How do I change the sound of a text message?

Text message tones allow you to customize the sound that plays whenever you receive a new text on your phone. The default text tone on iPhones is a short chime sound, while Android phones have a range of default text tones depending on the device model and manufacturer. While the default tones work fine, many people enjoy personalizing their phone’s sounds to suit their style and preferences.

You can change the default text tone to apply to all incoming messages on iPhones and Android phones. Both operating systems also allow you to set custom text tones for individual contacts. This allows you to assign unique sounds for texts from specific people so you can identify who is texting without having to look at your phone.

This guide will explain how to change the default text tone as well as set custom text tones for contacts on iPhones and Android devices. We’ll cover how to select from predefined tones, create your own custom tones, and assign tones for group messages. Tips for troubleshooting and additional customization options will also be provided.

Check Default Text Tone Settings

To check your current default text tone setting on an iPhone, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
  3. Under Sound and Vibration Patterns, tap Text Tone. This shows your current default text tone.

The default text tone setting is located in the Sounds & Haptics section of the Settings app on iPhone. You can quickly preview and change it there.

On Android, open the Settings app and go to Sound & vibration. Tap Notification sound and select Messages to see and change the default text tone for your device.

The default text tone setting is located in the Sound & vibration section of Settings on Android. Tap Messages under Notification sound to find it.

Change Default Text Tone

The default text tone is the sound that plays when you receive a new text message from someone without a custom text tone set. Here are the steps to change the default text tone on iPhone and Android:

On iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds (or Sounds & Haptics) > Text Tone. Tap on the current text tone to browse and preview the options. Apple includes dozens of built-in text tone options like Radar, Ping, Popcorn, and more. Select a new text tone to set it as the default.

On Android, open the Messages app and tap the 3-dot menu. Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced > Default notification sound. Browse the built-in ringtones and alert tones and tap on one to set it as the new default text tone.

The default text tone will now play for all new message notifications from any contact without a custom text tone set. Keep in mind that the default text tone applies to all incoming SMS and messaging app notifications.

Set Custom Text Tones for Contacts

You can set a unique custom text tone for individual contacts on both iPhone and Android. This allows you to identify who is texting you without having to look at your phone.

On iPhone, access the text tone setting by opening the Contacts app, tapping a contact, and choosing “Text Tone” under their name. On Android, open Contacts, tap a contact, and scroll down to “Text tone” in their info.

Setting custom text tones for key contacts has many benefits:

  • Lets you identify callers without having to look at your phone
  • Allows personalization for your favorite contacts
  • Helps avoid mixups if your phone is on silent
  • Adds fun and convenience to text conversations

Good text tone ideas for specific contacts include:

  • Using a song chorus for a music-loving friend
  • A popular catchphrase for a spouse or partner
  • A branded sound for a business colleague
  • A funny noise for someone who will appreciate it

To assign a custom text tone on iPhone, tap the desired .m4r file from your tones list when selecting the text tone in your contact’s info. On Android, select the .ogg or .mp3 file you want from storage. Note that iPhone has a 30-second limit and size limit for custom tones.

Create Custom Text Tones

You can make your own custom text tones by recording or downloading audio files and converting them to the right format for your phone. Here are the steps:

1. Record a short audio clip using an app like Voice Recorder on iPhone or Audio Recorder on Android. Keep it under 5-10 seconds.

2. Download audio clips online or use audio editing tools like Audacity [1] to trim longer files.

3. Convert the audio file to m4r format on iPhone using an app like Ringtone Maker. For Android, convert to ogg format.

4. Optimal file size is under 300kb for text tones. Longer files may get cut off.

Some ideas for custom text tones:

  • Record yourself saying a silly phrase
  • Use a short music clip or sound effect
  • Customize tones for different contacts

Check out Zedge for an extensive library of free ringtones and notification sounds to download.

Assign Text Tones for Group Chats

On iPhones and Android phones, it’s easy to customize the text tones for individual contacts. However, assigning custom text tones for group chats is a bit more limited.

On iPhone, there is no setting to assign a distinct text tone for a specific group chat. The default text tone will be used for all group message notifications [1]. A workaround is to set a unique text tone for each person in the group chat, so you’ll know it’s that group when multiple people text at once [2].

Similarly on Android, there is no direct way to set a custom notification sound for a particular group chat. A workaround is to assign a unique notification tone for each group member, so the group chat has a mix of tones.

While custom group tones are limited, here are some options to make group chats more identifiable:

  • Use nicknames – Name the group chat with a unique name.
  • Mute – Mute noisy group chats you often want to ignore.
  • Funny tones – Pick silly tones that will make a barrage of group texts more comical.

While there’s no group text tone setting, you can still customize tones for individual chats. For important groups, take the time to assign distinct text tones to each person so the group chat stands out.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues with missing text tones or custom text tones not working properly, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

First, try restarting your iPhone by holding down the side button and volume button at the same time until the Apple logo appears. After restarting, double check your text tone settings under Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone to make sure your desired tone is still selected. Sometimes a restart can resolve intermittent text tone issues.

If you are trying to set a custom text tone, check that the audio file is in one of the supported formats like .m4r, .m4a, .mp3, or .wav. The maximum file size for a text tone is 30 seconds and should not exceed 5MB. If your custom tone is not working, try trimming it to 30 seconds or less or choosing a smaller file size.

You can also go through your contacts list and verify that each contact or group chat has the correct custom text tone assigned if needed. Go to the contact, tap Edit, then Text Tone to check or change the assignment.

If text tones are still not working properly after trying the above steps, you can contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for additional troubleshooting. Be ready to provide details about your device model, iOS version, and the specific text tone issue you are experiencing.

For accessibility, make sure to enable “Play Haptics in Silent Mode” under Settings if you rely on vibration alerts. You can also assign custom vibrate patterns to contacts.

Text Tone Apps and Shortcuts

There are several apps available to help manage and customize text tones on iPhone.
Ringtones Maker is a top-rated app for creating custom text tones from songs, ringtones, and recordings. You can trim audio clips, add fades, and export as a text tone.

Ringtones for iPhone offers an extensive library of free text tones to choose from. It also lets you convert music into text tones and record your own custom tones.
Text Tone Maker simplifies making tones by letting you record short audio clips right in the app.

To set up text tone shortcuts on iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing and toggle on “Auto-Answer Calls”. You can now create shortcuts to change tones that will answer and hang up a fake call.
Use Siri commands like “Change text tone to xylophone” or “Set text alert noise to birds chirping” to switch up tones hands-free.
On Android, check out apps like Ringtone Maker and Ringtone Maker & Manager for customizing text tones.

Keyboard apps like SwiftKey also let you quickly insert sounds into messages.

Text Tone Ideas and Inspiration

One creative way to change up your text tones is to assign unique notification sounds for different contacts. For a friend who loves cats, set their tone to a meow. For someone who appreciates humor, use a funny movie quote or quip like “M’kayyy” or “That’s what she said!” You can also assign tones related to your shared interests or memories, like the chorus of a song you danced to or the Mario coin sound if you’re both gamers. For more professional contacts, stick with a standard tone or short melody.

Apps like Zedge offer a wide assortment of ready-made tones to download [“Cool Text Ringtones – Free By ZedgeTM”]

. Or get creative and make your own using a sound recorder or audio editing software. Try isolating clips from songs, movies, or YouTube videos. AudioBoom and other sites also have libraries of sound effects to choose from.

Beyond contacts, assign unique tones for different types of alerts. A bicycle bell for texts from your rideshare app, or a ticket printing sound when your food delivery is on its way. Set an upbeat tune for good news from a loved one, or a soothing chime for your daily meditation reminder. The options are endless for personalizing your text tones!

Wrapping Up Text Tone Possibilities

Setting default text tones and custom tones for contacts are two useful ways of adding personality to your messages. Creating your own text tones from audio files or meme sound clips takes customization even further. Don’t forget that text tones can also be set for group chats to distinguish them from individual conversations.

If you run into issues with text tones not working properly, double check your sound and notification settings, restart your device, or toggle sound modes like Do Not Disturb. The tips in the troubleshooting section can help resolve many text tone problems.

With all the flexibility now offered, you have an abundance of options to choose tones that are amusing, inspiring, or simply make messages from special people stand out. Take the time to explore and experiment until you find text tones that fit your style.

Text tones can transform basic messaging into a more fun and personalized experience. With the ability to use default tones, assign custom tones for contacts, create your own tones, and troubleshoot issues, you have all the tools to fully customize your text message sounds.

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