Browse Tools Top 100
M4A M4R
Free online converter

Convert M4A to M4R

Convert now
M4A to M4R converterFREE
Drop a .M4A file here
or pick one - we convert it to .M4R and give you the file to download

On this page

Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

More free converters

HEIC, PNG, WEBP, MP3 and more - every tool here is free.

Open the toolbox

How to convert M4A to M4R

  1. Add your .M4A file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
  2. Convert it to .M4R in a few seconds.
  3. Download your new .M4R file.

What to expect

  • iTunes and iPhone enforce a hard 40-second limit - any .m4r file longer than that will be rejected.
  • No re-encoding is needed: M4A and M4R share the same AAC container, so renaming or copying the stream causes zero quality loss.
  • DRM-protected .m4p files cannot be converted without removing the DRM first, which is a legal restriction.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting M4A to M4R reduce audio quality?
Not if you rename the file or use ffmpeg -c copy, which skips re-encoding. Quality only drops if the audio is run through a lossy encoder a second time.
Can I use a clip longer than 40 seconds as a ringtone?
No. iTunes will reject the .m4r if it exceeds 40 seconds, so you must trim the file first.
Do I need special software to rename `.m4a` to `.m4r`?
No - any file manager works. On Windows, enable "Show file name extensions" in File Explorer first so the extension is visible.
Why doesn't my iPhone show the ringtone after syncing?
The .m4r must be in the Tones library in iTunes (or Finder's device panel on macOS Catalina and later), not in the Music library. Check Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone on the iPhone after syncing.
Learn about the formats: .M4A · .M4R
Programs that convert M4A: Apple iTunes for Windows · Apple iTunes for Mac · Xilisoft iPhone Ringtone Maker for Mac