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  • How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone

How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone

Posted: , by Pressian Karakostov

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How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
So, you've just bought that shiny, new Apple iPhone 4S, and you're loving every aspect of it... but you just can't figure out one thing – how are you supposed to create a custom ringtone out of your favorite song, and import it into that beautiful but sometimes seemingly stubborn as hell glass-and-steel body. Or, here's another example (this time a bit more tragic) – you've been having the iPhone for the last few years, and you are loving every aspect of it, but you just can't figure out one thing -  how are you supposed to create a custom ringtone out of your favorite song and actually use it?! Well, the time has come to put an end to this misery, for there is a way to do this! Below you'll find our step-by-step guide, which includes all the details that you need for that doable, but, dare we say, slightly more complicated that usual process. Of course, this guide is for those users who want to create a ringtone from a DRM-free file, which in our case means a music file, which they have obtained from a place other than iTunes.


  1. Alright, first things first – be sure to get yourself a nice cup of coffee. You'll need it in order to stay awake while executing all of the steps. Hey, you want this custom ringtone or what?

  2. Now you need to pick a DRM-free song, which you want to make a ringtone of. Drag that file to your iTunes music library. Once you've selected the track in your iTunes library, you'd want to choose the exact part that you'll want as a ringtone. Feel free to listen to your song, and write down your desired start and stop times for the ringtone. Keep in mind that the passage shouldn't be longer than 40 seconds.

How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  3. Once you're ready with that, please right-click on the song, and choose “Get Info”. In this pop-up, you need to navigate to the “Options” tab, and right there you'll see options to set a “Start Time” and a “Stop Time”. You guessed it – this is where you'll have to input the times that you wrote down a minute ago.


How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  4. Now that you've done this, simply click the “OK” button to close the pop-up. From this position, you should again right-click on your track, and this time you'll have to choose “Create AAC version”. As you've noticed, the new, AAC version of your track has appeared in addition to your old track.



How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  5. Okay, so now you have a nice new AAC file, right? Right-click on it and choose “Show in Windows Explorer” for PC users or “Show in Finder” for Mac users. A new window will pop up, with the song selected, but let's first go back to the iTunes library and delete the AAC song from there. When prompted, you should choose “Keep File”.


How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  6. We're now left with an AAC file selected in Windows Explorer, or Finder, and this same file actually missing from the iTunes library. What we have to do now is to change the extension of this file. For those who don't know what a file extension is, we'll just quickly mention that it can be looked at as a part of the file's name, which defines the type of file. For Windows users, file extensions might be, or might not be visible. If you see the part “.m4a” written after the name of your AAC file in Windows Explorer, then you should just right-click on the file and choose “Rename”, after which you have to replace “m4a” with “m4r”, which is obviously the file extension for iTunes ringtones. However, if file extensions aren't visible on your system, do the following: while in Windows Explorer, hit the “Alt” key on your keyboard, and choose “Tools->Folder Options” from the menu that just appeared. Then, you need to move to the “View” tab, and from there, you should uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types” and hit “OK”. This will make the file extension of your AAC file appear on screen, allowing you to change it following our instructions from the beginning of this step. Mac users simply have to right-click on the AAC file in Finder, choose “Get Info” and then change the file's extension.

How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  7. Now that we've dealt with this tricky part, all we need to do is double-click on our file and, surprise – it automatically opens in iTunes, neatly nested within the “Tones” section. However, if by some chance the ringtone doesn't show up, it is probably because your “Tones” section isn't set to be active in iTunes. To make it appear, you have to go to “Edit->Preferences” in iTunes, and there you'll need to check “Tones” from the list of “Sources”.

How to: create a custom iPhone ringtone
  8. The only thing left to do is to sync iTunes with your iPhone, and your brand new, custom ringtone will appear as an option in your iOS device's Settings->Sounds->Ringtone menu. If it doesn't sync, that means you'll have to click on your iPhone in iTunes, go to the “Tones” tab and choose “Sync Tones”. This should do it.

Well, we told you it's not among the simplest of processes, but it's certainly doable! And now, you have your favorite song set as a ringtone on your iPhone – we don't know why this should sound like such a big deal, but nothing is perfect, you know, including the world of the ubiquitous iTunes sync.

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1. exf5003 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:19 2

hahaha wow, f that. Such a simple process gone wrong

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2. bubba78 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:19 3

An easier way is to go to makeownringtone. com. Its free, and you can have the song normalized so it doesnt play to loud, and fade in and out. Then you can have it export the song as a m4r, or mp3.

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5. iKingTrust (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:28 3

yea this works too

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3. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:20 11 1

Ohh if Steve Jobs was alive he would not stand for this. He would say there is no customizing an Apple product. It's my way & only my way.

P.S. I am JOKING, it's good that people are finding ways to customize Apple products. We at the Android community take this for granted, but iOS users have been held back for quite some time.

Also I hope I don't get moderated. lol

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6. iKingTrust (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:29 4 1

I got a laugh out of this.

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15. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:42 4 1

That is good, that was my intention. Hopefully the good laugh helped you out during this very average Tuesday.

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7. iamcc posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:50 6 5

If Steve Jobs were alive this would be a feature on the iPhone5, and any apps that do the same thing would be removed from the app store.

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11. iKingTrust (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:05 2 2

no that is not how it works.

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12. iamcc posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:12 4 4

Oh, okay. Sorry.

I thought that's what they did with Siri, I was only making a joke.

Oh wait, that is what they did with Siri.

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14. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:40 5 3

You know what, you are probably closer to reality than not. It sounds like something Apple would most definitely do. It’s not like Apple hasn’t done that before.

Just like iamcc said, look at Siri.

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16. iamcc posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:45 3

What's funny, is I actually APPLAUD Steve Jobs/Apple for taking ideas that work as an app or whatever and incorporating it into their OS.

What I absolutely cannot stand is that they do not give credit where it's due and they advertise these things as "revolutionary".

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18. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:58 2

I think it's not just you, but a lot of people who feel exactly the way you do. Myself included! Apple does have a long list of exactly what you said.

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23. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:22 3 6

You android fanboys never quit do you. Did you guys know the whole android OS was bought by google? Vso what's wrong with Apple LEGALLY purchasing a technology and incorporating into their OS. You guys twist everything to somehow be negative against Apple.

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25. robinrisk posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:43 3 1

taco, did you read where it said "I actually applaud Steve jobs/Apple' on iamcc's post?

There's nothing wrong with LEGALLY purchasing a technology and incorporating it in their OS.

Whats wrong is to present it as an original and revolutionary idea that they came up with.

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52. taco50 (banned) posted on 16 Nov 2011, 01:03 1

Wait iammcc and robinrisk are the same person!! Two troll accounts to thumb yourself up I see.

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54. iamcc posted on 16 Nov 2011, 07:26 2

I don't need two accounts... enough people agree with me as it is.


You on the other hand...

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34. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:27 4

We know Android was bought by Google, but Google never claimed that they "invented" it or advertised it as "REVOLUTIONARY"! Do you see the difference.

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19. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:17 2 7

Oh look a fanboy is trolling

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46. bigboy029 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 16:01 1

wooooah settle down....

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47. Jango_Fred posted on 15 Nov 2011, 17:43

Wow...what is the phrase?..."Pot calling the kettle black"?

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31. GoodFella posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:06 1

Why I don\'t think a lot of people with Android take it for granted. I moved over to Android for the very reason I could NOT customize my iPhone.

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4. iKingTrust (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:25 1

I just use iringtone. much easier than this

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8. ilia1986 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:58 4

One does not simply customize the iPhone

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9. Whateverman posted on 15 Nov 2011, 10:59 5

I think Apple should address this in the next update. This is waaaaay too complicated for the general public to do on their own.

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20. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:19 2 5

I've been using this for a while. This is not Apple meant for the consumer to use. People just figured it out. Aren't you the same person that complains simple is bad.

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27. Whateverman posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:51 4 2

Wrong as usual. I never said simple was bad, I said iOS is too simple of an OS for me. It's fine if that what you want, but I am a creative person so customization appeals to me more.

That's fine that you have been using this for a while, but are you arguing with me because you think complicating the process of making custome ringtones are better? Wouldn't simplifying this process only enhance the ease of use? Or are you just arguing with me because you simply have to dispute everything I say?

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32. Whateverman posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:08 6 1

I wonder who gave me that thumb down??? Lol!

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37. remixfa posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:51 4

im going to go with your last sentence. lol
we could agree with taco, and he would still come out swinging with his eyes closed.

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10. pourguoin posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:02 2 1

...?... you mean you CAN\'T simply pick any song of your phone library and choose the \"use as a ringtone\" command?...don\'t wanna start a iOS vs Android debate here but.....

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21. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:20 2 6

Then don't.

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29. roldefol posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:00 3 3

I had this same question when I saw the iPhone 4 in action the first time. For a phone that's so music-intensive (it's an evolution of the iPod, after all), why is it so complicated to add ringtones? My last 3 dumbphones at least allowed me to save any sound clip attached to an MMS text as a ringtone. This is one example of Apple failing to idiot-proof what should be a simple function.

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13. rd_nest posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:17 1 1

Are you serious??

Do we now need an article to change wallpaper?

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17. ibap posted on 15 Nov 2011, 11:57 3

You would be amazed to see what you go through to get a song onto a non-smartphone if it doesn't happen to be one that is available from the ringtone sites - ask me what I went through to get my daughter the ringtone she wanted. What rubbish. Why does a ringtone need something wacky as a file type? Why can't an mp3 or Quicktime or some standard sound file type be used directly? Answer: GREED

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22. ThomasFlowerchild posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:20 2 1

Changing my ringtone to my favorite MP3 on my Nokia N8 is much much easier! And than they say Symbian is dead...

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24. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 12:23 3 4

Symbian is dead. Nokia announced their going windows remember

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28. robinrisk posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:00 4 1

lol symbian sells more than iOS

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30. Paden posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:05 1

I use iRinger. Free download.

http://iringer.en.softonic.com/

Load your song. Cut. Sync Phone.

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33. remixfa posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:19 3 1

are you serious?? you guys havent had custom ringtones on the fly?? wow. in android its as simple as go to your music folder, pick a song.. long press... make ringtone. done.

and i keep being told iOS is the simple OS to use.. hmm..

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35. Paden posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:45 2 1

Apple's thinking? Buy the ringtone. That's simple.

Custom ringtones? You're on your own.

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36. remixfa posted on 15 Nov 2011, 13:50 3

Sadly.. that makes sense with apple way of doing business. Chalk that up to yet another reason why i wont buy into an apple product.
Wow.. I thought WP7 was the weird one by not allowing custom ringtones. No idea iOS didnt do it either.. lol.

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38. Paden posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:07 3

Yeah, agreed, it is pretty lame. +1 for Android on that.

It's a give and take with any phone. I'm still dreaming of a perfect phone, because it still doesn't exist... :(

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40. Jobes posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:12 3

I made this argument a while ago.. So much trouble for a simple ringtone. Imagine a world where someone could open a song on their phone edit it and set it as a ringtone all from their phone well the future is here. You will love this pho..... wait a min wtf.. You could do this in 09 with the OG Droid lol. "there's an app for that"

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48. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 20:48 3

There are custom ringtones. You just have to be willing to spend $1.29.

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57. Jobes posted on 16 Nov 2011, 23:52

That's not custom Taco....... .. . .. That's premade lol. Custom would be personally tailored to exactly what you want.

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39. roldefol posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:09 2

So Apple wants to double-charge you (or is it triple? How much do they charge per ringtone?) for the music you've already bought. Once to buy the song, and again to get the exact same song in ringtone form.

And apparently until a year ago, ringtone-making apps were banned from the App Store. I'm sorry, but that was just plain greedy and in my view unjust. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to use my own music as I like.

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41. Paden posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:15 2

I think its $1.29 per ring tone...? I'm not sure. I've never bought one. Don't forget that the record label and artist gets a cut of it too.

Ringtone-making apps on your phone? Yes, they've been kept from the app store.
Ringtone-making apps on your computer? They've been around for a while now.

I've been cutting ringtones on my computer for years. Apple makes it very easy to spend money to get the things you want. However, if you know even slightest about computers and technology there is always a free and legal way to do it yourself.

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43. Jobes posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:22 2 1

They are even going to charge for streaming music from the cloud...... Ouch!

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49. taco50 (banned) posted on 15 Nov 2011, 20:49 5

Please stay away from stating things that are not true.

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55. iamcc posted on 16 Nov 2011, 07:28

If that's how you feel you should stop talking. Almost everything you say is some distorted taco-fact.

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58. Jobes posted on 17 Nov 2011, 00:01 1

Correction "all of your music" jajaja. Sure iTunes music can be steamed but not music downloaded using anything else :) taco you know me... I enjoy myself some torrents.

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42. jackhammeR posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:22 1

My god...so much work with so simple task
Yeah..and Symbian is complicated..tell me about it.
I mean...who the hell needs so tight connection between phone and services? To change or make a ringtone you need to do so much steps...World ends

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44. FromOSN posted on 15 Nov 2011, 14:51 1 2

Get a DROID! And use a iOS theme!

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45. ivanko34 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 15:30 1 2

???
Is it so ... easy ?

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50. eli_waeterling posted on 15 Nov 2011, 23:21

audiko.net works perfectly.

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51. sln1021 posted on 15 Nov 2011, 23:28

or, you could just download ringtone maker from the app store. i use it. way easier than this. and i was able to use the music i purchased from itunes also.

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53. anirudhshirsat97 posted on 16 Nov 2011, 02:08 1

I finally realised how important that ' set as ringtone ' option in my music player is. Never will I undervalue such trivial options.

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56. bigheadsmartboy posted on 16 Nov 2011, 17:32

You can download the app called CREATOR and make your own ringtone on your phone and then just sync it with iTunes a lot easier then all those steps...

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59. rajmini posted on 17 Nov 2011, 04:10

Really Iphone has time consuming process to set the ringtones, Why can't Mp3 songs set a ringtone as in general phones

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60. rajmini posted on 17 Nov 2011, 04:20

Basic features missing in IPhone 4,

1. Compatability & Taking Data backup (Most Uncomfortable part)

Eg: Laptop1 i have sync 10GB data of Photos, Videos, if i want to Sync with Laptop2 for any data i will lose my 10GB data already exists

2. Data Transfers via Bluetooth
3. Downloading Songs or Videos via internet

I am not sure Y Iphone application are mostly paid once.. If any one has some solution pls provide thoughts.

Reply

61. Qeana posted on 07 Apr 2012, 09:04

Just upload your audio file to http://www.Ringer.org and cut it yourself there. Free online ringtone maker

Reply
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