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    How to Change Your Ringtone and Alert Sounds on iPhone

    Choosing a ringtone you recognize makes it easier to know when your phone is ringing. This guide shows how to change ringtones, text tones, and other alert sounds on iPhone.

    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Change your ringtone

    ~25s
    Go to SettingsSounds & HapticsRingtone. A list of built-in ringtones appears. Tap any name to preview it — it plays immediately. Scroll through the list to find one you like. The current ringtone has a checkmark. Tap a different ringtone to select it. Tap "Back" at the top — the change is saved automatically.

    Quick Tip

    The "Classic" section at the bottom of the list has traditional phone ring sounds that are easy to hear clearly.

    2

    Change your text message sound

    ~23s
    Go to SettingsSounds & HapticsText Tone. The list of sounds is the same as ringtones. Tap any to preview. Select one that sounds noticeably different from your ringtone so you can tell the two apart. Tap "Back" to save.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: If you are hard of hearing, choose "Alert" or "Note" for text tones — they are more distinctive and piercing than the quiet default.

    3

    Set a custom ringtone for one person

    ~17s
    Open the Contacts app → find the contact → tap "Edit" → scroll down and tap "Ringtone" → choose any ringtone. Tap "Done." Now when that specific person calls, their unique ringtone plays — you know who it is before you even look at your phone.
    4

    Adjust ringtone volume

    ~24s
    Go to SettingsSounds & Haptics. Under "Ringtone and Alert Volume," drag the slider right to increase volume. Also toggle on "Change with Buttons" if you want the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to adjust the ringer volume.

    Warning

    If your iPhone is in Silent mode (orange stripe visible on the small switch on the side), calls will not ring regardless of your volume settings. Check that switch if calls are not ringing.

    5

    Set a vibration pattern

    ~18s
    Go to SettingsSounds & HapticsRingtoneVibration at the top. You can choose from built-in vibration patterns or tap "Create New Vibration" to tap your own custom pattern. This helps you feel who is calling through vibration alone — useful in noisy places or when your phone is in your pocket.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Change Your Ringtone and Alert Sounds on iPhone

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    Changing your iPhone's ringtone is more than just personalization — it can also be practical. If you are in a room with other iPhones, having a distinctive ringtone makes it clear when it is yours ringing. A loud, distinctive tone is also important if you have trouble hearing the default ring.

    iPhone comes with a large selection of built-in ringtones at no cost. You can also purchase additional ringtones from the iTunes Store for $1.29 each, or use your own music to create a custom ringtone (requires a computer and some setup).

    What sounds you can customize:

    - Ringtone: Plays when someone calls you - Text Tone: Plays when you receive an iMessage or SMS - New Mail / Sent Mail: Email notifications - Calendar Alerts: Reminders from Calendar and Reminders app - Voicemail / Airdrop: Specific action sounds - Emergency Alerts: Cannot be changed (required by law)

    Vibration patterns

    : You can also set custom vibration patterns for different contacts — a long buzz for family, short bursts for a friend — without changing the audio ringtone.

    Volume

    : If calls are hard to hear, go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics → drag the Ringtone and Alert Volume slider to the right to increase it.

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    Official Resources

    Apple Support — iPhoneGoogle Help — AndroidSamsung Support

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Change Your Ringtone and Alert Sounds on iPhone — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure