Using .m4r files for ringtones?

You can also do this directly in a Finder window.

Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open a new Finder window (Command+N).

Select your iPhone in the left column. From here, you should see the usual screen to backup/restore and other options.

Drag and drop the .m4r file right onto the iPhone name as circled above. The tabs below that don't have to be on any particular choice.

The iPhone will automatically copy the .m4r file to the appropriate place for tones and you'll then be able to select it the usual way, Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone

Expanding what others have written, I was able to do it just now in MacOS Sonoma 14.4.1 and iOS 17.4.1. 1) Connect the phone and open a finder window. 2) Click your iPhone on the left side of the window. 3) Wait for the details to pop up in the main window. 4) open a separate finder window. 5) Drag and drop your m4r ringtone into the main finder window you opened in step 2. 6) Sync your phone. Your ringtones should appear on iPhone in the settings/sound and haptics with your other ring tones. As I was dragging over the finder window, the file highlighted green with the little + sign as it does in iTunes/Music.

I had an issue like that a short while back where an .m4r tone I had been using through two older iPhones would not import to my iPhone 14 Pro. It kept ending up in with the few music tracks I have.

The solution was to open it in an audio editor and re-export is as a new .m4r file. While I upgraded to the paid version of WavePad, you can use it for free.

Just open your current .m4r file in WavePad, then choose Save File As in the menu and create a new .m4r sound file. Drag the new .m4r onto the iPhone as shown above.

I found this horrendous lengthy way to do it on the phone: . . . .

You have an iMac, it's easier to work from the Mac.

To make and/or use a song as a ringtone, you must first make that song suitable for a ringtone.

See the following Apple articles:

Create and manage ringtones

Create and manage ringtones - Apple Community

Create a ringtone of your Logic Pro or GarageBand for Mac song

Create a ringtone of your Logic Pro or GarageBand for Mac song – Apple Support (UK)

Create Ringtones in Garageband

Create Ringtones in Garageband - Apple Community

Hopefully Kurt Lang's solution works for you.

I just want to let you know that you are absolutely right.

The Tones folder is still present until macOS Big Sur.

From macOS Monterey, there is no longer a Tones folder in Finder -> Music -> iTunes -> iTunes Media -> Tones.

I just created a Tones folder on my MacBook Air Monterey and copied the ringtones from those present at Big Sur to Monterey.

Have to test tomorrow to see if it works with synchronization.

Try this:

Drag & drop the custom ringtones to -> Finder -> Music -> iTunes -> iTunes Media -> Tones.

I'm curious if iOS will still revert if you create your own folder.

No idea at all what you're referring to.

Nothing? No one? I can't be alone in this problem...

Did you try my steps above? We can't know if you've tried something, or if it worked or not unless you tell us.

I think a little misunderstanding.

Go to Finder -> Sidebar clik on Music -> iTunes -> iTunes Media -> Tones.

Not the Music app.