How to Set Contact Ringtones on iPhone

Set contact ringtones on iPhone to know who is calling without looking at your iPhone. You can even go a step further to set contact text tones and contact vibrations so that you know who a text is from or who is calling even when the iPhone is in silent mode.

There is no special software needed to set contact ringtones on iPhone and you don’t need to buy any ringtone apps for this to work. Apple includes this feature on all iPhone models.

It is easy to pick contact ringtones on the iPhone and in the same steps you can set contact text alerts and customer vibrations for each contact.

You don’t need to buy new ringtones from Apple for this to work, but it is possible if you need more alerts than Apple provides and you don’t want to create custom ringtones on your Mac.

To get started it is a good idea to set a contact ringtone for your boss, a special friend or your significant other. You might also want to set a contact ringtone for the main work number so you know not to answer on your day off.

You can use custom ringtones and vibrations on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s on iOS 8, iOS 7 and even iOS 6. This guide will focus on iOS 8, but the process is similar on all the devices.

Before you start, make sure that the person you want to set a ringtone for is in your contacts. You need a contact for this method to work. If you are trying to set a silent ringtone so calls don’t bother you, you may be better off blocking calls on the iPhone or using Do Not Disturb mode.

Set Contact Ringtones on iPhone

The first thing you need to do is find your Contacts app. Sometimes this is in a folder or another page. If you don’t see it you can pull down on the middle of the screen and type in contacts to search for the app. You can also edit contacts from the Phone app or Messages app if the person you want to set a contact ringtone for is a frequent caller.

Find the contact you want to set a ringtone for and tap on their name. You can see the first two steps in the image above. In this example we are setting a contact ringtone for Apple.

When you are looking at the contact information you need to tap on Edit in the upper right corner. This will take you to the main page where you will see personal information, phone numbers, emails and addresses. You may need to scroll down until you see four options for contact ringtone and text tone.

Tap on Default next to the Ringtone option to see what options you have to set contact ringtones on iPhone. There is a checkmark next to the current ringtone that is your default for all calls. Scroll down to see other options or you can tap on Buy More Tones to buy a new contact ringtone.

Tap on a ringtone to hear it. You can scroll all the way down and choose Classic to hear the ringtones from older iPhones. You can listen to as many as you want before picking an option. If you scroll down more you will see Tone Alerts that are shorter and designed for texts. When you are satisfied with the contact ringtone, tap Done in the upper right.

If you don’t need to change the contact vibration or the contact text tone, tap on Done in the upper right. If you want to set contact text tones on the iPhone, keep reading.

Set Contact Text Tones on iPhone

On the main edit screen you should see Text Tone and Vibration below it. You can set a custom text tone so you know who is sending a text without looking at the iPhone.

Tap on Default next to Text Tone and you will see Alert Tones that you can choose from. You can also Buy More Tones. Tap on the tones to hear what they sound like and when you find the one you want, you can tap on Done. On the main screen tap Done to save the Contact Text Tones.

Set Contact Vibrations on iPhone

The iPhone also lets users set Contact Vibrations on the iPhone. You can set this for a phone call and a text. This is an essential step for people who use the iPhone in silent mode most of the time. With this on you can tell who is calling or texting by the vibration of the iPhone in your pocket or even on a desk. You can choose from several vibration options or create your own.

Go to the contact you want to set a vibration for and tap on edit. On the edit screen tap on Default next to Vibration. Now you can choose from the list of vibration options and tap Done or tap on Create New Vibration to tap out your own custom vibration alert for a ringtone or a text.

When you are finished tap on Done and then on Done again until you are back to the main contact screen. A contact ringtone and vibration will both work at the same time if the sound is turned on.

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