now, you should have the start and end points of your ringtone. Right click on the song in iTunes, and select “Get Info”
When the iTunes preferences window opens, you will see 7 tabs across the top, click on the options tab. You’ll see there is a space to enter start and stop times. Put in the times you wrote down earlier and make sure that both boxes are ticked – then hit “OK”.
UPDATE: Thanks to Dean and Snatch for pointing out that you need to ensure that you use : to seperate minutes and seconds, and not a full stop!
Create AAC File
Right click your song again, and this time select create AAC version (or similar.)
UPDATE: In the latest version of iTunes (Version 9.1) the ‘create AAC version’ option has been moved from the right click menu to the ‘Advanced’ menu at the top of the screen.
You should then see a second copy of the song appear in your iTunes music library. In order to change it to a ringtone you’ll need to drag this file to your desktop. You can then delete the 30 second version from iTunes and un tick the start and stop times on the original song.
Rename file to .m4r
Go to the file on your desktop and you should see its called “songname.m4a”. Right click it and choose “rename,” all we want to change here is the .m4a to .m4r. You can rename this song if you want, but the filename must end .m4r
iTunes Ringtone Library
That’s it! All you need to do now is double click the file to add it back to iTunes. If you click on the Ringtones link in the side panel, it should now be listed as a ringtone, rather than a music file.
Sync your iPhone with iTunes
All that is left is to sync your iPhone with your computer. If it doesn’t sync over straight away, make sure the “Sync ringtones” option is selected when your phone is connected.
UPDATE:A few people have had a problem with the ringtones showing in iTunes in the ringtones section, but they aren’t syncing to the phone. To fix this plug your phone in, and on the options screen, uncheck the ‘Sync Ringtones’ box, hit apply and then sync your phone. Once it’s finished, disconnect and re connect your phone. Go back to the options screen and re-check the ‘Sync Ringtones’ box and sync again. This resets the sync information in iTunes and your phone and your ringtones should now show up on your phone.
Download a printable instruction sheet (PDF: 300kb)
Give it a try and let me know how you get on – Got any great ringtones that you want to share with the world? Leave your comments below with the Song title and start/end times and share your creations!
well chuffed working every time been looking for something like this for ages. Brill thanks again.
Caz
Sorted it no . after m4r great thanks for the post.
Hi
seen a comment about the problem I’ve just posted does the .m4r need a . at the end.
thanks Caz
Hi have followed all the steps above, struggled renaming as there is no rename option when i right click on the mac but have managed to do it. When i double click the ringtone version on the desktop it throws it back into my main itunes and it does not appear in ringtones have tried several songs and this occurs every time. My original format for the songs has been AAC but I have gone through the procedure of create AAC. Any suggestions.
Thanks Caz
Spot on!!!! Thanks, I had a couple of initial problems like not reading the instructions properly….. However when i followed them step by step it works :o) thank you very much i will be using and recommending this site thanks again.
It worked perfectly. Great information and instructions. Thank you!
Hi
I haven’t read through all these comments but I’ve seen the same problem come up – so sorry if I’m repeating anything – but I found if you’ve imported your CD through Itunes it won’t transfer to your phone. If you upload your CD through a different source like Nero or something then add it to the Itunes library – it should work!
Hi Sali,
If the ringtone is going into your music library rather than ringtones, this will be to do with the file extension. It needs to be .m4r, so just double check that yours are .m4r and not ringtone.m4r.m4a.
If it does have both extensions then this will be because you’ve still got file types hidden. Easiest way round this is to start again from the top and double check the instructions in the 2nd part and the bit next to the ringtone icon on the post above.
Andy
Hi, first of all ive got to thank you for this post its the most concise i have found online. I have a problem when it comes to reinserting the song bit back into itunes it wont save into the ringtone folder and goes back into my main library. This is probably something really obvious that i am just missing but not sure if its different for the new 32 3GS iphone that came out this month. Thank you so much for post and your help.
When you say you’re still getting the same message, what message are you referring to?
hi i have done everything i am using aac encoder and i have unticked hide extension files but it still has the same message heeeeelp!!
mate you are a legend for publishing this, apple’s lives are spared for now
I’m going to add a bit to the post now as a few people seem to have this issue.
To fix this plug your phone in, and on the options screen, uncheck the sync ringtones box and sync your phone,
disconnect and re connectyou phone, then go back in and re check it and sync again..
This clears out any confusion on the syncing
Hi, ive followed all your steps but i still seem to have a problem with the ringtones going onto the phone. There in my ringtones folder in itunes but just wont transfer over to the phone. Not sure what else to do.
A few people have had this problem, sometimes the first sync doesn’t work.
To fix this plug your phone in, and on the options screen, uncheck the sync ringtones box and sync your phone,
disconnect and re connectyou phone, then go back in and re check it and sync again..
This clears out any confusion on the syncing
I followed all the steps to add a ringtone. When I pull up itunes and my iphone is connected I can see the Ringtone I created in the ringtone folder under my iphone under devices. The ringtone is checked but not bold. It does not show under my ringtones on my iphone after syncing.
Well done… again thank you! All good.
D
might be worth deleting the ringtone from your itunes aswell and then add it again.
check both the music and ringtone sections and delete all versions of it, sync your phone, then double click the file on your desktop and see where it loads into. if it goes back into ringtones it should then sync to sounds on your phone..
ah, if it was in ringtones, its not that that’s the problem then!
I think some iphones just have a hissy fit sometimes when they sync. plug your phone in, and on the options screen, uncheck the sync ringtones box and sync your phone, disconnect and re connect, then go back in and re check it and sync again..
sometimes this clears out any confusion on the syncing
By the way… it was in my ringtones on Itunes
Thanks Andy.. I will give it another try!
D
If its gone over to your phone as a song, rather than ringtone it’ll be because changing the file type didn’t work!
Jump back to the step where it explains how to rename the file and try again
So everything went well… however the clip is not in my sounds on the iphone, it is on the ipod app. How do I set it as a ring tone?
Don
Genius,
Clear and easy to follow.
Many thx.
………
PEBKAC
Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.
Andy
Thanks, clear simple instructions and did exactly what it said on the tin.
Hey Andy, It worked flawlessly. but the great news is it works on midi files too.
Thnx a ton. I’m really glad that I can use my favourite ringtones, which i’ve been transferring to every new fone that i pick up but hit the wall when i got my iphone.
Sorry, didn’t see your second comment til just!
If you figure out how to change the text tones, please let me know, but as far as I know its not possible yet.
Crossing my fingers that it’ll appear in 3.0
Hi Amit,
Its not possible to use them for text messages, you’re still stuck with the default apple ones for that..
I take it that the tune is showing in the ‘ringtones’ section of itunes and that when you plug your iphone in, on the tabs across the top you’ve clicked on ringtones, and made sure that ‘sync ringtones’ is checked?
If it is, it will only show on your phone when you go to settings > sounds > ringtones and then the screen will be split into two, standard and custom, and yours should show at the top of the page.
Deleted original file from folder manually, disconnected and reconnected iphone after syncing, synced again and disconnected again. One of these steps worked for me. Shows up ubder ‘custom’ at the top. Excellent!
Only thing is, i only really wanted to use it as a new text message notification. Seems as though this works in a different way… DOH! Any ideas?
I’m stuck! Plz help!
I got all the way there, converted to trimmed aac file, renamed to m4r, added to ringtone library, played it from the library to make sure of no errors i.e. file can’t be found…. It was all ok to this point.
Problem is, it doesn’t show up in Sounds menu on the iPhone when trying to select a new ringtone.
I synced the whole phone as well as Ringtones on it’s own, as well as the selected ringtone (it’s the only one). Never worked after any type of sync.
If you can provide a solution and it does show up, can i use it as a text message received sound too? and how?
Hi Raghu, Is the ringtone showing in the ringtones folder in itunes or your regular music library?
hi andy,
did everything as said above to create a ring tone but it is not appearing in the sounds section after syncing phone..
and even the ring tone shouldn’t play on itues..but itunes is able to play it..please tell me a solution..
iam using itunes 8.1.1.10 and iphone 3g
thanks
Hi Harris,
Have you checked your iTunes settings to make sure that you’ve set it to sync ringtones to your phone?
I did everything right I got the songs in iTunes under ringtones, but for some reason when I sync it doesn’t appear in sounds in settings please tell me how to fix this
Hi Arek, You need to be looking at the song in your main music library, not in a playlist, and when you right click it it should show “Create AAC Version” in itunes 8.1.1
Hi
I using itune ver 8.1.1.10 i did everything what you say.
1. Iport Using ACC Encoder OK
end when i click right button on my songs i don’t see Convert selection to AAC :-((
HELP
:) Glad to hear its all working now!
The error message is a standard windows message, and will come up if you try and rename most files. It won’t cause any problems as iTunes will know how to handle m4r
Hi Andy GOT IT!!!! Thanks alot!!! Apologize for my stupidity :( However, am just curious at the renaming of file from .m4a to .m4r warning message of ‘file may be unusable’ still appears. any impact?
Thats your problem! If you don’t do that bit, then none of the rest will work. If you don’t have the option to convert selection to AAC, you’ll need to check your iTunes settings as explained in the first part of this tutorial..
If you miss any steps it won’t work!
hi again, Tried clicking on file to add to library …. :( it’s not working either.
In fact i’ve followed through like what was listed except this – Right click on song again, and select create AAC version (or similar.)which I have chosen MP3 as i don’t hv AAC or others except MP3 as selection. Drag to desktop & change name to m4r icon shows ringtone as well as properties but just won’t get into ringtone. i’m using itune ver 8.1.1.10. I am really really ‘lost’
Yes, thats your problem! You’ve missed out quite a few of the steps listed above!
Try again one step at a time. you can’t convert an mp3 to a ringtone by changing the name. let me know if you have any problems when you’ve tried whats listed above.
:)
had a warning msg ‘if you change the file ext, the file may be unsable’ Was renaming MP3 to m4r. Could this be the error why i cant get the ringtone?
Hi Gim,
I take it you’ve checked in the ‘ringtones’ section of itunes?
What happens if you try and add the file using itunes, rather than double clicking it? Click on file – add to library and browse to the file.
Let me know how it goes
done everything you said to change a song to ringtone I double click on the song from desktop but it just throws out itunes music. The ringtone file is nowhere to be found.
At desktop, file properties even show as ringtone but alas not in the ringtone file
Thanks so much!!
I have all the ringtones I want without any new software or spending another penny!!!
Yay for sticking it to the man
Hi Sue,
You can use them, but you’ll need to either upgrade them to iTunes + format (which is about 20p per song) or you can burn them to disc, and then import them back into itunes – this will remove the protection from them.
Andy
Some of my songs say they are protected, is there any way I can use them as ringtones.
It Works Thanks very much
Great article. No longer need to suffer the standard ringtones. Well done.