M4R Format (iPhone)
Apple's proprietary ringtone format. Technically an AAC audio file with a renamed extension; iTunes and the Apple ecosystem use the .m4r extension to flag a file as a ringtone rather than a music track. Maximum length is 30 seconds; sample rate is typically 44.1 kHz.
What is the M4R Format (iPhone)?
Apple's proprietary ringtone format. Technically an AAC audio file with a renamed extension; iTunes and the Apple ecosystem use the .m4r extension to flag a file as a ringtone rather than a music track. Maximum length is 30 seconds; sample rate is typically 44.1 kHz.
Why iPhone uses M4R
M4R is functionally an MPEG-4 audio container — the same wrapper used for AAC music files in iTunes and Apple Music. The .m4r extension simply flags the file as a ringtone (rather than a music track) so iOS knows to expose it in the Sounds & Haptics settings menu rather than the Music library.
Specs
- Container: MPEG-4 (.m4r extension)
- Codec: AAC-LC, typically at 128–256 kbps
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
- Maximum length: 30 seconds (enforced by iOS)
- Channels: Mono or stereo (most ringtones are stereo)
Producing M4R files
The cleanest way to produce an M4R file is through GarageBand on the iPhone itself — see the iPhone GarageBand guide for the full workflow. On the desktop, you can also rename a 30-second AAC export from any audio editor with a .m4r extension and the file will install correctly when transferred via Finder or iTunes.
Other format guides
- MP3 Format (Android) — Android
- OGG Vorbis Format — Android
- WAV Format (Lossless) — Both