How to Create a Ringtone with iTunes (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

iTunes, Apple's famous software, allows you to shorten a song you like to turn it into a ringtone. You can use iTunes to create a ringtone by converting the original file into one with an m4r extension, and then sync it with your mobile. The method will vary based on whether you are using a Mac or a Windows operating system.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Create a Ringtone with iTunes on a Mac

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

• Listen to it carefully several times.
• Choose a 30-second part of the song that you would like to use as a ringtone.

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

  

• Note that you cannot use a song purchased on the iTunes Store, unless you convert it to an unprotected music format.

Step 2. Find the song on iTunes

Select it.

Step 3. Right click on the song

From the drop-down menu, choose "Info".

Step 4. In the window that opens, click on the "Options" tab

Step 5. Check the "Start" and "Finish" boxes

Enter the start and end time of the ringtone.

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

• If you want to convert the song from the beginning, you can leave the "Start" field unchecked.

  

• Example: The Start could be "0:31" and the End "0:56".

  

• Click "OK" when done.

  

Step 6. Select the song in iTunes again

Right click. Choose "Create AAC Version" from the drop-down menu.

• An AAC file is an "Apple Lossless Audio File".

• At this point you should have 2 versions of the song; one with its total duration, and the other should be the shortened one.

  

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

Choose "Show in Finder".

Step 8. Select the song in the Finder window

Right click and choose "Get Info". Check the length of the song to make sure it's the short version.

Step 9. Rename the file with the.m4r extension

This will replace the extension that is automatically assigned by iTunes (.m4a).

• Press "Enter" on your keyboard.

  

• Click "Use.m4r" when the confirmation window appears.

  

• Keep the Finder window open.

  

Step 10. Return to iTunes

Right-click on the AAC file, or reduced version, of the song. Choose "Delete".

Step 11. Click "Delete Song" in the first confirmation window

Choose "Keep File" in the second window.

Step 12. Return to the open Finder window

Double-click on the reduced version of the song with the.m4r extension.

• This will add the file to iTunes.

  

• The stripped-down version should automatically appear as "Ringtone" in your iTunes library.

  

Step 13. Drag the ringtone to your mobile phone folder after connecting it to your computer

Method 2 of 2: Create a Ringtone with iTunes on a PC

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

• You will need to select a 30 second portion of the song.
• Note the Start and End times of the portion of the song.
• You can't use a file purchased from the iTunes Store unless you first convert it to an unprotected music format.

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

Step 3. Right click on the selected song

Choose "Info" from the drop-down menu.

Step 4. Choose the "Options" tab in the newly opened window

Step 5. Check the "Start" and "Finish" boxes

Enter the start and end times of your ringtone.

• The duration of the alarm must be less than or equal to 30 seconds.

  

• Click "OK" when done.

  

Step 6. In iTunes, select the song and right click

Choose "Create AAC Version".

• At this point you should see both the abridged version and the full version of the song in your iTunes album.

  

Step 7. Open the Control Panel from the Windows Start menu

Choose "Large Icons" from the top right menu.

• Wait until the view has changed.

  

Step 8. Select "Folder Options"

Choose the "View" tab.

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

Click "OK".

Step 10. Select the shortened version of the song

Right click and choose "Show in Windows Explorer".

Step 11. Once the Explorer window is open, click once on the reduced version of the file contained in it

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

Press "Enter" on your keyboard.

Step 13. Double-click on the song and wait for it to open in iTunes

Step 14. Select the "Ringtones" section in your iTunes library (it has a golden bell icon)

• It should list the ringtone you just created.

  

Step 15. Connect your mobile to the computer

Sync Ringtones from iTunes library.