November 9, 2024

How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Posted December 5, 2007 at 5:23pm by iClarified
Using iTunes 7.5 you are able to create custom ringtones for your iPhone. This method may not work after a firmware update but for now everything works great. This tutorial is for Windows users. If you are a mac user please use the original tutorial for Mac users.

Follow these instructions to make your ringtone and put it on the iPhone.

Step One
Open iTunes from your program list.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows


Step Two
Check to see if you have a Ringtones category within your Library. You will find this on the left side of the iTunes window. If you DO have Ringtone category then you can skip to Step Four.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Three
Quit iTunes then click to open the Start menu from the bottom left of the screen. Select Music from the Start menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Double click on the folder iTunes to open it.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Double click on the folder iTunes Library to open it.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Create a new folder and name it Ringtones.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Four
Click to open the Start menu from the bottom left of the screen. Select Control Panel from the Start menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Select Classic view from the sidebar on the left. Then double click to open Folder Options.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Click to select the View tab. From the list of options uncheck the box next to Hide extensions for known file types. Then click the Apply button.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Five
You can now restart iTunes. I still didn't get a Ringtones category on the left sidebar. So don't be worried if you don't see one yet.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Six
Select Preferences from the Edit Menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Click to select the Advanced tab. Click to select the General sub-tab. Check the box next to Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Now click to select the Importing sub-tab. Make sure the Import Using dropdown menu is set to AAC Encoder. Click the Ok button to save your changes.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Seven
Select a song from your library that you would like to use as a ringtone.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Right click the song you have selected. From the popup menu select Get Info.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

From the window that appears select the Options tab. Check the box next to Start Time and enter a start time for your ringtone. Check the box next to Stop Time and enter a stop time for your ringtone. NOTE***: The first time i tried this I attempted a ringtone 36 seconds long. It would not sync to my iPhone. I'd recommend you keep your ringtone at around 30 seconds long.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Eight
Press the play button to test your ringtone and make sure it sounds okay. If it doesn't you can go back and modify the start and stop time till it does. Once you are satisfied then Right Click the song and select Convert Selection to AAC from the popup menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

You will notice that a copy of the song appears in your library. This copy is the shortened song to be used as your ringtone.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Before you forget go back into the original song's options and uncheck the Start Time and Stop Time so it will play normally.

Step Nine
Right click the newly created track and select Show in Windows Explorer.

With the newly created track still selected in iTunes press the Delete key on your keyboard. A popup will appear asking to confirm its removal from the library. Click the Remove button. Another popup will appear asking you what to do with the file. Click the Keep File button.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Ten
Rename the file opened in Windows Explorer to .m4r from .m4a. Do this by Right Clicking the file then selecting Rename from popup menu. If a warning popup appears asking to confirm the file name change click the Yes button.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Eleven
Once you have renamed the file on your desktop add it back to iTunes by double clicking on it. You will notice that the track now appears under the Ringtones category in iTunes.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Step Twelve
Connect your iPhone to the computer. In iTunes select your iPhone from the list of Devices on the left. Then select the Ringtones tab.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Check the box next to Sync Ringtones and select to either sync All Ringtones or to sync only specific ones.

Finally, click the Sync button at the bottom right to sync your newly created ringtone with your iPhone. If you have made changes to the sync settings you might have to click the Apply button before you can press to sync.

Step Thirteen
To use your new ringtone with your iPhone select Settings from your iPhone's springboard.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Select Sounds from the Settings menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

Select Ringtone from the Sounds menu.
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows

You will see your newly created ringtone under the custom category! Press to select it!
How to Create Custom Ringtones for an iPhone Using Windows
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Comments (45)
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SRASC
SRASC - February 11, 2013 at 4:32pm
Still needs updating though. The process is largely the same but has changed since just over 5 years now
Clare Wood
Clare Wood - January 6, 2013 at 2:34pm
A tedious process but it WORKS!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it all out for us :)
Priyanka
Priyanka - November 5, 2012 at 5:48pm
Awesome, It really helped.. Though it is mess every time I would like to use my ringtone..but hats off to you man..Your step by step explanation was amazing. cheers :)
Anonymous
Anonymous - May 30, 2012 at 3:34am
Thank you so much! This really helped alot. Thank you!! :)
Aime
Aime - June 18, 2012 at 10:50am
I use http://Ringer.org to make free ringtones for my iPhone.
Mr Famps
Mr Famps - April 26, 2012 at 2:58pm
Thanks. It works. I am using itunes 10 and iphone 4. Original ringtones bye bye...
kaka
kaka - April 7, 2010 at 3:51am
Hi... i have tried all the steps that are mentioned, i am using iphone 3gs, i am using itunes 9.0 version but still i cannot find importing sub tab in advanced in preferences. and moreover i couldn't get ringtones subcategory on the left hand side of the itunes section.... can you please help me with the issue...
npadam
npadam - April 7, 2010 at 9:25am
Yes, I found the same with iTunes 9.1. The solution is to click Advanced/create AAC version. It worked for me.
Matt
Matt - July 14, 2009 at 11:05pm
I synced the ringtone to my phone, there is no custom section under ringtones. Any ideas please?
andee
andee - June 13, 2009 at 5:24pm
thank you thank you thank you!!!! all the details were well worth it! job well done to you! :) thanks again!!!
Margaret
Margaret - June 11, 2009 at 10:54pm
Wow, great walk through! I would have never been able to do this without this guide! Thank you!
bette
bette - April 1, 2009 at 10:13pm
your have just saved me from all the boring ringtones!!!!!!!!!! thanks sooooooooooooo much
james
james - March 23, 2009 at 10:01am
everything works with me up to the importing step cos my itunes doesnt have that section in advanced, wat do i do ?;/
UpRising
UpRising - December 3, 2008 at 3:20pm
Wow nice job mannn !! Too Good. Keep up the good work !
Willis!
Willis! - September 29, 2008 at 10:04am
This worked REALLY good, but after the huge iPhone update it doesn't work anymore. I mean, I can still see the ringtone I made in the "Ringtones" section of my iTunes but when I sync it nothing knew from my "Ringtones" section goes through anymore....help?
Sonic
Sonic - September 25, 2008 at 6:31pm
For the people having the problem, of ringtones having all the same names (and also playing the same song, n mather wich one you click on the phone) -> Using more than one song on the phone, is (in my findings) only possible if you NOT synch manually. You have to use the auto-synch function, then it works like a charm... This part is mostly left out in all of the video tutorials....
mike b
mike b - September 25, 2008 at 6:19pm
VV to the idiot below me its the same thing on a mac just the folder options part is different
Sonic
Sonic - July 20, 2008 at 6:48pm
To get rid of the "same name for all" problem -> In Itunes, right click each of your ringtones -> get info -> wipe out all song data (genre, composer, ...) except for the title. Be sure to go trough all the tabs, so that the only thing left, is the song name. That way, problem is solved ;)
Flipppppyyy
Flipppppyyy - July 14, 2008 at 12:07pm
Thanks a lot this is really helpful. I'm never going to pay $2.00 for a ring tone especially if its already on my phone. Works great with iTunes 7.7 and a 3g iPhone.
Nicole
Nicole - March 7, 2008 at 8:57pm
hey, does anyone know how to make custome text alerts?
Nick
Nick - March 4, 2008 at 3:49pm
nice bro...very nice...finally something that is really useful without havin to pay for some stupid stuff just to mess up your phone...thanks bro..props
Joe
Joe - February 28, 2008 at 9:58am
Do you have any thing for 1.1.3.......This version does not work Everything is good right up to when u hit sync ringtones..... nothing sync any help??
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