How to Convert M4A to M4R – How to Create iPhone Ringtones

Looking for a way to convert M4A to M4R audio format and get the latest ringtones playing on your iPhone right now? Here’s a complete guide on why you need to convert audio files to M4R format in the first place, and how you can do it in more ways than one.

No matter what car you drive out on the streets every day, there are always elements of your personality reflected in it. Similarly, a mobile phone is a personal gadget that not only symbolizes your preference but also showcases your likes and style to the ones who look at it. There hasn’t been a greater style quotient in the world of mobile phones since the invention of ringtones, and users have been crazy about it right from the start.

Ever since mobile phones came out with the most basic of features such as voice calling and text messaging, your notification tones and ringtones have been the defining elements. Whether it is about setting up a ringtone that you prefer listening to, or you just want your device to sound different compared to the regular chimes and ripples, custom ringtones are the way to go. While Android users have enjoyed the freedom to download and set up any and all ringtones, the same luxury is not enjoyed by iOS users.

Why Convert M4A to M4R Format?

Right from the start, phone ringtones were available in .MP3 format, and then the newer technology of audio coding (AAC) led to .M4A audio files. While it has become the universal standard for audio files to which all operating systems and devices adhere to, Apple, as it always does, has chosen to take another path.

Apple supports audio ringtone files for iPhone and iPad in .M4R format, which is simply not as common as the universally used M4A audio format. In an attempt to extend its closed environment and limit the content that iOS users can enjoy for free, the brand wants you to subscribe to Apple Music and pay for the ringtones you want. However, there isn’t just one, but multiple ways that allow you to convert M4A to M4R files. 

Easiest Method to Convert M4A to M4R Format

If you have been trying to look for a way to convert audio files into ringtones for your iPhone, you are sure to come across several options. The official way to convert M4A files to M4R files is by using Apple iTunes, which is also the only way you can upload ringtones to your iPhone. However, when it comes to the conversion, you’d be surprised to know that you don’t even need a converter software to begin.

Both M4A and M4R file extensions are based on AAC audio encoding, with the only difference being that the M4R format is exclusively used by Apple. While most of the online services that offer conversion may make it seem like rocket science, but the truth is that you can simply change the file extension manually and get any ringtone ready for use with your iPhone within seconds. 

1. Download and save the ringtone you want to add to your iPhone on the computer desktop. 
2. Right-click on the audio file icon and select the Rename option. 
3. Change the file extension from “.M4A” to “.M4R” and click anywhere to save the changes made. 

You can now use the iTunes application to upload the newly “converted” .M4R file and add it to your iPhone as a ringtone. 

How to Create a Ringtone with iTunes

If you are looking for an easy and convenient way to get ringtones up and running on your iPhone without involving third-party apps and services, you’ll be glad to know that Apple’s very own iTunes allows you to do so. Thanks to the ability to crop sound clips that are built into the software, you can easily create ringtones right then and there. 

The feature is rudimentary and does not offer any audio guidance for you select the bits of the song that you wish to turn into a ringtone. However, you just want to turn a couple of verses from the song into a ringtone and know exactly when it starts and begins (in seconds on the timeframe), then iTunes is all that you will need to create an audio ringtone for your iPhone. 

Step 1 – Set up iTunes

There’s a good chance that you already have iTunes installed on your computer, but if you don’t, start off by downloading the latest version of iTunes using the link down below. 

Download Apple iTunes 

Step 2 – Choose the Song

With iTunes installed on your computer, you can choose any of the available ones to create your very own ringtone in minutes. However, since there are no additional controls offered within the app for editing the audio file, you will need to know the exact start and end time within the song. 

You can create a ringtone of up to 30 seconds for the iPhone, or have a shorter ringtone play on a loop. Make sure that you listen to the song separately and mark the exact minutes and seconds from start to finish before you begin cropping the song. 

Step 3 – Create the Ringtone

Once you’ve found the song that you want to turn into a ringtone, it is time to create your very own custom ringtone from the songs stored with iTunes on your computer. 

1. From the iTunes app screen, click on the Songs tab on the left side of the screen. 
2. Now go ahead and find the song you wish to turn into a ringtone and right-click on the file and select the Song Info option. 
3. On the pop-up window, you should be able to see the Options menu, under which you can start cropping the audio file to create a ringtone. 
4. Set the Start and Stop time for the ringtone clip in minutes and seconds and press OK to confirm. 

Step 4 – Convert to AAC File

Once you have cropped the song file into the size and duration that you wish your ringtone to be, it is time to convert it to AAC format. AAC audio format is preferred by Apple for all of its devices, as it creates a smaller file size. 

1. Make sure that you have the cropped song file selected first. 
2. On the iTunes app screen, select the File button on the top bar. 
3. Hover over the Convert tab and then select Create AAC Version and click on it.

The AAC sound file that is now created will be available as a duplicate, so drag and drop it to the desktop. You can then choose to delete the originally cropped audio file that you had created since you only need the AAC audio format file for setting the ringtone. 

Step 5 – Change the File Extension 

The AAC file that you converted with iTunes will be available in .M4A format, and since you need a .M4R format file to work as a ringtone on your iPhone, you need to convert it. Fortunately, all you need to do is edit and rename the file without involving any converter or third-party application to the affair. 

1. Right-click on the audio file and select the option to Rename the file. 
2. Remove the “.M4A” file extension and type in “.M4R” instead.
3. Click anywhere to confirm your action, which will effectively change the file extension. 

Step 5 – Add as Ringtone

With the ringtone cropped, ready, and converted to the supported format, you can use iTunes to easily upload and transfer the audio file to your iPhone. 

1. Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone using a Lightning cable. 
2. Select your connected device from the side tab and then navigate below to find the Tones tab.
3. Simply drag and drop the converted audio file here and select the checkbox next to it. 
4. Press the Done button and then press Sync to transfer the ringtone to your connected iPhone. 

Step 6 – Set Ringtone on the iPhone 

Once the ringtone has been synced to your iPhone, you can go ahead and set it as your default ringtone from the device itself. 

1. From the Home screen of your iPhone, head over to the Settings app. 
2. Find the Sounds & Haptics tab and then scroll down to find the Sounds menu option. 
3. You should be able to find the newly converted ringtone right here under the drop-down menu. 

Final Words

While iTunes is an official tool that does bring a great deal of confidence with it for the users, it is barely a dependable tool to convert M4A to M4R audio files. While it gets the job done, we recommend that you simply download your favorite audio files online from a reliable source in AAC format and rename the file extension to .M4R for the easiest and effective way to create ringtones and notification tones for iPhone. 

Don’t you feel that the least amount of freedom that Apple can allow iPhone users is to create and set their very own personalized ringtone without going through all of this hassle? Be sure to share your thoughts and if you have an easier way to convert M4A to M4R audio format that we haven’t uncovered above, be sure to share it in the comments section right down below.