How to convert songs to ringtones?

Okay, so I've done all of this, converting and such. But when I try to drag to Tones the file doesn't show, and my Tones tab remains unchanged. (I've never purchased any ringtones, so it remains empty.) I've tried moving the .m4r into the iTunes Music library folder from Windows File Explorer. I tried making a "Tones" folder within my "iTunes Media" folder. No dice. Any suggestions?

EDIT: It should also be noted that I've tried double clicking the file from my file explorer to try to prompt iTunes to re-import, but that doesn't work either. My Tones tab remains barren.

Did you change the file extension to .m4r?

Yeah, I did, which is why this confounds me. When I double click the file, it opens iTunes, and I'm prompted to enter my password. I do that, and then it continues with it's whole "checking for downloads" spiel. And I switch to Tones, and it's not there. ಠ _ಠ

UPDATE: I figured out the thing.

The problem lied in the fact that I had my iTunes encoder preferences set to "MP3 encoder" and so when I right-clicked on the file and didn't see an option for "Create AAC version" I assumed—ignorantly—that it would do the same thing. It took this thread for me to figure it out. But I've done it. Imported, and everything worked fine.

So let this be a lesson to ye: make sure the original file—the song you want to make into a ringtone—has been imported as an AAC, and that you make an AAC version. MP3s are not chill. Apparently.

iWriteNovels wrote:

UPDATE: I figured out the thing.

The problem lied in the fact that I had my iTunes encoder preferences set to "MP3 encoder" and so when I right-clicked on the file and didn't see an option for "Create AAC version" I assumed—ignorantly—that it would do the same thing. It took this thread for me to figure it out. But I've done it. Imported, and everything worked fine.

So let this be a lesson to ye: make sure the original file—the song you want to make into a ringtone—has been imported as an AAC, and that you make an AAC version. MP3s are not chill. Apparently.

The original song does not need to be MP3.

The file created for the ringtone needs to be AAC. This was noted on the first page….

Yes, I only just realized this as of today. Somehow missed the AAC requirement, but it makes sense. Changed my preferences. Everything worked well.

Glad you got it sorted!

hi, when I followed those steps, it meseed up the original song that I curr have.

Did you change the start/stop time back to its original length?

ari4241 wrote:

hi, when I followed those steps, it meseed up the original song that I curr have.

How did it mess up the original?

Ok So I have my 20 Second song clip saved as .m4r

It shows up in iTunes, and it plays exactly what I want,

I go to drag and drop onto my phone

it appears to go thru

now why cant I find it on my phone?

MoMMaLoID wrote:

Ok So I have my 20 Second song clip saved as .m4r

It shows up in iTunes, and it plays exactly what I want,

I go to drag and drop onto my phone

Select the iPhone in iTunes.

CLlck the Tones tab.

Tick the tones you want to sync.

Sync.

On the iPhone, Settings > Sounds > Ringtone.

Select the ringtone you want.

Yeah ! Super Advice Chris CA, a few minor variations on desktop but overall it worked out perfect for Royksopp Eple. Mp3

Reduced it down to 37 seconds 1.7Mb now it fits on my Motorola V3. Once again thanks for the super advice. Continue the good work !

Sincerely, M. Svika 🙂

I may be in the wrong thread. I have the iPhone 6 and am PC Windows 8 based. I have been through the steps to create the AAC file, shorten the song and drag it to the desktop. I deleted the version in iTunes and dragged it back into my library with Tones library open, but it goes only to my music file. I don't see a way to move it. ?????

Did you rename the file to something.m4r?