Tutorial Thursday
Windows; 
Mac 
One of the things that Apple hasn’t made easy for iPhone owners is providing a way to create custom ringtones in Windows. If you’re a Mac owner you can use GarageBand, but Apple doesn’t provide that application on Windows. Instead what they expect you to do is purchase a song for $0.99, and then convert it to a ringtone for another $0.99.
As it turns out in a few steps you can actually convert a DRM-free song into a ringtone using only iTunes in Windows. The trick also works for Mac users, but using GarageBand is a lot simpler so we’re focusing primarily on the Windows side.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Start iTunes and find the [DRM-free] song you want to convert to a ringtone. Right-click on it and select the Get Info option.
- On the Options tab locate the Start Time and End Time options. This is where you want to specify the portion of the song you wanted converted into a ringtone. Check both of the boxes, and make sure your ringtone is under 30-seconds. Press OK when finished.
- Right-click on the song you just modified, and choose the Convert to AAC option. If you don’t see this in the context menu navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing, and make sure the AAC Encoder is selected in the Import Using menu.
- Once the song has finished being converted to the new format it will appear in your music list, and the “Time” should reflect the correct duration of the ringtone (which should be less than 30-seconds). Now navigate to your iTunes music folder to find the converted song. Here’s an example of where my Green Day ringtone was located:
- Make sure you’re able to see the file’s extension (.M4A) like in the screenshot above. If you don’t see the extension go to Tools -> Folder Options -> View (Organize -> Folder and Search Options on Vista), and uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box. Then click OK.
- Copy the music file (with the .M4A extension) to your desktop. Once you’ve done that rename the file’s extension to .M4R which will make iTunes recognize it as a ringtone. Make sure there are no symbols (underscores, hyphens, etc…) in the file name.
- In iTunes go to File -> Add File to Library, and then browse for the file from step 6. Once you’ve selected it press the Open button. iTunes will place the ringtone in the respective section in your library:
- Sync your iPhone with iTunes and your newly created ringtone should get transferred over. If it doesn’t be sure to check the Ringtones tab in the iPhone configuration section of iTunes to verify that it is setup to sync your ringtones.
–What is DRM?–
I’ve been getting all kinds of questions and emails from people asking what DRM is. An anonymous commenter below did a great job answering the question. Here is his response:
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. In a nutshell, a song with DRM is meant to keep you from giving it to someone else. If you’re using Windows XP (and I’m sure there’s some equivalent for Vista), you can right-click on a song file, and choose Properties. Under the Summary tab, click the Advanced >> button if it’s there. Under the Origin heading, you will see an entry named ‘Protected’. If it says No, then the song does not have a DRM. If it says Yes, well, you may be able to pay Apple money to convert the song to an iTunes Plus track, which will be DRM-free. Hope this helps, best of luck!
That’s all there is to it. Now you can save yourself a bunch of money on ringtones. A big thanks to the Apple Blog who assembled the original instructions on how to do this for the Mac!
lolphysics has left cyber notes and
will return soon. thankyou!!!
hey, are you sure Nintedoboy?
This instruction just “Fubared” my original song. I made a ringtone out of my favorite song, but lost my original song in the process… Not only that, but now I select my itunes song, and it “shortcuts” to another one!
Id rather pay the two bucks, since now I’m out more than that, plus two hours of frustration….
You are beautiful, man. Many thanks.
man the ringtone is not showing up in my iphone
yes i am sure about it
But what if I have newest version of iTunes 9.2.
There is no ACC!not in advence not when you click right click?what should I do?
Thanks
This works great! I had to modify a few things, the part where you convert it to an ACC was on my advanced tab instead of a right click. I could only convert mp3’s and not m4p’s (which is the filetype you recieve from Apple) Thanks so much for having this out there.
Thank you so much! I’ve been so frustrated by this and this has finally solved my problem.
brilliant works a treat!
Doesn’t seem to work in windows 7 (64bit)
I agree. No luck in Windows 7. Seems you can’t even get past the first step.
You can but it takes a couple work-arounds.
I just use Audacity to set the time and export it as an MP3, then load to library and then go from there.
i passed the whole steps and sync it to my iPhone (WIN7-64 bit) but it’s not showing up in the iPhone…any help plz
ive done all this and its it the rigtone tab in itunes but how do i make it my ringtone on my iphone
im having the same problem. when i go to settings/sounds/ringtone on my iphone, its not there
have the ringtone (awesome!) but no option to use it on the iphone itself…
“Create AAC version” is under advanced at the top. No need to drive your self crazy by deleting and installing older iTunes.
Well done, thanks for the great help
Hey, thanks for your help with this, but I have followed all the steps & the ringtone does show in my itunes ringtone folder & does sync, but I cannot find it anywhere on my iphone. Strange thing is, my purchased ones show up, but not the ones I have made myself. Can you help with this?
Thanks
got all the way to adding the file into the library, it wont do it! ahh i was so close. It’s driving me mad, like my computer is against me getting a ringtone on my iphone. anyone else having same prob or am i the lucky one!
Great guide, but I had the same problem as Jayden.
I could make it all work right through to syncing, which went fine because within my iTunes I can see the new ringtones in the ringtone tab in my iPhone, but it doesn’t actually show in my iPhone.
Have I missed something simple?
Thanks again for this guide.
The box you need to tick is in the Iphone software on your pc when you synch you will see a tab that says ringtones click on it and there s a little shaded box tick it to synch ringtones and it will work good luck and thanks for saving me a bunch on ringtones
Thank you, brilliant guide, works perfectly.
Hey. Having issues getting this to work, i have followed all the steps. the tab convert file to ACC does not show. i have checked this in preferences. Is there something i missed? I followed the same step from another Google search. drive ya mad!!! Im running windows XP itunes 9.1.1.12. Do i need to have a purchased ringtone?
You need to make sure that under preferences you have selected that when you import music, you import the files as ACC. If you don’t see the convert file to ACC, you probably see a Convert to MP3 or Convert to WAV because you have selected to import music into itunes using one of those formats. Just change the import to ACC, follow the steps, and then change the setting back to whatever you prefer.
Kevin answered this question perfectly. Helped me a lot. Thanks!
Thanks it worked a treat. I have windows seven and had to do a bit of fiddling around but eventually got there. the aac converter is in advanced in itunes. Showing the file extensions in windows 7 was a challenge but eventually found it and then was able to finish off. Thanks for the great tip i was very angry when i found i couldn’t use the ring tones i had had for 3 previous phones and the ones i wanted to keep. Wasted $3 buying music i already legally had, and still couldn’t use it. Love iphone hate apple’s paranoia.
Please can you tell me how you showed the file extension in windows 7 – this has me stumped?!!
Adrian …. here’s a site that will help you with changing the file extension.
[maximumpcguides.com]
greeat work
it’s not working on mine! it doesn’t show up as a ringtone after i changed it to .m4r, and i couldnt find the convert to aac option (though i swear i’d seen it before) but i used another converter. help!
Neither can I. The AAC was there this morning “before” I updated my I tunes. I think good old Apple realized people were able to do this and they found a way to remove that path so now we cannot change our music into a ringtone. You are not losing your mind. If anyone out there has updated their Itunes and has found a way to make this work again please let us know.
The “Convert to AAC” option is now “Create AAC Version” in the Advanced menu. I had to remove the shortened AAC version from the library before it would add the .m4r file as a ringtone.
Make sure you aren’t clicked on the music from you ipod, but rather the music on your computer for itunes. Otherwise, you will not get the ‘convert to AAC’ option.
You dont specify how to change it to m4r. I renamed the file to m4r but it just renames the file it does not change the format. How do i change the format so that itunes will find it. At the moment all itunes is doing is adding a duplicate copy of the song i already have that only goes for 30 seconds, it does not go into the ringtone section. What am i doing wrong
You have to make sure that you are set to view file extensions.
Tools -> Folder Options -> View (Organize -> Folder and Search Options on Vista), and uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box. Then click OK.
Afterwards the .m4a should show as part of the file name. Just change it to read .m4r
For those who are getting the ring tone to show up in iTunes under your ringtones folder of your library and your iPhone ringtones tab in iTunes, but NOT showing up on your iPhone try the following.
1) Go to your ringtones tab in iTunes with your phone plugged in. Select to NOT sync any of your ringtones.
2) Sync your phone (this will remove any current ringtones that might be messing up the process)
3) Next go into your iTunes library and make sure that any .m4a versions of the song are deleted. IMPORTANT: If your original version of the song was an .m4a, create an mp3 version (follow similar steps as in the OP, but convert to mp3 instead). Make sure that when you create the mp3, you create it for the WHOLE song before deleting or else you will lose your song!
4) Once you have deleted all of the .m4a versions, go back to the ringtones tab and select to sync all of your ringtones (or selected ringtones with the appropriate boxes check, however you normally have it set).
5) You should now see the ringtone appear in on your phone.
The issue seems to be that the phone would get confused if there were both .m4r and .m4a versions of a song that you were trying to put on your phone. So my solution is to delete any .m4a versions.
Thanks a lot, this worked for me. I wasn’t seeing the ringtone on my phone because I had left the shortened m4a version in my itunes folder, so once I deleted that, un-synced the ringtone, and then resynced, it appeared.
Thank you so much! This worked for me!
Thank you! Had me stumped for half hour but this def’s worked for me
I cant find tools!
I have windows and i cannot find where it says tools>folder options ect. help please
Thank you very much it works great
Now its easy for iphone users to create fav ringtones
it’s not working on mine! it doesn’t show up as a ringtone after i changed it to .m4r, and i couldnt find the convert to aac option (though i swear i’d seen it before) but i used another converter. help!
Imran14826
[livetv.pk]
Can someone verify this work’s on the iPhone 4 please, as i have tried everything left right and centre and nothing is working, such as i can get the ringtone setup in itunes and sync etc, just not appearing on the iPhone ringtone section.
Also could everyone asking the same question READ THE COMMENTS! These guys are repeating themselves to help you all, and all you can do is take the piss and not bother reading.
Everything needed to know is in that guide and the comments, OPEN YOUR EYES!
I can’t speak for other people, but I have done the steps exactly as they’ve laid them out, and the options they say will show up are not showing up on my computer. Just because they are on yours does not mean they are on everyone else’s.
I have an iphone 4 and it works.
The method works with iPhone 4, but there’s a trick to it. Before converting the m4a file to m4r, right-click on the file, and then click Properties > Details > Remove Properties and Personal Information. If you leave out this step, the ringtone won’t make its way from iTunes to the phone. At least, that’s how it was for me.
THIS is what all the other tutorials are missing. THANKS!
Thank you! This info is what I needed to for iTunes to recognize the ringtone I created. Again, thanks a MILLION!
Ocean, thanks for that last comment, am now able to get the ringtones i want
I have done every step carefully. But your steps don’t lead me to the same place you say they will. For instance:
When I right click on my song, “convert to AAC” is not an option. There is nothing about AAC at all.
So!
Then I go to: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced… but “importing” is not an option. There is nothing about importing anywhere that I can find.
So!
I go to my Folder Options and uncheck the “Hide extensions for known file type” box, and clicked “ok.” I then repeat the first steps. With no difference.
So!
I follow the instructions at this site: [mediacollege.com] on how to change a file extension in xp, and basically just manually went in and typed the extension you said.
After changing the file to m4a, I followed your steps precisely, saving it to the desktop, changing it again to m4r, adding a file to my library, pulling it from the desktop,
…and…?!
Nothing! Nothing happens! This is so frustrating! I’m really thankful for your tutorial, it just doesn’t appear to be working on my Windows XP computer with my iTunes version 9.2.0.61. Please help me! I beg you. I painstakingly made these ringtones over the last few years. I spent countless hours, and some of them are songs I can’t possibly buy on iTunes. I’m in love with my new iphone 4, but it just won’t be the same without my priceless ringtones. I’d so appreciate your help. PLEASE ADVISE.
I follow the instructions at this site: [mediacollege.com] on how to change a file extension in xp, and basically just manually went in and typed the extension you said.
After changing the file to m4a, I followed your steps precisely, saving it to the desktop, changing it again to m4r, adding a file to my library, pulling it from the desktop,
did this and then it worked tuerns out i had the file named
“not affraid.m4r.m4a” delted the m4a part and it worked
For anyone else struggling as I was, I found the solution elsewhere. They were correct for mac, but it wasn’t working for Windows. At least not for mine. Here is the correct instruction for both:
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’.
w00t!!! I’m SO excited! Now it’s working! GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Ha! Sweet, It works great!! It took me like 5 times but when I actually followed the steps exactly and not just skim thru the directions it worked out perfectly. Plus the steps I had to take were a tad different because I’m using Vista.
My ring tone ROCKS!! Thanks!
I got all the way to adding the file into the library, it wont do it!I have it renamed and it shows up as a ringtone but I can’t find it in my itunes. IS there something I am Missing?
Had the same problem.. it took me a couple of hours of messing around, and I found the solution. Delete the original .m4a ringtone you created out of your itunes library, then add the .m4r from your desktop.
Thanks for your help Keith!!
Thanks to all you guys for taking the time to explain the tricks and angles for the latest version of itunes. I appreciate your time!
Thank you for the advice Kevin which worked a treat
I now have my one and only ringtone set to my lovely iphone4, hurrah
These instructions are good and i used them on my previous iphone about 3yrs ago. 2 things to note
1) you will have to go back to the original song, right click, get info,options tab and untick the start ant stop times and click ok to restore your original song.
2)Where the above instructions say “3.Right-click on the song you just modified, and choose the Convert to AAC option. If you don’t see this in the context menu navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing, and make sure the AAC Encoder is selected in the Import Using menu.” on my windows vista with new itunes i simply just right click on the song and go to Create AAC version. Hope this helps
Thank you oceanofnotions!!!
It was a great help.
I have followed everything correctly…
when i import the song from my desktop to the ringtone file. the ringtone is only 1 second long….
im sooooo frustrated!!!
I have created 10 custom ringtones. However, my iphone is only allowing me to have 2. What gives?
I’m having the same problem.
To all people having this issue I’ve found what I think is a fix; make sure that the ringtones are in your itunes library, delete them from your phone, lock your phone, add them back and then sync.
It worked for me
Hi I’m having the same problem as Brian. I have made ringtones when I’m plugged in to my computer with the phone I can see all the ringtones but when I go to the sounds tab I only see one ringtone under my custom sounds. How can I fix this?
Renee, I’m having the same issue. Does anyone know the solution to getting more than one custom ringtone to show up on my phone.
someone please help me, I have followed loads of ppls advice over how to customise ringtones for iphone 4 using with itunes 9.2.1 on MAC OSX 10.6.3, but appear to be having absolutely no luck, I can get the song into m4r version in finder, but it never makes it into my ringtone part of itunes despite trying loads!!
Someone help its driving me mad, or let me know if its actually possible to do??
Many Thanks!
An update on the situation with iTunes–it appears that the latest version has made it still more difficult (and perhaps impossible) to convert mp3 files to aac files.
I have Windows iTunes version 9.2.1.5 (I upgraded to get the signal patch for the iPhone). Going to Edit–>Preferences’ Advanced tab reveals no mention of Import settings. The only Import settings option I can find is under the General tab, and it’s in the context of importing music from CDs.
Does anyone know of a workaround using iTunes, or of any free software that will expedite converting mp3s to m4rs?
Hey mate, thanks so much for this tutorial, have been through a few different sites but wasn’t able to see where I was going wrong till I came here. First off I didn’t have file type showing, so it was still a m4a file even though i changed the name to m4r. I also had to add the file to library, other sites I went to didn’t go over that step. Thanks again for your help, greatly appreciated.
I’ve done this and it works perfectly (on my iPhone 4, and in Canada (if it matters)). I’m just wondering if theres a way to make ringtones for my text messages. When i go to setting my songs are in the ringtones tab, but not in new received message. Anybody have a solution?
… did do find a way? Really would like to know!
– Thanks!!
I can do step 2 fine, but in step 3 when I right click to ‘Create AAC Version’ the new version of the song is 0:00 in duration. What am I doing wrong?
Worked perfect – thanks!
Nice one, works perfectly. Had to convert to iPhone, what else is there really?? but hate Apples dominance and never been fond of iTunes either.
Cheers
I just tried this on the newest version of iTunes and windows 7 and it worked perfectly! This help guide was the only one which made sense and I had read 4 before! thank you
this is great! thank you so much!
Thanks .. took me a while.. but works great on my iphone4. Can you also add txt message tones by adding something other than .m4a on the end … thanks
What do you have to add to the end to make it a txt
Msg tone?
I don’t have a ringtones section on my iTunes. So… there’s nowhere for me to save my ringtone. Is there any way to find that section, or is there something I’m missing…
same problem!!
OMG yes! thankyou thankyou thankyou this works great!!
Brian said:
I have created 10 custom ringtones. However, my iphone is only allowing me to have 2. What gives?
Andian said:
To all people having this issue I’ve found what I think is a fix; make sure that the ringtones are in your itunes library, delete them from your phone, lock your phone, add them back and then sync.
It worked for me
Thank You Andrian and Brian..Finally it works..
I can’t delete the ringtones from my phone. Please help.
I’m an idiot. I just deleted from itunes and then put it back in my library after i changed the name of the file on my pc. works great!!! Thanks!!!!
Fantastic, fast, simple, effective.
Thanks
when it saves under ringtones in itunes it still trying to play the whole song….didnt save the lengh of the song no matter what i do
Thank you for ur help…..very informative and accurate.
Me, I use Cucusoft iPhone Ringtone Maker for that. I buyed it here [karleuf.com] and I’m really satisfied
But you can also download it for free.