How to use the MP3 to M4R converter
- Choose your MP3 file or drop it on the box.
- Pick a quality. iPhone ringtones are limited to 40 seconds, so longer files are cut to the first 40 seconds.
- Click "Convert to M4R". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your M4R and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert MP3 to M4R?
iPhone only accepts custom ringtones in M4R format, up to 40 seconds long. MP3 to M4R makes a ringtone file from any song.
- MP3: lossy: some detail is removed.
- M4R: the only format iPhone accepts for custom ringtones.
Longer songs are cut to the first 40 seconds. To pick the best part of the song, use the Ringtone Maker instead.
MP3 vs M4R
| MP3 | M4R | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III | iPhone Ringtone |
| Type | Audio | Audio |
| Created by | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) | Apple (2007) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Codec | MP3 | AAC |
| Best for | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones | Custom iPhone ringtones and text tones |
| Plays on | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser | iPhone, iTunes and Finder on Mac; most other players play it if renamed to .m4a |
Does converting MP3 to M4R lose quality?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your MP3 (192 kbps covers most files) and the change is inaudible.
How long does it take?
A few seconds for a song, and under a minute for an hour-long recording on most computers.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
What is an M4R file?
M4R is the iPhone ringtone format. Inside it is an AAC audio file like M4A; the different extension tells iPhone it is a ringtone. iPhone ringtones can be up to 40 seconds long.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MP3 to M4R converter free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Files up to 1 GB each can be converted, and there is no daily limit.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. The converter runs inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to us or anyone else.
Will the M4R sound as good as the MP3?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your MP3 (192 kbps covers most files) and the change is inaudible.
Can I convert M4R back to MP3?
Yes, use the MP3 Converter and choose MP3 as the output.
An MP3 sounds thin or has artefacts. What should I do?
It was probably encoded at a low bitrate. Re-encoding cannot restore it; find a better source.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, in Safari, Chrome and other modern mobile browsers. Short files work best on phones; for long or high-resolution videos a computer is faster.