Isn’t it sounds great to create iPhone ringtones without any additional software but iTunes? Here this tutorial shows how to make iPhone ringtones for free without using those overcharged choopy iPhone ringtone makers.

iPhone ringtones are generally .m4r tracks 40 seconds or less in duration. Here this tutorial takes Windows PC for example, but the method goes the same way for Mac users.

Step 1. Go to iTunes “Preferences”, set AAC as the Import Encoder and make sure the bit rate is 128kbps.

creat iPhone ringtone with iTunes for free

Here to set the encoder to AAC and the bit rate to 128kbps.

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Step 2. Return to your library and select the song you want to make into a ringtone, (if the song is DRM-protected .m4p, use this Protected Music Converter http://www.all-media-converter.com/music-converter.html#136 to strip DRM license). Right click on the song and press “Get Info”. Then tab the “Option” to set the duration to a maximum of 40 seconds.

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Set the 'Start Time' and 'Stop Time' to the appropriate interval that you like the best - remember that the length can only be a maximum of 40 seconds. When you're done, hit OK.

Step 3. Back in the library, right-click on that song and click "Create AAC version". The conversion will begin and result in an AAC copy of that song clipped to the duration which you previously set.

Right-click on that track and select "Show in Finder" and drag it onto the Desktop. Remove that track from iTunes library (right-click -> Delete). Rename the track on the desktop from "track name.m4a" to "track name.m4r". You will be prompted to confirm the change of extension from ".m4a" to ".m4r". Click "Use .m4r".

creat iPhone ringtone with iTunes

Double-click on the new .m4r file and it will be added into iTunes as a ringtone which can be synced to your iPhone. You can now trash the .m4r file on your desktop.

NOTE: Remember to set the start and stop times of the original MP3 file back to the initial settings, if not the song will only play the designated 40 second loop.