Recycle Your Songs: Make Free Ringtones Using iTunes
If you regularly use Apple's iTunes software, then you'll have probably come across the option to generate ringtones from the songs that you have purchased; these can then be used on your iPhone. The only problem with using Apple's software to generate ringtones is that you have to pay a fee - even after you've purchased the full song. For many music fans, this may seem a little unfair considering that the full song has already been paid for, and some may even argue that you're effectively paying twice for the same song.
Creating ringtones in iTunes the normal way can end up expensive if you have a lot of songs that you want to convert, so what are your options? You can of course use an audio editor to create MP3 ringtones, but some require steep learning curves that may not appeal if you're a beginner. Another type of tool at your disposal is an audio splitter which can be used to create a portion of an original song. Although this is a good option which produces quick results, audio splitters don't always support the audio format you want (.M4R for the iPhone).
But, there is a way to do it in iTunes for free, and legally too! If you're willing to invest in a little bit of time, you can create as many ringtones as you want for free; you're also not restricted by having to use only songs purchased from the iTunes Store.
For more information, follow our step-by-step tutorial on How to Create Free Ringtones Using iTunes.
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Comments
Just tried this & I cannot get the song into the Ringtones folder. I was updated today to the most recent itunes & am wondering if they put something in to stop this one from working? The date on the article was just a couple weeks ago so I thought I might be safe…darn!
Steph,
I’ve tried this method on the latest iTunes release (8.2.0.23) and it still works for me. If you still can’t get the ringtone into your ringtones folder, then try dragging and dropping it into iTunes. Has anyone else had this problem?
Hi Mark-thanks for your reply. I tried it on both my pc & my mac & every step works exactly like you describe only no matter how I try to get the newly names .m4r file into itunes or the ringtones folder in itunes, nothing happens. I also came across a video on cnet with the same type instructions & some folks had a similar problem. I have tried it with all different types of songs in my collection. I am running the 8.2 (23) version of itunes. Bummer
Hi Mark-I googled some other instructions & found that when I dragged the file to my desktop to change it to .m4r there, deleted the file in itunes & then double clicked on the newly named file on my desktop, it went right into the ringtones. Thanks so much!!!
Steph,
That’s a great solution! Your method has now been included in our article. Thanks for posting it!
i keep trying to do this i follow steps exactly as explained but nothing happens it just gets imported back into my library not to the ringtones tab anyone offer any suggestions?
Hi Mark – Thanks for the guide, but I’m having an Issue. I’ve got the most up-to-date iTunes on the most up-to-date version of Leopard. I’ve gotten the ringtone to appear in the ringtone section, but when I try to sync it to my new iPhone 3GS, it doesn’t appear under the synced Ringtones tab. I’ve tried restarting iTunes, but that doesn’t work. Help!
Great tip! Call me crazy, but I need CHANGE when it comes to the preset ringtones I’m delegated, but I’m too much of a cheapskate to pay for the goods.
This is awesome – I used the ‘drag to the desktop’ trick on my MacBook Pro and it worked beautifully. Thank goodness there are people like you out there who find ways around the ‘everything has a price’ absurdity.
@ Larissa.
make sure the length of the ring tone is UNDER 30 secs, or it wont work
Same as Edgar here, no matter what, it just keeps going into the playlist. It’s even a ringtone purchased from iTunes. how frustrating.
It started as an m4a but I followed the steps to converting it to an m4r…still no go.bloody frustrating.
Jose,
Have you tried the alternative method in the guide (i.e. dragging your m4a to the desktop)?
May be we should open a thread on this in the MP3 Forums?
I WAS having the same problem. I am usig Vista…Open Windows Explorer…go to tools…Folder Options…view…and make sure “hide extensions for known file types” is UNCHECKED”. After I did that I noticed my file was named… SONG.m4r.m4a
Thanks for the awesome guide. I had the same issue with it appearing in the ringtone list but not appearing on my iPhone – I ended up making it 20 seconds (instead of 30), dragging it to my desktop, deleting it from iTunes and then moving it to another folder, renaming it and then double clicking it.
That worked. I don’t think it needs all of that voodoo, it could just not allow ringtones that are “00:30.000″ exactly or something, but the method above is how I got it working!
can this only be applied to an iphone? i have tons of songs from itunes, but i have a blackberry and my son has an LGNv.
Tina,
This guide is specifically for generating .M4R files that the iPhone uses, but there’s no reason why you can’t make MP3 clips that should be playable on other devices.
Make sure you DELETE the AAC file you just created in your itunes library after you move it to your desktop…then you will be able to drag the new .m4r file from your desktop into your Ringtones folder.
How do you ‘rename it to a .M4A file extension’?