iTunes 7.4.1 ringtones re-rename workaround discovered

by Ryan Block posted Sep 8th 2007 at 1:21PM

So last night iTunes 7.4.1 came out which, among other things, blocked off the custom ringtone renaming method, which allowed users to add their own ringtones to their iPhone without buying them on iTunes. Well, as posters in our own comments have already discovered, it's back, and here's how to do it:

First, follow the steps of the original method

Create your ringtone, save it as an AAC file.
Rename the m4a extension to m4r.
Double-click to play in iTunes.

Now, if you're upgraded to 7.4.1

Go back and re-rename that m4r file back to m4a. That's it.
Plug in your iPhone and that ringtone will be added to your syncable ringtones list -- and it won't pop up the error from before.
Play your ringtones constantly for the next 10 hours until 7.4.2 comes out.

[Thanks, Engadget commenters! More here.]

Filed under: Ringtones, Software, Apple

Tags: iphone, itunes, ringtunes

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Big John @ Sep 8th 2007 3:44PM

Even with the quick update, I expected a more watertight solution from Apple for their problem. Oh well, enjoy everyone!

Neutral

Matt @ Sep 8th 2007 5:04PM

ok thats just scary

Neutral

Ke-winn Chan @ Sep 8th 2007 9:08PM

Didn't seem to work on a Win XP PC running 7.4.1.2.

All I see is the ringtone name appearing under the Ringtones tab, the iPhone shows no new ringtone after syncing though.

If you try it with the same ringtone more than once you should see the ringtone name repeated in the Ringtones tab. Same result with the iPhone, which is to say, nothing.

Neutral

daniel.cormier @ Sep 10th 2007 10:31PM

I can confirm that. Worked in 7.4.1, but not in 7.4.1.2.

Neutral

ran-ran @ Sep 8th 2007 11:55PM

okay...so call me a NOOB. but i tried it. and nothing. help? :]

Neutral

Law @ Sep 9th 2007 8:18AM

How do you rename the m4a extension to a m4r?

Neutral

frouclio @ Sep 9th 2007 10:28AM

What does rename mean? Do I need to rename the iTunes application name itself or do I need to change my own name to this extension? I though Prince already cornered the renaming thing?

What is a ring-tone anyway? Is that like a wedding ring with color options? All of this is very confusing. Is there some sort of idiot guide myself and the above posters could follow? Sort of the guidebook we have now on "Walking'n'Talking: A Multitasking handbook" which has a nice advanced section on chewing gum.

Thanks for any help. We need step by step guides like these to help the "rest" of us.

Neutral