Filed under: Hacks, How-tos, iTunes, iPhone
Create your own iTunes-compatible ringtones: Part 2
Last week, I posted about creating your own iPhone ringtones, then iTunes 7.4.1 toddled along, so here are updated instructions.
iTunes uses the m4r file extension for ringtones. If you remove an AAC file from your library and rename it from .m4a to .m4r and then add it back to iTunes, the program reads it back in as a ringtone rather than a normal library track. You must then go back and rename that file back to m4a so you sync it to your iPhone. (That's what that unrecognized format error is all about.)
The secret lies in making sure the name change happens properly. This isn't a big problem on Windows. On the Mac, though, the Finder tries to keep you from renaming the file extension -- this isn't to keep you from making 
ringtones, it's to keep you from hurting your files. That file you just named "MyTone.m4r" may actually be named "MyTone.m4r.m4a" (unless you have the Finder advanced preference "Show all file extensions" turned on, usually a good idea if you plan to be tweaking your file types).
If you don't have the show all extensions preference on, you can do the rename in Terminal, or select the file you want to rename and Get Info (Cmd-I). Scroll down to the Name & Extension field and change the extension to m4r there. If the Finder is set to show all file extensions, you can pretty much just go ahead and change the extension; you may get a warning dialog but you may plow ahead safely.
At this time, the m4r items do not appear in your Library. You can only see them when you select an iPhone in the sources list and then click on the Ringtones tab. Also, there is no way to remove ringtone items from your library yet.
Thank you to Alex
Update: I've only tested this update on the Mac.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jefferson said 12:56PM on 9-10-2007
How do I "add it back to iTunes?" I've tried dragging it to my library and double clicking... still nothing shows up in my ringtones tab. Any help?
Also, I have no ringtones folder in my iTunes Music folder as I have seen in other posts' comments.
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level76 said 12:10PM on 9-10-2007
I don't get it. I followed the steps but it didn't work.
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ricosuave said 12:28PM on 9-10-2007
The only way to remove ringtones that I know of is to rebuild your library.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93313
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kchan said 12:33PM on 9-10-2007
Doesn't work for me on a Win XP box. I must have tried it 10 times.
The ringtones appear under the iPhone tab, but after I rename to m4a and sync nothing appears in the iPhone itself.
Erica, are you able to confirm that this works in Windows?
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kchan said 12:47PM on 9-10-2007
"Update: I've only tested this update on the Mac."
I guess that answers my question, thanks.
Has ANYONE gotten this to work in Windows?
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Tim said 1:06PM on 9-10-2007
You can delete Ringtones from your library successfully if you've created a playlist for them. That way you can see which tones are actually in the library. All you have to do to delete them is click "option + delete" in the playlist and it will ask you would like to remove the ringtone from the library. Simple.
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Jeff said 1:27PM on 9-10-2007
someone needs to post the "definitive ringtone execution guide" or some such thing. For example, I was told that the 7.4.1 workaround was only good for ringtones put in place just before 7.4.1 and that if I don't have any set up now, I'm outta luck.
What's the bottom line scoop?
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Andrew said 1:54PM on 9-10-2007
This isnt working for me either in Windows. I must have tried about 10 different ways as well.
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Jeff said 1:55PM on 9-10-2007
I found what appears to be the definitive approach (at least for Mac users)
http://www.idisappointment.com/article.asp?eid=10
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Alex said 2:04PM on 9-10-2007
I just use .mp3 files and put them in the ringtones directory manually with Sendspace (iShare app) and manage them with MobileFinder. They play fine and are free to rip from CDs (or acquire through P2P apps). I doubt I'll ever use the ringtone feature of iTunes.
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Alex said 2:06PM on 9-10-2007
Oh, one more thing, MobileFinder lets you manage your custom ringtones in your library. All these apps are easily installed using PXL/Breezy/iBrickr or through Installer.app
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aj_robins said 2:34PM on 9-10-2007
For removing ringtones, see comment #4 in the TUAW article: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/09/08/itunes-7-4-obsolete-after-48-hours-7-4-1-breaks-homebrew-ringto/
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Jason said 2:40PM on 9-10-2007
Wrokaround methods do not seem to work for Windows Vista.
Using Vista, iTunes 7.4.1 shows you the ringtone tab in the iPhone, but synching a .m4r to a .m4a file gives you a "file not found" message. Trying to synch a .m4r file that was not renamed back to a .m4a file gives you a "file is not compatible with the iPhone" message.
I have tried the guides written and even switched some of the steps around, but all I can get to is the part where the ringtones are sitting in the ringtones tab, but none of the files synching to the iPhone because of a "file not found" or "file not compatible" message.
Downgrading back to iTunes 7.4.0, however, does make the ringtone workaround still work fine.
So if you are hoping to do this workaround on Windows, stick with 7.4.0 for now until it is confirmed that someone has this working on Windows, and not just Mac.
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choi-toy said 11:52PM on 9-10-2007
Update:
There is a new workaround for those on Windows using 7.4.1 which involves creating a playlist out of your ringtones using the m4r files, renaming them to m4a files, trying to synch, having synch fail, going back into your ringtone playlist and manually refinding the files, and then synching again.
Thanks to Robbie on the JoeMaller.com blogs
More detailed instructions can be found on his post here:
http://joemaller.com/2007/09/08/make-custom-iphone-ringtones-work-with-itunes-741/#comment-25456
So good luck to everyone (until 7.4.2 comes out and breaks it again ;-)
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Evan Silverman said 10:50AM on 9-11-2007
To 14 - it still doesn't work. I've tried all the way suggested here and can still only get iphone to recognize it as a ringtone AND add it to the list but am unable to upload it as a ringtone.
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Bill Mac said 11:12AM on 9-12-2007
Well- This seemed to work last night, but now when I try to make a call, I can only hear calls on Speakerphone, not the regular speaker. :( I will try a restore when I get home, as a reset didn't seem to help. :(
It worked fine before this.
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Chip said 5:16PM on 9-15-2007
Bill Mac--this happened to me as well, and I had to get a new iPhone. I don't think it has to do with ringtones, because I haven't done any of this. While I hope your iPhone is ok, your local Apple Store will probably replace your iPhone if you take it in, but be sure to bring the box it came in (for whatever reason, they won't exchange in-store without the box). Make an appointment first for the Genius Bar.
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