How to Put Ringtones on an iPhone 3G With a Mac

Custom ringtones can give your iPhone a personal touch.

Whether you download ringtones from the iTunes Store or create them yourself, if you have ringtones on your Mac, you probably want to be able to transfer them to your iPhone. Even if you make your own ringtones, the only program you need to put ringtones on your iPhone is iTunes. You must first ensure that your ringtones are in the proper format; then you can sync your ringtones by configuring your syncing settings under the Ringtones tab.

Instructions

1. Type your ringtone's name in the search bar of Finder if it is not already in iTunes. Control-click your ringtone's icon, select "Open With" and choose "iTunes." If the ringtone appears in your iTunes music library instead of your iTunes ringtone folder, you need to change its format. If you purchased your ringtone from the iTunes Store, you can skip to Step 5.

2. Control-click your ringtone and select "Convert Selection to AAC" if it is not already in this format.

3. Locate your ringtone in Finder again. Drag the AAC version of the ringtone to your desktop. Click-twice on the name of your ringtone below the icon. Change the file ending to "m4r".

4. Double-click the icon to open it in iTunes. It appears in your ringtones folder.

5. Connect your iPhone 3G to your Mac using the USB docking cable. Open iTunes if it does not open automatically, and click your iPhone's name on the left side of the iTunes window.

6. Click the "Ringtones" tab above the center panel. Check the box next to "Sync Ringtones;" then check the box next to the ringtones that you want to sync.

7. Click "Apply."

Tips & Warnings

• Ringtones must be 30 seconds or shorter.

References

• Apple Manuals: iPhone User Guide (For iOS 4.2 and 4.3 Software)