How do I reset my ring volume?
What is Ring Volume?
Ring volume refers to the loudness of the ringtone when receiving an incoming call on a smartphone. It controls how loud or quiet the ringtone plays when there is an incoming call or notification 1.
On smartphones like iPhones and Android devices, ring volume is separate from media volume used for music, videos, games etc. There are different volume sliders to control ring volume and media volume. Ring volume settings allow users to adjust the loudness of ringtones and alert tones specifically 2.
Having separate controls for ring volume is useful for situations like keeping your phone on silent in a meeting, but still being able to hear your ringtone by adjusting the ring volume. Users can customize ring volume to suit different environments and occasions.
Locating Your Ring Volume Settings
The ring volume controls on smartphones can be found in the device’s Settings app.
On iOS devices like iPhones:
- Open the Settings app (represented by a gear icon)
- Tap Sounds & Haptics
- Scroll down and you will find the Ringtone volume slider
On Android devices:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down and tap Sound
- Under Device ringtone, you will find the volume slider for your ring volume
So in summary, the ring volume slider can be accessed directly in the Settings/Sounds area of your iOS or Android device. Most modern smartphones follow this basic pattern for adjusting ring volume controls.
Lowering Ring Volume
There are a couple ways to quickly lower the ring volume on your phone without going into the settings app.
iOS
Swipe down from the top right corner of your iPhone screen to show the Control Center, then use the volume slider on the left side.
Drag the slider to the left to lower the system volume for ringtones, alerts, notifications, and other media.
Release when the volume is at your desired level. The display will show the volume percentage, for example, 50% volume.
Android
Swipe down on the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. The volume slider should be visible at the top.
Drag the slider to adjust the Ringer volume to the level you want. The volume number will display along the slider bar.
Release when the ringer volume is low enough for your preference.
Note that the volume keys on the side of your Android device will also control ringer volume if your device does not have a separate volume for media.
Raising Ring Volume
There are a few simple steps you can take to raise the ring volume on both iOS and Android devices:
On iOS
To raise the ring volume on an iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “Sounds & Haptics”.
- Under “Ringer and Alerts” you’ll see the volume slider for the ringer. Drag the slider to the right to increase the volume.
- You can also press the volume up button on the side of your iOS device when not on a call to quickly raise the ringer volume.
On Android
To increase ring volume on an Android phone or tablet:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “Sound”.
- Look for “Media volume” or “Ring volume” and drag the slider to the right to turn up the volume.
- You can also press the volume up button on your Android device when not on a call to quickly raise the ringer volume.
Adjusting these sliders allows you to customize the ring volume to your liking, whether you need a subtle ring or want the full volume. Just be careful not to set it too loud if you’ll be answering calls in public!
Muting Ring Volume
There are a few ways to quickly mute your ring volume or prevent your phone from ringing or making any loud sounds temporarily.
iOS Mute Ring
On an iPhone or iPad, you can mute ring volume by accessing the volume settings or through other shortcuts:
- Swipe up from the bottom edge to open Control Center, then tap the speaker/bell icon to mute the volume.
- Press the side volume buttons to bring up the on-screen volume slider, then tap the bell icon to mute.
- Press and hold the side volume down button until the volume mutes and you feel a vibration.
- Tap Settings > Sounds (or Sounds & Haptics) and toggle the Change with Buttons switch to off to disable volume button adjustments.
- Enable Do Not Disturb mode to silence calls, alerts, and notifications for a set period.
Android Mute Ring
On an Android phone or tablet, you have these options to mute ring volume:
- Swipe down from the top with two fingers to access Quick Settings, then tap the sound icon to mute.
- Press the side volume down button all the way until it mutes and you feel a vibration.
- Go to Settings > Sound and tap Do Not Disturb to block sounds and vibrations.
- Use the volume bar that appears when pressing volume buttons to hit mute.
Using one of these methods will quickly mute your ring volume temporarily. Just tap the unmute icon or press the volume up button to resume sounds.
Unmuting Ring Volume
If you have previously muted your device’s ring volume and want to unmute it to hear ringtones and notifications again, here are the steps for both iOS and Android:
On iPhone or iPad (iOS)
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Sounds & Haptics
- Under the Ringer and Alerts section, tap the slider for Change with Buttons to turn this feature on
- Use the volume buttons on your iOS device to raise the ringer volume back to an audible level
- You can press the volume up button multiple times to gradually increase the ringer volume
On Android
- Pull down the notification shade at the top of the screen
- Drag the volume slider left or right to adjust your ringer volume back up to an audible level
- Tap the settings cog next to the volume slider if you need finer control over all volume options
- You may also go into the Settings app and check the volumes under Sound to unmute ring volume
And that’s it! With just a few quick taps you can unmute and restore your device’s ring volume so you don’t miss important calls or notifications.
Adjusting Ringtone
You can customize the sound your phone makes when you receive calls and notifications by setting a custom ringtone. Follow these steps to change your ringtone:
iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Select Sounds & Haptics.
- Under Ringtone, select the desired ringtone from the list or select Add Ringtone to choose a song from your music library.
- Tap the ringtone you want to set.
- Your new ringtone is now set.
Android
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Sound or Sounds and notification.
- Tap Phone ringtone.
- Select the desired ringtone from the list or tap Add ringtone to choose a song from your music library.
- Confirm your selection. Your new ringtone is now set.
Using Do Not Disturb
Do Not Disturb mode is a feature available on both iOS and Android devices that allows you to silence notifications, alerts, and calls to avoid interruptions. When Do Not Disturb mode is enabled, incoming calls and alerts will be muted (unless you set exceptions) so you won’t be disturbed by them.
On iOS, you can enable Do Not Disturb by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center, then tapping the crescent moon icon. On Android, you can turn on Do Not Disturb by swiping down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel, then tapping the Do Not Disturb icon, or by going into the Sounds settings and enabling the mode.
Do Not Disturb lets you mute sound and vibration notifications, while alarms and timers will still go off. Exceptions can be set for certain contacts to bypass being muted. You can also set schedules for Do Not Disturb to turn on and off automatically at certain times of day. Overall, it’s a useful feature to minimize interruptions and distractions when you need to focus or rest.
Top Apps for Ring Volume Control on iOS and Android
If the built-in ring volume controls in iOS or Android don’t meet your needs, third-party apps provide additional options. Here are some popular volume control apps to try on iOS and Android devices:
iOS Apps
Volume Master – Volume master provides granular control over ringtone and notification volumes. You can set different volumes for each app, customize volume levels, and schedule automatic changes. The app is free with optional in-app purchases.
Ringer & Alerts – Customize and control ringer and alert volumes separately. Set schedules by time of day or location to automatically change volumes. The app is $1.99 on the App Store.
Do Not Disturb Scheduler – If you just want to schedule Do Not Disturb mode, this simple free app lets you set start and end times and exceptions for calls from certain contacts.
Android Apps
Volume Ace – Provides complete control over all volume levels on your device. You can customize volumes by app or audio stream and assign hardware volume buttons to quickly toggle individual levels. Volume Ace is free but includes ads and optional in-app purchases.
Volume Scheduler – Schedule volume levels to change automatically by time of day, app, activity, or location. Mute ringtones during meetings or turn up media volume at the gym. The main app features are free with premium features available as in-app purchases.
Custom Notification Ringtones – Set custom ringtones, alert sounds, and volumes for individual contacts. Control notification, ringtone, alarm, and call volumes separately. This app is free but ad-supported.
Resetting All Volume Settings
Sometimes you may want to reset all your volume settings to the default levels set by the manufacturer. Here’s how to do that on iOS and Android devices:
iOS
To reset all volume settings on an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap “Reset All Settings.”
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap “Reset All Settings” again to confirm.
This will reset your ring volume and any other custom volume settings back to the defaults.
Android
Resetting volume settings on Android varies a bit by device manufacturer, but here are the general steps:
- Go to Settings > System > Reset Options.
- Look for a “Reset App Preferences” or “Reset to Factory Defaults” option.
- Tap to reset. You’ll be prompted to confirm.
This will reset any custom volume levels and bring back the default sounds and volumes.
Resetting all settings is useful if your volume controls seem stuck or behaving unexpectedly. It wipes the slate clean and restores normal behavior in most cases.