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Step 1: Set Time Parameters for the Song
This is a cool iTunes feature that not everyone knows about. You can set a originate and goal fourth dimension for any sung, so iTunes will only play that choice fortune of the track. For our purposes, this is perfect for creating the proper ringtone length. Ringtones can be astir to 40 seconds long. If they ‘re any longer than that, they wo n’t copy over to your iPhone at all. besides, keep in heed that if you want to use your ringtone as an alarm shade for textbook, emails, calendar events, and more, your ringtone can be no longer than 30 seconds. If it ‘s over 30 seconds, it wo n’t show up as an choice for alarm tones on your iPhone, entirely for ringtones. To play it safe, 30 seconds is the soap time you should aim for. once you have found that sweet spotlight, open up the song ‘s information windowpane. The easiest way to do this is to make sure the traverse is highlighted, then hit Command-I ( or Control-I for Windows users ) on your keyboard. You can besides access the “ Song Info ” ( or “ scram Info ” in earlier versions ) option by right-clicking on the song, clicking the ( ••• ) symbol, or via the Edit choice in the menu bar. 
On the information screen, hit the “ Options ” pill. You will see “ start ” and “ stop ” boxes — this is where you enter your start and end times for your ringtone. Just make surely both checkboxes are checked before hitting “ very well ” at the bottom. ( If the start time is zero, it does n’t have to be checked, and besides, if the end time is the end of the song, it does n’t have to be checked … alone if you customize those times. ) 
Step 2: Convert the Song to AAC
AAC is a file character that was meant to replace the MP3, with higher-quality compression at the same piece rate. It ‘s like if Five Guys charged you the lapp for their burger as a McDouble ( we can only dream ). You do n’t need to know that in order to do this footfall, though. What you ‘re doing here is making a copy of the cut, but with the fourth dimension argument you previously set. rather of precisely seeing, say, a three-minute sung, you ‘ll besides see a 30-second one or however long you set it for. To convert the song, blue-ribbon “ File ” from the menu legal profession, “ Convert, ” and then “ Create AAC Version. ” This will make a imitate of the shortened birdcall in AAC format — your original song will be safe. 
If you do n’t see “ Create AAC Version, ” you probably have the option set to convert to MP3s or another format. To change that, go to “ Preferences ” in the menu bar, then hit the “ Import Settings ” button in the “ General ” tab. When there, select “ AAC Encoder ” from the drop-down and hit “ oklahoma, ” and “ all right ” again to exit the preferences. After that, try converting the birdcall again … it has to be AAC, or you wo n’t be able to use it as a ringtone. Below, you can see my new 30-second version of “ wish ” by Nine Inch Nails. While you ‘re here, go ahead and go spinal column into the original song ‘s information window and reset the begin and stop times so you can listen to the song normally. If you sync that song with your iPhone, it ‘ll only play the abbreviated clip unless you change it bet on ! 
Step 3: Change the File from M4A to M4R
In regulate to make this short AAC file a ringtone, we have to change it to another file format that Apple recognizes as ringtones. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can either drag and drop the file to the desktop or you can right-click on the file and select “ Show in Finder, ” which will bring you to the file immediately. once you have access to the file either on your Desktop or in Finder, proceed to change the charge name, then swap the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, and confirm the change on the popup. 
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Step 4: Sync Your New Ringtone to Your iPhone
This only applies if you ‘re using iTunes 12.7 or higher. If you ‘re using an old translation of iTunes, the process is a little more complicated, so skip to the next footfall if that ‘s the case for you. You can see which adaptation you have by clicking “ iTunes ” in the menu bar, then “ About iTunes. ” If you ‘re running 12.7 or higher, fair connect your iPhone to your calculator using your USB cable. If you sync with iTunes wirelessly, make certain you ‘re on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. In iTunes, you should see your iPhone toss off up in the sidebar on the left under Devices. now all you have to do is drag the .m4r ringtone file you created over from the Desktop or Finder window and flatten it on top of your iPhone in iTunes. once you let go, iTunes will automatically sync the ringtone with your iPhone. Wait for it to finish, and you ‘re ready to start using your new ringtone ! Skip down to Step 8 below to see how that ‘s done .
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Step 5: Add the File to Tones (iTunes 12.6 & Under)
If you ‘re running iTunes 12.6 and under, the process is n’t ampere easily as seen above in Step 4. In these versions, there ‘s an actual section in iTunes for “ Tones, ” which houses all of your custom ringtones. You need to add your new file to this. Click on the “ Music ” button in the top-left corner, then select “ Tones. ” If you do n’t see Tones, snap “ Edit Menu ” and add it. 
If you dragged the file to the Desktop, you can drag the charge back into iTunes and into the Tones section. If you clicked “ Show in Finder, ” right-click on the file, then select “ Duplicate. ” This will let you drag and drop the tone into the Tones section, differently trying it with the original shortened clip wo n’t work since it ‘s already in iTunes as a sung. 
Step 6: Tidy Up Your iTunes (iTunes 12.6 & Under)
Okay, before we move onto the adjacent step, you should get things rear to how they were ahead. indeed, delete the abbreviated nip in the Music section, then go back into the original song and remove the start and stop times, if you have n’t done so already, so there are no issues playing the entire sung by and by, either in iTunes or on your iPhone .
Step 7: Sync with Your iPhone (iTunes 12.6 & Under)
If you want to sync your iPhone with iTunes wirelessly, make indisputable you ‘re set up for that and connected to the same Wi-Fi network that your computer is, otherwise, plug your iPhone into your calculator with your USB cable television. If iTunes does not display your device immediately, click the iPhone button in the top-left corner to go to its Summary riddle. following, snap “ Tones ” in the left sidebar. If you ‘ve never synced ringtones to your iPhone, you will have to check “ Sync Tones, ” then either choice “ All tones ” or “ Selected tones ” from the options. If you did the late, make indisputable the ringtones you want are checked, then hit “ Sync ” to finalize. 
once iTunes has finished syncing with your iPhone, you can disconnect if you used a USB cable .
Step 8: Set Your Ringtone on Your iPhone
If done correctly, your ringtone should now show up on your iPhone. Go to Settings – > Sounds ( or Sounds & Haptics for newer iPhone models ) – > Ringtone. Your newfangled ringtone should be nestled above the stock options. just tap it, and you ‘ll be quick to go. That will change the default option ringtone for any contacts that have n’t already been customized. You can besides use your newly ringtone as an alert timbre for any of the other options listed below Sounds and Vibration Patterns in the “ Sounds & Haptics ” page. Just keep in mind, if it ‘s over 30 seconds long, it wo n’t show up as an option in any of these menu selections.
If you want to customize your new song ringtones to individual contacts, equitable open up each person ‘s liaison page, select “ Edit ” in the top-right corner, then select “ Ringtone ” and choose the one you want. You can besides select “ Text Tone ” for each contact to use for newfangled textbook or iMessages alternatively, granted it ‘s 30 seconds or shorter .
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Cover image and screenshots by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks
