ringtones won't sync

Im having the same problem, except nothing will sync to my phone at all 😟

I've been looking all over the internet for a solution but cannot find one 😟

This has certainly been an exasperating problem for many and I cannot understand why Apple doesn't publish how to do this correctly.

I bought 4 text tones from iTunes on my phone (iPhone 4 running iOS 5).

They worked for a while and then suddenly disappeared. Like many of you, I have been googling and searching and pulling my hair out for days.

My daughter (same phone and iOS 5) said she made her own tones using GarageBand.

I tried dragging my purchased text tones into GarageBand but they wouldn't go in. All the tones were m4r files.

Someone in the back of my mind I got the idea to change the extension to m4a. It worked. Here's what I did:

Go to your home (or user) folder in the finder, the one with the little house icon next to it.

Open the Music folder and from there open the iTunes Music folder.

You should have a folder named Ringtones. Open the folder.

You should have a list of the ringtones or text tones you have purchased.

Highlight the text tone and then click once more on the name and delete the r from m4r. Change the r to a. You will get a dialog box that says, "Are you sure you want to change the extension from “.m4r” to “.m4a”?" Select the choice "Use m4a."

Now you should be able to drag it into GarageBand. Save the file as the name of your ringtone and then under Share select Send Ringtone to iTunes.

Verify that it is in your list of ringtones in iTunes; sync your phone. I synced with the phone plugged into the computer. It may work over wi-fi. I'm not sure.

The tone should now show up in your list of tones in Settings-->Sounds-->Ringtones or Text Tones.

One more thing. Go back to your home folder where you found the ringtones. Convert the extension back to m4r, just in case.

I hope this helps. Sorry it is so long.

Karen

This has certainly been an exasperating problem for many and Icannot understand why Apple doesn't publish how to do this correctly.

I bought 4 text tones from iTunes on my phone (iPhone 4 runningiOS 5).

They worked for a while and then suddenly disappeared. Like manyof you, I have been googling and searching and pulling my hair out for days.

My daughter (same phone and iOS 5) said she made her own tonesusing GarageBand.

I tried dragging my purchased text tones into GarageBand butthey wouldn't go in. All the tones were m4r files.

Someone in the back of my mind I got the idea to change theextension to m4a. It worked. Here's what I did:

Go to your home or user folder in the finder, the one with thelittle house icon next to it.

Open the Music folder and from there open the iTunes Musicfolder.

You should have a folder named Ringtones. Open the folder.

You should have a list of the ringtones or text tones you havepurchased.

Highlight the text tone and then click once more on the name anddelete the r from m4r. Change the r to a. You will get a dialog box that says,"Are you sure you want to change the extension from “.m4r” to“.m4a”?" Select the choice "Use m4a."

Now you should be able to drag it into GarageBand. Save the fileas the name of your ringtone and then under Share, select Send Ringtone toiTunes.

Verify that it is in your list of ringtones in iTunes; sync yourphone. I synced with the phone plugged into the computer. It may work overwi-fi. I’m not sure.

The tone should now show up in your list of tones inSettings-->Sounds-->Ringtones or Text Tones.

One more thing. Go back to your home folder where you found theringtones. Convert the extension back to m4r, just in case.

I hope this helps. Sorry it is so long.

Karen

Hi Karaen,

I did the same things. Ringtones are listed in the itunes. But after sync process, it will not listed in my iphone.

Rathnam.M

My personal experience is that ringtones longer than 40 seconds will not sync. I've validated this with a lot of experimentation! Ringtones that used to synchronise on my old 3S running iOS4 didn't have a length limit. But since upgrading to a 4S (today), they won't synchronise unless I reduce the m4r length to 40 seconds or less.

I had all the same problems. Tried all extension changes, etc. Nothing worked. Then I tried unselecting the Sync Tones box, selected the Don't sync Tones button in the pop-up box, and then synced. After that, I reselected the Sync Tones box, synced again and all my ringtones I created (and worked prior to IOS5) made it to my phone and now work perfectly. Why that had to be so painful...***, apple?

Where do I find the don't sync tones button, on my phone or in itunes?

there isnt one