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Need help?How to Convert FLAC to M4R Online
- Upload Your FLAC File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to add FLAC tracks from a CD rip, Bandcamp, Qobuz or another lossless download. Batch upload is supported, so several albums' worth of hooks can go in one queue.
- Pick the Ringtone Section: In Advanced Options, open Trim. Enter the Start time of the hook (seconds such as
71.5, orHH:MM:SS.sss) and a Duration of 30 seconds or less; the note under Duration repeats Apple's 30-second guidance for iPhone ringtones. - Set Bitrate and Sample Rate (Optional): AAC is the only Audio Codec for M4R. Under File Compression, choose a Quality Preset, Constant Bitrate (8-384 kbps), Variable Bitrate (five AAC bands, 20k-32k up to 96k-112k), Custom Bitrate or a target file size. For hi-res FLAC (88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 kHz) set Audio Sample Rate to 44100 or 48000 Hz.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert". The FLAC is uploaded over HTTPS, encoded on xconvert's servers and deleted automatically after a few hours. Download the
.m4r: no sign-up, no watermark.
Why Convert FLAC to M4R?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) compresses audio without throwing anything away. Decode a FLAC and you get back the exact samples of the CD or studio master, usually from a file around half the size of the equivalent WAV. That is why it is the format of choice for CD rips made with tools such as EAC, dBpoweramp or XLD, and for lossless and hi-res downloads from Bandcamp, Qobuz and similar stores.
For a ringtone, that makes FLAC an ideal source: the M4R is one AAC encode of the original audio, with no earlier lossy generation baked in. The iPhone still needs the result in its own tone format, M4R: AAC audio (AAC-LC) in an MPEG-4 container with the .m4r extension. M4R is the same container and codec as M4A, and the extension tells iOS, the Finder and iTunes that the file is a ringtone. xconvert writes it with ffmpeg's ipod MPEG-4 muxer, the same one used for M4A.
What is specific to FLAC sources:
- Hi-res files. 24-bit/96 kHz and 24-bit/192 kHz FLACs are common from audiophile stores. Bit depth does not carry over into AAC, and a phone speaker gains nothing from a 96 kHz sample rate, so set Audio Sample Rate to 44100 or 48000 Hz.
- Quality headroom. With a lossless source you can spend bits where they help: 192-256 kbps AAC captures detailed mixes well, and the file still stays under a megabyte for 30 seconds.
- Keep the FLAC. The ringtone is a lossy copy of a short excerpt. Your FLAC remains the master; convert from it again if you want a different section or bitrate later.
For a whole track in Apple's music format rather than a 30-second tone, use FLAC to M4A. To go from a tone back to lossless for editing, M4R to FLAC does the reverse, though it cannot restore what the AAC encode removed.
FLAC vs M4R: Format Comparison
| Property | FLAC | M4R |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy (AAC-LC) |
| Container | Native FLAC (or Ogg) | MPEG-4, .m4r extension |
| Bit depth / sample rate | 16 or 24-bit, up to 192 kHz and beyond | No fixed bit depth; 44.1 or 48 kHz is the sensible pick |
| Typical bitrate | ~700-1,000 kbps (CD quality) | 96-256 kbps |
| Tags | Vorbis comments, embedded artwork | MP4 metadata atoms |
| iPhone ringtone list | Not accepted | The file type iPhone uses for custom ringtones |
| Best for | Archiving and listening | Custom iPhone ringtones and tones |
30 Seconds of Audio: FLAC vs M4R Size
FLAC bitrates vary with the music, so the FLAC figures are typical ranges. M4R size is bitrate (kbps) × 30 ÷ 8.
| Source or output | Typical bitrate | Size of 30 seconds |
|---|---|---|
| FLAC, 16-bit / 44.1 kHz (CD) | ~700-1,000 kbps | ~2.6-3.8 MB |
| FLAC, 24-bit / 96 kHz | ~2,500-3,500 kbps | ~9-13 MB |
| FLAC, 24-bit / 192 kHz | ~5,000-7,000 kbps | ~19-26 MB |
| M4R, AAC 256 kbps | 256 kbps | ~960 KB |
| M4R, AAC 192 kbps | 192 kbps | ~720 KB |
| M4R, AAC 128 kbps | 128 kbps | ~480 KB |
How to Set It as Your Ringtone on iPhone
The usual ways to put the .m4r on the iPhone:
- Mac (macOS Catalina or later): connect the iPhone, click it in the Finder sidebar and drag the
.m4ronto it. - Windows: connect the iPhone and add the
.m4rwith iTunes. - iPhone only: save the file to Files, import it into GarageBand on the iPhone and choose Share > Ringtone, the route Apple documents for audio that is not DRM-protected. GarageBand shortens a ringtone over 30 seconds automatically on export (GarageBand for iPhone User Guide).
Then select it in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone (iPhone User Guide). For a per-contact tone, open Contacts, choose the person, tap Edit, then Ringtone or Text Tone.
Ringtone for Android?
Android does not need M4R; its ringtones are usually MP3 or OGG. Convert with FLAC to MP3 for an Android phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just use the FLAC as a ringtone?
An iPhone only lists custom ringtones in M4R format, which is AAC in an MPEG-4 container. FLAC is a different codec and container, so it has to be encoded. Renaming .flac to .m4r does not change the data inside and will not work.
Will a ringtone made from FLAC sound better than one made from MP3?
At the same AAC bitrate, usually yes, slightly: the encoder starts from the original audio rather than from audio that was already lossy-compressed once. Through a phone speaker the difference is small, but it is the cleanest source you can use.
Should I convert a 24-bit/192 kHz FLAC at its original sample rate?
Set Audio Sample Rate to 44100 or 48000 Hz instead. The extra ultrasonic range in a hi-res file is inaudible on a phone, and the standard rates are the predictable choice for an AAC ringtone.
How long can an iPhone ringtone be?
Apple says up to 30 seconds. You will see a 40-second figure from the iTunes era online; it is not in Apple's current documentation, so keep Duration at 30 seconds or less.
Are FLAC tags and cover art kept?
Do not count on it; a ringtone does not need cover art. Give the .m4r a clear file name before copying it so it is easy to find later.
Can I convert several FLAC tracks at once?
Yes. Queue as many FLAC files as you like; the same bitrate, sample rate, channel and trim settings apply to each. Because the trim start applies to every file, batch works best when the clips start at the same point; otherwise convert tracks one by one.
Is my music uploaded and kept?
Files are uploaded over TLS (HTTPS) and processed on xconvert's servers, then deleted automatically after a few hours. Nothing is published or shared, and no account is needed.