How to change notification sounds on your iPhone

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Open the Sounds & Haptics menu

   Launch the Settings app from your Home Screen. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics to access your global alert configurations.

2. 45 sec

   Modify default system alerts

   Under the Sound and Haptic Patterns section, select the specific alert type you wish to change, such as Text Tone, New Mail, or Calendar Alerts. Tap the desired tone from the list to preview and set it as your default.

   Note: A checkmark indicates the currently active sound.
3. 1 min

   Change sounds for individual contacts

   Open the Contacts app and select a specific person. Tap Edit in the top-right corner, then select Text Tone or Ringtone.

4. 30 sec

   Assign a custom tone

   Choose a sound from the list to override the default global setting for this specific contact. Tap Done to save your changes to the contact card.

   Note: Changes to contact-specific tones take effect immediately for the next incoming communication.
5. 1 min

   Manage app-specific notifications

   Navigate to Settings, then tap Notifications. Select an app from the list and ensure that Sounds is toggled on to allow alerts for that specific application.

   Note: Some third-party applications do not allow custom notification sounds outside of the system defaults.