How to transfer custom ringtone with iTunes 12.7?
Apple support article says to transfer it manually "if you have ringtone in your iTunes". However in iTunes 12.7 there are no ringtones anymore and I can't find a way to transfer custom ringtone my to iPhone.
The iTunes software no longer manages tones for you, but it still lets you inspect which tones are in your phone (see screenshot above).
I got my custom ringtones back by doing the following:
1) Using finder, locate the files in the folder "Tones" under where my iTunes media library is stored
2) From within iTunes, with my iPhone connected, select "Tones" under "On My Device" (screenshot above)
3) Drag the files from (1) onto the blank area in (2) to copy them onto the phone:
4) Click "sync".
5) From my iPhone, choose Settings -> Sounds -> Ringtone: confirm that the missing custom ringtones have been restored and that my default ringtone has been automatically set back to the (now no longer missing) custom ringtone it used to have.
Note: My phone is using iOS 10.3.3; I haven't installed iOS 11 yet. But I had the same problem with "where did my custom ringtones go?" the moment I upgraded iTunes to 12.7.
As a poor, benighted PC user, this method doesn't work for me. I can't drag files from Windows Explorer to iTunes. So I added the folder to iTunes Music, and my custom ringtones all showed up in iTunes under "Tones". However, this made no difference. I should mention that I could always see and play the tones on my phone; I just couldn't use them. Standard ringtones all worked, and I could assign them as custom tones on a per contact basis, but I can't assign the ringtones I've created over the years. Some of the tones are irreplaceable, at least from the iTunes Store.
Me too! the tone I created a thousand years ago, is on my device and in my library in iTunes still. I have it checked. But when a call comes in, it defaults to Marimba tone. I click on other tones I created and they play just fine when a call comes in. But the one I've always used does not.
How do I fix this? It is there, don't need instructions on how to get it there. Just need to know how to make the phone recognize it.
Exactly my problem. It is there and working. Just doesn't work when the phone rings - get the default Marimba sound. Can click on other tones I made and they work just fine for calls. But the one I've always used does not. Crazy. Did you find a way to get it working for calls yet?
You have to go into settings and sounds and look where it says download ringtones. After you download you will see your tone more than once. You will select most likely the last version and then assign to contact and have them call you. It’s a process of elimination but it solved the problem
You have to go into settings and sounds and look where it says download ringtones. After you download you will see your tone more than once. You will select most likely the last version and then assign to contact and have them call you. It’s a process of elimination but it solved the problem
You have to go into settings and sounds and look where it says download ringtones. After you download you will see your tone more than once. You will select most likely the last version and then assign to contact and have them call you. It’s a process of elimination but it solved the problem
I do not have a "download ringtones" option, only "download purchased ringtones." I did already assign my custom ringtone to a contact and when that person called, the phone only played the obnoxious default ringtone, not my custom ringtone. IOS 11 defeats custom ringtones and only Apple can fix it.
This worked for me, but I really shouldn't have had to do it.
Apple is really nasty the way they want you to buy ringtones instead of just selecting your favourite part of a track and creating them yourself.
So, I figured out that I shouldn't actually open the device. Instead, on the iTunes Library screen, I can drag the file to the sidebar from Windows Explorer, and drop it on "Tones", and it works, at least for a file I just created using this method. Thanks!
You're welcome. 🙂
FWIW a couple of users who have been running iTunes as administrator to get around other issues in previous builds have found they could only use the drag and drop method with iTunes running in regular mode.
tt2
Not sure what the difference is in your "NOT HERE" but here: I tried when my iphone was plugged into computer; itunes opened: Under "ON MY DEVICE" Tones - where all of my existing 21 custom ringtones did transfer over in ios 11 update , i tried from Finder in Music/iTunes/Media/Tones, to drag the new custom ringtone made today in garageband, to on my device: Tones folder; there was a "+" sign, but the new ringtone never appeared. It did show up by dragging on my husband's iphone (has 10 ringtontes) and my ipad - had none, but not on my iphone. All are updated to ios 11.0. Thank you
Thank you. I appreciate your time.However, dragging the file per the second picture (w/out showing the folders in the iphone in itunes, did not work on my iphone. And dragging the file as in the first screenshot - to the "Tones" folder in itunes in "ON MY DEVICE" did work on my husbands iphone & my ipad. So what is working for 2 devices, is not working in the third.
Exactly my problem. Apple (care) had no idea other than to say "it happens sometimes". YouTube has several videos showing that GarageBand on the phone is the best way to create ringtones. In short, I was able to download to GarageBand (from my Music Library) the same song that I used to create my original ringtone, and recreate it as a "new" ringtone. And it worked perfectly! This old "new" ringtone rings on a call while the original one is still on the list and if checked continues to default to the annoying Marimba ring. Go figure.
Good luck.🙂
Well, thanks for posting this solution, but I must say, how much work am I supposed to do to have the custom ringtone back that I've been using for many years, while in the meantime putting up with really annoying built-in ringtones. I don't understand why Apply won't simply fix this glitch so we can get back to our normal lives again. Apple, are you paying attention???
I just had my iphone 8Plus on iOS 11 and did these steps:
1. Open iTunes 12.7 and connect your iPhone
2. I went to the directory where my iTunes folder is located in my laptop which is Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Tones
3. Select and highlight all the custom Tones that you want to transfer in your phone, then Copy it...
4. Back to iTunes, go to "On My Device" >"Tones", then on the Edit Menu, select "Paste"
5. It should sync automatically as soon as your files are transferred.
6. Go ahead and customize in your phone under "Settings">"Sounds&Haptics"
How to get custom ringtone onto iOS 11 device?
