There are many apps which allow you to create or 'design' ringtones (plus other alerts: text message and email tones for example) on your iPhone. However, none have access to the necessary folders on the iPhone so can't save those tones directly and have them appear in the tones list.
Make a song on your iPhone into a ringtone
Instead, you have to save those .m4r files to your computer and sync with iTunes to get those tones working on your iPhone.
The one exception to this rule is Garageband, which can create and save ringtones on an iPhone without needing a separate computer at all.
Here's a tutorial on how to use Garageband to make a ringtone on an iDevice running iOS 6.
It's easy enough, however, to use iTunes to make your ringtone, then sync your iPhone to import the tones.
Here's how to do it. (We're using iTunes 11.0 here, but it's a very similar process in older versions.)
1: On your PC, load iTunes by opening the Start menu and selecting the program from the list.
2: From your library, right-click on the song you want to use as a ringtone and then select Get info.
3: Select the Options tab and then tick the Start Time and Stop Time boxes. Enter times at which you want the ringtone to start and stop. You will have to listen to the track first and note down the time you want it to start. The stop time must be within 30 seconds, as this is the maximum length for a ringtone.
4: Click OK. Right-click on the track again, and then select Create AAC version. iTunes will convert the song. It will appear as a duplicate track - you can identify it by the track length in seconds.
5: Right-click on the original track, and then using the Options tab from the Get info menu, return the start and stop times to their original times. Otherwise, when you play that track, it will only play the section between your start and stop times!
6: Right-click on the short ringtone track and click Show in Windows Explorer.
The file will be highlighted. Right-click on it and choose Rename. Now change the extension from .m4a to .m4r. Click Yes when asked if you want to change the extension. If you can't see the extension, it's because Windows is set to hide the extensions. To show the extension for editing, follow the instructions here
7: Double-click the file to add it to your iTunes library (or add it using the 'Add file to library' menu option in iTunes). Then, in iTunes, click the drop-down arrow to select the Tones section of your library. You'll see your ringtone there.
8: Connect your smartphone to your PC and click on iPhone when it appears on the right-hand side of iTunes.Make sure Tones is set to sync with your phone. If you choose 'selected tones' rather than 'All tones' make sure you tick the tones you want to appear on your iPhone.
9: When the sync is finished, tap Settings on your iPhone, then Sounds, then Ringtone and select the new tone. It should appear at the top of the list, above the default Ringtones.
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Comments
Gwen said: I have tried this at least 8 times and it will not show up in tones in itune There has to be an easier way
Nayn said: The file is still not showing in my tones folder Please help
amod shankar said: Awesome bang on target Step by step same procedure works like a charm Thanks bro
Naro Coke said: thank so much now i can do it
wayne said: ignoring all of the difficulties which people had below - finally a website which provides some working instruction on how to do this properly and simply
coolhard rock said: try to shorten the length while making a toneFirst try with 10 second tone
coolhard rock said: If you are using itunes version 1110126 then you should select preferences and make sure that tones in general---gt sources is checkedOne can find preferences in a small rectangle on top left corner
coolhard rock said: After converting and opening in show in windows explorer change the extension and dont forget to double click the new fileNow open tones in itunesone on iphone and check sync the tonesNow open iphone--gtsettings--gtsounds---gtringing tones----gtand select the one you just madeTo change extension of file If you are using XP then go to tools--gtfolder options--gtview--gtun check hide extensions for known file typeskeep up the good work
coolhard rock said: if you are using XP then go to tools--gtfolder options--gtview--gtun check hide extensions for known file types
coolhard rock said: after converting and opening in show in windows explorer change the extension and dont forget to double click the new file
coolhard rock said: One has to follow the steps properly hereIt really worksHowever itunes is not taking large converted files as tonesSo i clipped them and made them of 20 seconds each
coolhard rock said: This is just amazingThanks a ton Jim
Ruth Boxer said: Done everything as explained but when I sync the song does not show up on my ring tones on my 4S Please tell me how to get it to be my new ring tone Thanks
Reena said: I have downloaded some ringtones from other websites and they are on my desktop Please guide me step by step how I aCan get them on iTunes and then on to my iPhone 4 Will be Very grateful I have the 11itunes And the ringtones are for iphone4 Reena
Zahid said: use the length 008907
Anya said: When I click the drop down menu there is no tones selection only music apps shows movies and home sharing
Vikram Bhandari said: Great guidethanks
jesus christ marie said: You literally left this response on the comment telling you how to do it
oscar said: Will this work with itunes 1110126 I dont see create ACC version only create mp3 but the tracks are already on mp3
sami said: u could only put one ringing tone at a time