The simple ringtone hack that was discovered almost a year back still seems to work with the latest version of iTunes (v8.0.1).
It is based on the fact that iTunes differentiates a song file and a ringtone by the file extension. While we all know that the song file extension was AAC; the file extension for ringtones is "M4R".
You can check out the step-by-step guide to create free custom ringtones for your iPhone using iTunes 8.0.1.
All you need to do is take an m4a file which is DRM free and not more than 30 seconds, rename it to m4r and add it
to iTunes.
You can check out this step by step guide to create free custom ringtones for your iPhone using iTunes 8.0.1:
- In iTunes, right click on the song you are going to make into a ringer and select “Get Info.”
- Go to the options tab and go down to the “Start Time” and “Stop
Time” check boxes. Check both boxes and input the time you want your
ringtone to start/stop. Click OK
when you’re done. - Right click on your newly “clipped” song and select “Convert
Selection to AAC.” The song will be re-encoded using the start and stop
times determined (If your menu item does not read “Convert Selection to
AAC” and reads “Convert Selection to MP3? (or some other format) please
go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing - After the song is done encoding navigate to your iTunes Music
folder, locate your song, and drag it to your desktop. After the song
is on your desktop go back to iTunes and delete the clipped version
from you iTunes library (It won’t delete it from your desktop, it will
only remove it from iTunes). - Go back the song on your desktop and right click on your song and
chose “Get info.” Go to the name and extension section and change the
extension from .m4a to .m4r (or you can just change the extension right
from your desktop) - After the extension is changed simply double click on the file to
add it to your iTunes library under the ringtones section. Sync your
phone with iTunes and you’re done.
You can also checkout the video guide below that demonstrates this method:
This method to create custom ringtones worked with iTunes 8.0.1 and iPhone firmware 2.1 so should work with both first generation iPhone and iPhone 3G.
However, this method works only for songs which are DRM free but it does work for music you rip from a CD. In case of DRM protected songs you can use this method published by LifeHacker.
Other than this method, we had also seen several methods to add custom ringtones for free for the old firmware including iPhone software which charged a one-time fee.
As always do let us know how it goes and please don’t use this method to make the latest annoying song like “Who Let The Dogs Out” as your iPhone’s ringtone.
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