ChangeMyFile - Free Online File ConverterChangeMyFile
Trusted by thousands of users worldwide

Convert M4V to M4R - Turn Video Audio Into iPhone Ringtones

Extract audio from M4V videos and create custom iPhone ringtones instantly.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

Read Terms of use before using

Share:fXin@
500+ Formats
Lightning Fast
100% Secure
Always Free
Cloud Processing

Turn Your Favorite Video Moments Into Ringtones

You have an M4V video with the perfect audio clip - a memorable movie quote, a catchy theme song, or a funny moment. You want it as your iPhone ringtone, but iOS only accepts M4R files.

Our converter extracts the audio from your M4V files and converts it to M4R format, ready for your iPhone. The entire process happens in your browser - no software downloads, no iTunes required.

How to Convert M4V to M4R

  1. Upload your M4V file - Drag and drop or select your video file
  2. Convert to M4R - We extract the audio and format it for iPhone
  3. Download your ringtone - Transfer it to your iPhone via iTunes or Finder

The conversion extracts the complete audio track from your video. For ringtones, you may want to trim it to the specific moment you want - iPhone ringtones work best at 30 seconds or less.

Understanding M4V and M4R Formats

M4V is Apple's video container format, commonly used for iTunes movies, TV shows, and video content. It contains both video and audio tracks encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio.

M4R is the iPhone ringtone format - essentially an AAC audio file with a different extension. Apple requires this specific extension for ringtones, even though the underlying audio codec is the same as M4A.

In our testing, the audio quality remains identical during conversion since both formats use AAC encoding. The main difference is simply the container and file extension that tells iOS to recognize it as a ringtone.

Common Use Cases

Movie and TV Show Quotes

Have a favorite line from an iTunes movie or TV show? Extract it and use it as your ringtone or notification sound. Classic quotes make for memorable and personalized alerts.

Music Video Audio

If you have music videos in M4V format, you can extract just the audio track for use as a ringtone. This is particularly useful for intro segments or specific instrumental sections.

Personal Video Recordings

Recorded something meaningful - a child's laugh, a pet's sound, a memorable moment? If it's saved as M4V, you can turn that audio into a ringtone you'll never want to silence.

Ringtone Requirements for iPhone

Apple has specific requirements for ringtones:

  • Format - Must be M4R (not M4A, MP3, or other audio formats)
  • Length - Maximum 40 seconds for ringtones, 30 seconds for text tones
  • Audio codec - AAC encoding (which M4R uses by default)

Our converter handles the format requirement automatically. If your M4V video is longer than 40 seconds, the full audio will be extracted - you can trim it afterward using iTunes, GarageBand, or any audio editor.

Alternative Conversions

Depending on your goal, you might consider these alternatives:

  • M4V to MP3 - For general audio extraction that plays everywhere, not just iPhone ringtones
  • M4V to M4A - For high-quality audio for music libraries (same audio quality, different use case)
  • MP3 to M4R - If you already have an MP3 file you want as a ringtone

Choose M4R specifically when your end goal is an iPhone ringtone. For other uses, MP3 or M4A may be more versatile.

Getting Your Ringtone Onto iPhone

After downloading your M4R file, you have several options to add it to your iPhone:

  • macOS Catalina or later - Drag the M4R file to your iPhone in Finder while connected via USB
  • iTunes (Windows or older macOS) - Add the M4R to your iTunes library, then sync to your iPhone
  • GarageBand on iPhone - Import the M4R and export as ringtone directly on your device

Once added, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone to select your new custom ringtone.

Pro Tip

For the cleanest ringtone, trim your M4R to start and end during a pause or quiet moment in the audio. Abrupt cuts mid-word or mid-note sound jarring when your phone rings.

Common Mistake

Trying to rename an M4A file to M4R and expecting it to work. While this sometimes works, iTunes or iOS may reject files that weren't properly encoded as M4R. Using a proper converter ensures compatibility.

Best For

Extracting memorable audio moments from personal M4V videos or downloaded content to create unique, personalized iPhone ringtones that stand out.

Not Recommended

Don't use for DRM-protected iTunes purchases - they require special handling. Also not ideal if you just need the audio for listening (use M4V to MP3 or M4A instead for that purpose).

Frequently Asked Questions

M4V is Apple's video format used for iTunes movies, TV shows, and video content. It's similar to MP4 but is specifically associated with Apple's ecosystem and may include DRM protection on purchased content.

M4R is the iPhone ringtone format. It's an AAC audio file with a special extension that iOS recognizes as a ringtone. Without this extension, your iPhone won't accept the file as a ringtone.

No. Both formats use the same AAC audio codec, so the audio quality is preserved during conversion. We're essentially extracting the existing audio track and repackaging it.

iPhone ringtones can be up to 40 seconds long. Text tones and notification sounds are limited to 30 seconds. Our converter extracts the full audio - you may need to trim longer files.

DRM-protected content from iTunes purchases cannot be converted due to copy protection. This converter works with unprotected M4V files such as personal recordings or DRM-free downloads.

Not necessarily. On macOS Catalina and later, you can add ringtones via Finder. You can also use GarageBand on iPhone to import and set ringtones. iTunes is still an option on Windows and older Macs.

Our converter extracts the complete audio track. To use a specific portion, you'll need to trim it afterward using iTunes, GarageBand, or any audio editing tool before adding it to your iPhone.

iPhone requires the specific .m4r extension for ringtones. Even if the audio is identical to an M4A file, renaming it to M4R is necessary. Our converter handles this format requirement automatically.

Our browser-based converter handles files up to several hundred megabytes. For very large video files, conversion may take longer but will work in most cases.

Yes, our converter works in Safari on iPhone. You can upload an M4V file and download the M4R directly to your device, then use GarageBand to set it as your ringtone.

M4V Conversions & Related Converters

Quick access to the most commonly used file conversions.