How to Make Ringtones in iTunes (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

Apple's iTunes program allows you to cut your favorite songs to turn into ringtones. You can use iTunes to create ringtones by converting a file to the m4r extension and syncing it with your phone. How to do this will vary depending on the operating system you are using, Mac or Windows.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Creating iTunes Ringtones on Mac

Step 1. Select the song you want to use as a ringtone

• Listen carefully several times.
• Select the part of the 30-second song that you want to use as your ringtone.

• Load the song into iTunes, if you haven't already.

  

• You can't use songs purchased from the iTunes store, unless they're converted to an unprotected format.

Step 2. Search for the song you want to use in iTunes

Highlight the song.

Step 3. Use your mouse to right-click the song

Select "Get Info" from the drop-down list.

Step 4. Click the "Options" tab in the dialog box

Step 5. Check the "Start Time" and "Stop Time" boxes

Type a start and stop time for the ringtone.

• The length of the song must be equal to or less than 30 seconds.

• If you select the start of the song, you can leave the "Start Time" box unchecked.

  

• For example, Start Time could say "0:31" and End Time could say "0:56."

  

• Click "OK" when finished.

  

Step 6. Highlight the song again in iTunes

Right click the song. Select "Create AAC Version" from the drop-down list.

• AAC is "Apple Lossless Audio File."

• The song will be changed into 2 versions. One is a full-length version of the song, and the other is a cut version of the song.

  

Step 7. Right click on the snippet version of the song

Select "Show in Finder."

Step 8. Highlight the song in your Finder window

Right-click and select "Get Info." Check the duration to make sure it's a snippet version of the song.

Step 9. Rename the file with.m4r extension

This will replace the.m4a file extension that iTunes songs automatically have.

• Click "Enter."

  

• Click the "Use.m4r" button when the confirmation box appears.

  

• Keep the Finder window open.

  

Step 10. Return to the iTunes program

Right-click on the AAC version or the snippet of the song. Roll the mouse and select "delete."

Step 11. Click "Delete Song" when the confirmation box appears

Select "Keep File" when the second box appears.

Step 12. Return to the open Finder window

Double-click on your.m4r snippet file.

• This will add the file to iTunes.

  

• The snipped version of the song will automatically appear as a "tone" in your iTunes library.

  

Step 13. Drag the ringtone into a folder on your device the next time you connect your phone to your computer

Method 2 of 2: Creating iTunes Ringtones on PC

Step 1. Select a song in iTunes to use as a ringtone

• You have to select a 30-second part of the song to use as a ringtone.
• Write down the stop time and start time for your ringtone.
• You cannot select songs purchased from the iTunes store, unless they are converted to an unprotected format.

Step 2. Find the song you want to use in iTunes and highlight the song

Step 3. Right click on your selected song

Scroll down and select "Get Info."

Step 4. Select the "Options" tab in the Get Info dialog box

Step 5. Check the "Start Time" and "Stop Time" boxes

Type a start and stop time for your ringtone.

• The ringtone must be equal to or less than 30 seconds.

  

• Click "OK" when you are finished selecting the length of your song.

  

Step 6. Highlight and right click the song in iTunes

Select “Create AAC Version.”

• You'll see a snippet of the song and the full version of the song in your iTunes album.

  

Step 7. Open Control Panel, which is in the Start Menu

Select “Large icons” from the menu.

• Wait a while until the screen changes.

  

Step 8. Select “Folder Options

” Select the "View" tab.

Step 9. Uncheck the box that says “Hide extensions for known file types

” Click the "OK" button.

Step 10. Highlight the snippet version of the song

Right click on your mouse. Select "Show in Windows Explorer."

Step 11. Click once on the snippet file once the snippet is opened in Windows Explorer

Step 12. Change the file extension from.m4a to.m4r

Press "Enter."

Step 13. Double click on the song

Wait for the song to open in iTunes.

Step 14. Go to the “Tones” section in your iTunes library

It looks like a small golden bell.

• Now the ringtone you just created will be listed in the library.

  

Step 15. Plug in your phone

Sync your Tones in your iTunes library.