How to convert songs to ringtones?

When you edit the start and stop times of the original track you're altering some properties stored in the iTunes database. The file itself isn't trimmed, but only plays between the two points that you've set. When you convert such a track to a new file only the active section is copied into the new track. You can sort the library in the Songs view by date added with most recent at the top to make sure you're locating the newly converted file in Finder to work with for the next steps. I suspect you've changed the extension of the original file which even with a .m4r extension doesn't satisfy the <40 second rule to qualify as a proper ring tone.

tt2

Chris,

Honestly my trouble started when I tried to sync my I tunes on my phone and MAC. I instinctively installed the new IOS 11. My ringtones disappeared. and now I can't find the tones on my general preferences on my Mac I Tunes. The song is in my library, and on my I phone library.

All my notification settings disappeared also in the process.

This will be the last time I agree to update the IOS before it's been out for a few months. Ugh!

Ok. I must be really stupid here. All I managed to do was able to get the 30 seconds of the song that I want, made. It automatically save it as .m4a. I drag it onto my iMac and change it to .m4r. I delete the old version and try to drag the new file back into iTunes and it won't drag. It only drags back into it when it's .m4a. I can't find the Tones section and right now, stupid iTunes isn't even finding my iPhone 7 Plus! I would buy the ringtone from iTunes...if they had it available. I've spent a couple of days on this. Can someone please help!

Kelly

I just lost ALL of the downloaded ringtones on my iPhone! I was trying to get rid of a duplicate copy of a song that was already downloaded. When i added the other three and tried to synch it, all the tones got erased from my phone. I'm getting angry now.

iphones are crap compare to Samsungs because you can set the ringtone so easily with the song without bloody using itunes. I think its stupid how you have to do it this way, Apple need to make it more user phone friendly, Samsung is so much easier to use and do it.. it shouldn't be this hard to set a bloody ringtone.

this looks pretty helpful. i did steps 1&2, but when i right click on the song, create aac version doesn't show up. so how do i create a new file for it?

Did you stick to the less than 40 second rule? If nothing else works to copy over the file you may need the advice in this post: Re: Unable to sync iTunes purchased music to iphone.

tt2

iTunes 12.7 changes the way ringtones are added to devices.

See Create and manage ringtones in iTunes.

tt2

See Create and manage ringtones in iTunes. In some cases you may need to remove your ringtone files from the device then add them back.

tt2

The idea is that you create a new AAC file with a .m4a file extension that you rename to .m4r. You delete the entry in the library to the newly created file as it will no longer be part of the music library. You should place the renamed file in the Tones folder inside your media folder so you can locate it when you want to drag it to your device. You keep the file you've made so you can add to it to a new or restored device.

I've made a minor tweak to the tip to include a suggestion to move newly created ringtones into the Tones folder.

tt2

1. Find the song you want and note the start/stop time you want the ring tone.
2. Right click - get info, click the Options tab and set the start/stop times as above.
3. Right click - Create AAC version. This creates a new file.
4. Drag this new file from the iTunes window to the desktop.
5. Delete the file from iTunes and also select Delete from hard drive.
6. On the desktop, rename the file whateveryouwant.m4r (first part you can change to whatever you want & change the extension to .m4r).
7. Drag the file back to the iTunes library at top left.
8. Make sure iTunes prefs > General has Tones ticked.

We should just note I believe a ringtone has to be 30 seconds or less in length.

Yes, that is correct.

Hey Chris

i have been making ringtones for a while through itunes, but recently after i updated, i dont have the option to create an ACC version of the song, i only get create an MP3 version, which does not enable me to add the file to the ringtones folder. Do you know the solution to this problem?

iTunes prefs General tab - Import settings.

Set to AAC.