Want to give your iPhone a fresh sound when texts arrive?
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Changing your message notification tone is easy, and you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. Here’s how to personalize your alerts.
How to Change iPhone Text Message Sound.
What You Can Change
- Standard SMS/text message sounds
- iMessage notification tones
- Choose from built-in sounds or custom tones
Steps to Change Your Message Sound
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics
- Select Text Tone (under Sounds and Vibration Patterns)
Choosing a New Sound
In the Text Tone menu you’ll find:
Built-in Apple Tones
- Scroll through the list of default tones
- Tap any tone to preview it
- Select the one you want
Classic Ringtones
- Tap “Classic” at the top
- Browse older-style tones
- Select your preferred classic tone
Custom Tones
If you’ve added your own:
- Tap “Tones” at the top
- Select from your purchased/downloaded tones
- Pick your custom sound
Setting Different Tones for Contacts
Want special sounds for certain people?
- Open the Contacts app
- Select a contact
- Tap Edit
- Choose Text Tone
- Pick their personal alert sound
Important Notes
- Changes apply to both SMS and iMessage by default
- Volume is controlled in Settings > Sounds & Haptics
- Test your new tone by having someone send you a message
Tested On
This guide was verified on:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (iOS 18.3.2)
- Works the same on all iPhone models running iOS 10 or later
Now when your phone dings, you’ll know it’s your special sound. Much better than the default, right?
Pro tip: Change your tone seasonally to keep things fresh. Just don’t pick something so pleasant you ignore your messages!
What’s your favorite text tone? Let us know in the comments which alert sound you chose for your iPhone.
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