This solution requires Mac OS X, but is otherwise free: Make sure that "Sync Ringtones" is selected in the phone sync options (mine was off by default).Īfter syncing, you can select your new ringtone in Settings, Sounds at the Custom section at the top. m4r file into the Ringtones folder of your iTunes (or, just double-click it and iTunes will handle it automatically). Navigate to where the file was created on disk, somewhere like music\iTunes\iTunes Music\ĭrag and drop this. Delete it from your iTunes library now, but be sure to check "keep file" in the delete dialog so the file itself isn't removed, just the library entry. This will create a new file in your iTunes library. Make sure the import setting is set to "iTunes Plus" (AAC). If you don't have this option, go to Edit, Preferences, General tab, and click the Import Settings button. On the File menu, select "Convert" > "Create AAC Version". Remember, ringtones can't be over 40 seconds! If you want to use just a part of the song/sound, right click it, select "Get Info", then "Options" tab, and enter a start and stop time there. On your iPhone, head into Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone and select your new tone from the list.If the song/sound you want to use isn't already in your iTunes library, add it to your iTunes library first. Hit Apply, then drag the ringtone into the Tones section. Go to Summary > Options and check the Manually manage music… box. On Windows, having plugged your iPhone in, hit the iPhone symbol in iTunes. Now drag the ringtone file onto this same Finder window. On Mac, open Finder and select the iPhone from the sidebar, then check the Manually manage music... box. Now hook your iPhone to your computer with the USB cable and grant the necessary ‘Trust’ authority. If you’re using Windows, you might need to uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box in Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > File Explorer Options. This will ultimately identify the snippet as a ringtone rather than a music track when you import it to your iPhone.
Delete the truncated iTunes version to save confusion the next time you want to listen to the full song.Ĭlick on the new desktop file and change the file name of your track so that it ends with. Now drag the freshly created file onto your desktop. You’ll now have a separate 30-second snippet of your chosen track, in an Apple-approved format. With the track selected in your OS, head to File > Convert > Create AAC Version. Change the start and end times of the track in line with those timings you noted down. Now two-fingered click or right-click on the track, select the Get Info/ Song Info option, and then hit the Options tab. Take note of the start and end timings for the specific 30 seconds of that track that you want to use for a ringtone loop. Now use Music or iTunes to navigate to a music or audio track in your library. Whichever operating system you’re using, make sure you have the appropriate music management program installed and updated.
On macOS that means Apple’s Music app, while on Windows or earlier version of macOS that will be good old iTunes. The first thing to note is that you’ll need a desktop manager to customize your ringtones. While some of the third-party apps that used to facilitate this have gone by the wayside (or simply weren’t very good), it is still possible to tinker with your ringtones using the tools that Apple provides – without paying the iTunes Store for 30-second ringtone versions of songs you already own.Īll you need is a computer and the USB cable that came with your iPhone. It adds that personal touch, and you’re highly unlikely to miss the fact that yours is the phone that’s ringing in a crowded room. There’s a lot to be said for picking a beloved or memorable music track for your ringtone. Hi! Thanks for reading. This post looks better in our award-winning app, Tips & Tricks for iPhone.