Download purchased ringtones

econklin4 · Jul 10, 2010

I purchased some ringtones in the iTunes store. But I was on my Mac when I did it, so they were downloaded to the Mac. When I synced with my iPhone, they were downloaded as music, but are not recognized as ringtones. How can I get them into my ringtone collection?

DannyBoy · Jul 11, 2010

econklin4 said:
I purchased some ringtones in the iTunes store. But I was on my Mac when I did it, so they were downloaded to the Mac. When I synced with my iPhone, they were downloaded as music, but are not recognized as ringtones. How can I get them into my ringtone collection?

You have too pay apple another 99c each to convert them to ringtone format. Or follow this guide to convert them yourself.

Things You'll Need:

iTunes
Mac or Windows computer
Non-DRM song (i.e., one not bought from the iTunes Store)

Step 1
Open iTunes.
Step 2
Find the song that you want to make into a ringtone.
Step 3
Listen to the song and find the part of it you want to use. The chorus may be a good place to start.
Step 4
Write down the start and stop times of the clip.
Step 5
Right-click the song and select "Get Info."
Step 6
Click the "Options" tab.
Step 7
Type in the start time of your ringtone in the text box next to "Start Time" in the minutes:seconds (i.e., 2:01) format.
Step 8

Type in the end time of your ringtone in the text box next to "Stop Time." Make sure the ringtone is no more than 40 seconds long.
Step 9
Click "OK."
Step 10
Right-click your song again and select "Convert Selection to AAC." Wait for iTunes to convert your song. It will create a duplicate version.
Step 11
Right-click the ringtone and select "Delete."
Step 12
Click on the "Keep Files" button.
Step 13
Find the file. It's usually in your User folder under "Music > iTunes > iTunes Music" and under the band's name. It will have an extension of m4a.
Step 14

Replace the m4a extension of your ringtone with m4r. You can either double-click slowly to rename your file, or right-click and select "Get Info" on a Mac or "Rename" on a Windows PC.
Step 15

Click "Use .m4r" or the PC equivalent when the system warns you that the change may affect the use of your file.
Step 16

Double-click the ringtone file. ITunes will automatically add it to your ringtones folder in your iTunes Music Library.
Step 17
Connect your iPhone and sync your ringtones.

Gregoris · Jul 11, 2010

yes why pay for ringtones? follow those good steps free

drdoctormd · Jul 11, 2010

What about for "protected" files (theoretically, of course)?

Can you burn to a disc then re-import as mp3, then do the above procedure? Haven't tried it but it might work. Not sure if a burned mp3 or aac file is recognized as "protected."

econklin4 · Jul 12, 2010

DannyBoy said:
Step 13
Find the file. It's usually in your User folder under "Music > iTunes > iTunes Music" and under the band's name. It will have an extension of m4a.

Step 14

Replace the m4a extension of your ringtone with m4r. You can either double-click slowly to rename your file, or right-click and select "Get Info" on a Mac or "Rename" on a Windows PC.

Step 15

Click "Use .m4r" or the PC equivalent when the system warns you that the change may affect the use of your file.

Step 16

Double-click the ringtone file. ITunes will automatically add it to your ringtones folder in your iTunes Music Library.

Step 17
Connect your iPhone and sync your ringtones.

It downloaded as an m4a, and has the right length. I tried changing it to an m4r, but iTunes still doesn't recognize it. When I double-click it it just plays. Where is this ringtones folder? Can I put it there myself?

I really wish I could manage my iPhone myself instead of playing all these games!

drdoctormd · Jul 14, 2010

econklin4 said:
DannyBoy said:

Step 13
Find the file. It's usually in your User folder under "Music > iTunes > iTunes Music" and under the band's name. It will have an extension of m4a.

Step 14

Replace the m4a extension of your ringtone with m4r. You can either double-click slowly to rename your file, or right-click and select "Get Info" on a Mac or "Rename" on a Windows PC.

Step 15

Click "Use .m4r" or the PC equivalent when the system warns you that the change may affect the use of your file.

Step 16

Double-click the ringtone file. ITunes will automatically add it to your ringtones folder in your iTunes Music Library.

Step 17
Connect your iPhone and sync your ringtones.

Click to expand...

It downloaded as an m4a, and has the right length. I tried changing it to an m4r, but iTunes still doesn't recognize it. When I double-click it it just plays. Where is this ringtones folder? Can I put it there myself?

I really wish I could manage my iPhone myself instead of playing all these games!

Not sure where the folder is, but if you weren't taken to the folder with 2 versions (the orig and the chopped one) when you hit "show in finder" it seems like you might have missed a step. Took me a few minutes to get the hang of it...

econklin4 · Jul 15, 2010

drdoctormd said:
econklin4 said:

DannyBoy said:

Step 13
Find the file. It's usually in your User folder under "Music > iTunes > iTunes Music" and under the band's name. It will have an extension of m4a.

Step 14

Replace the m4a extension of your ringtone with m4r. You can either double-click slowly to rename your file, or right-click and select "Get Info" on a Mac or "Rename" on a Windows PC.

Step 15

Click "Use .m4r" or the PC equivalent when the system warns you that the change may affect the use of your file.

Step 16

Double-click the ringtone file. ITunes will automatically add it to your ringtones folder in your iTunes Music Library.

Step 17
Connect your iPhone and sync your ringtones.

Click to expand...

It downloaded as an m4a, and has the right length. I tried changing it to an m4r, but iTunes still doesn't recognize it. When I double-click it it just plays. Where is this ringtones folder? Can I put it there myself?

I really wish I could manage my iPhone myself instead of playing all these games!

Click to expand...

Not sure where the folder is, but if you weren't taken to the folder with 2 versions (the orig and the chopped one) when you hit "show in finder" it seems like you might have missed a step. Took me a few minutes to get the hang of it...

Not sure what you mean. I didn't have two versions. I wasn't chopping an mp3 for this, it was a ringtone from the outset. I can find the ringtones. I just can't figure out how to persuade iTunes to install them *as ringtones* on my iPhone! Just tell me how to do that!

Red_Rock · Jul 15, 2010

I have had an issue syncing photos that I have cropped or saved from the Internet or mail. I have to e-mail them to myself to download on my Mac, delete them from my phone, restart my iPhone, and then the rest will import. Anyone else having this issue?

DannyBoy · Jul 15, 2010

econklin4 said:
drdoctormd said:

econklin4 said:

It downloaded as an m4a, and has the right length. I tried changing it to an m4r, but iTunes still doesn't recognize it. When I double-click it it just plays. Where is this ringtones folder? Can I put it there myself?

I really wish I could manage my iPhone myself instead of playing all these games!

Click to expand...

Not sure where the folder is, but if you weren't taken to the folder with 2 versions (the orig and the chopped one) when you hit "show in finder" it seems like you might have missed a step. Took me a few minutes to get the hang of it...

Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean. I didn't have two versions. I wasn't chopping an mp3 for this, it was a ringtone from the outset. I can find the ringtones. I just can't figure out how to persuade iTunes to install them *as ringtones* on my iPhone! Just tell me how to do that!

You havetoo pay the extra 99c for apple to convert it.

drdoctormd · Jul 15, 2010

Sorry I'm out of town and not at my desktop, so I can't be more specific.

When I do the above procedure, and finally get to "show in finder" I see two versions, one long and one short (the chopped version), which is the one I change the extension for. By double clicking it, it somehow ends up in the iphone ringtones folder.

When I get home to my desktop with all the stuff on it I'll see if I cam get more technical. It was tricky at first but just following the directions helped. I did have to do some maneuvering in the prefs in iTunes to get the option for AAC conversions in the menu.

econklin4 · Jul 15, 2010

DannyBoy said:
econklin4 said:

drdoctormd said:

Not sure where the folder is, but if you weren't taken to the folder with 2 versions (the orig and the chopped one) when you hit "show in finder" it seems like you might have missed a step. Took me a few minutes to get the hang of it...

Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean. I didn't have two versions. I wasn't chopping an mp3 for this, it was a ringtone from the outset. I can find the ringtones. I just can't figure out how to persuade iTunes to install them *as ringtones* on my iPhone! Just tell me how to do that!

Click to expand...

You have too pay the extra 99c for apple to convert it.

Sorry, I just don't understand. I paid $0.99 for a ringtone. It's on my Mac. I don't need and can't use a ringtone on my Mac. I want to put it on my iPhone, as a ringtone. Why is this a big mystery? Why should I have to pay another $0.99 to convert a ringtone to a ringtone? Can someone please explain what's going on?

DannyBoy · Jul 15, 2010

That's just the way apple charges to turn a third party "clip" called a ringtone..... Into m4r format so the phone can use it.

econklin4 · Jul 16, 2010

DannyBoy said:
That's just the way apple charges to turn a third party "clip" called a ringtone..... Into m4r format so the phone can use it.

I bought this ringtone from the iTunes store; it's not a "third party clip". It's a perfectly legit ringtone; I have a receipt for it from iTunes. My *only* mistake was buying it from my Mac instead of my iPhone directly. Is there really *no* way to remedy this?

DannyBoy · Jul 16, 2010

Sure you can download it free again thru your iPhone. But if it hasn't been converted to m4r you will as stated havetoo pay 99c to convert it on your Mac then sync to your iPhone.