How do I set text tones for certain contacts?

What are text tones?

Text tones are sounds that play when you receive a text message notification from a specific contact on your iPhone. They allow you to set a unique sound for texts from certain people so you can identify who is texting you without having to look at your phone.

By default, iPhone plays the same text tone sound for all incoming texts. But you can customize text tones on a per-contact basis to change the notification sound for particular people. For example, you could set a special text tone for your spouse or child so you recognize texts from them.

Text tones are different from ringtones, which are sounds that play for incoming phone calls. Text tones only apply to new text message notifications, not calls or other alerts. They let you personalize and differentiate your text notification sounds.

Why use text tones?

One of the key benefits of using custom text tones is the ability to customize notifications for important contacts. Setting a unique text tone for specific contacts in your phone allows you to easily identify who is texting you without having to look at your phone.

For example, you could set a fun, upbeat tone for texts from your best friend, a more professional tone for your boss, and a unique tone for texts from your spouse or kids. This allows you to quickly triage messages just by the sound of the text tone.

According to this article, custom text tones help you identify your loved ones and close circle more easily. When you hear the unique tone you set for a specific contact, you’ll know it’s them texting you before you even look at your phone.

How to set text tones on iPhone

Setting custom text tones for individual contacts on iPhone is easy using the Contacts app. Here are the steps:

Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want to set a custom text tone for.
Tap Edit in the upper right corner of the contact screen.

Scroll down and tap Text Tone.
This will open your list of available text tone options. Select the text tone you want to set for that contact.
Tap Done to save the new text tone setting for that contact.

Now when that contact texts you, your iPhone will use the unique text tone you selected just for them (Apple Support). You can repeat these steps for other individual contacts as well. Setting custom text tones makes it easy to identify who is texting you without having to look at your phone.

How to set text tones on Android

Setting custom text tones for individual contacts is easy to do on Android. Here are the steps:

First, open the Contacts app and select the contact you want to set a custom text tone for. Tap the menu icon in the upper-right corner and select “Set ringtone.”

This will open your ringtones menu. Scroll down to see the option to select a notification sound or text tone specifically. Tap on the text tone option.

You will see a list of built-in text tone options to choose from. Select the one you want to be used for notifications from that contact.

Once selected, the chosen text tone will now be set for the notifications of that particular contact. You can repeat these steps to customize text tones for other individual contacts as well.

For more details, refer to Google’s support article on setting custom notification sounds.

Getting Creative with Text Tones

One fun way to customize your text tones is by using short clips of songs or unique sound effects. You can find plenty of options by searching for “text tones” on sites like Zedge or Freesound. Here are some creative ideas:

Use the iconic coin sound from Super Mario Bros as your tone for family texts.

Set the lightsaber ignition sound as your tone for your best friend.
Make your partner’s texts extra romantic by setting “A Whole New World” from Aladdin as their tone.
Pick a short clip from your favorite song for texts from specific contacts.

You can also easily make your own custom text tones by recording or creating sounds and saving them as .m4r files for iPhones or .mp3 files for Androids. Then just add them to your phone like you would a normal tone. Get creative with homemade tones like:

Record yourself or a loved one saying a funny phrase.
Turn an inside joke into a tone using audio editing software.

Make tones featuring animal sounds, movie quotes, or sound effects.
Convert a voice memo into a tone by trimming it and exporting as .m4r or .mp3.

With the right apps and creativity, you can set any short sound clip as your custom text alert for a unique and personal touch.

Text tones for different situations

Choosing different text tones for various contacts can help you identify who is contacting you without having to look at your phone. For friends and family, funny or memorable tones from TV shows, movies, or viral videos can bring a smile.

For professional contacts, standard ringtones or subtle tones are best so they don’t become distracting in a work setting. You’ll want to avoid anything overly loud, silly, or unprofessional when choosing a tone for coworkers, bosses, or clients. Consider short musical tones or minimal beeps to denote a work-related text.

Some funny tone ideas for friends:
– Homer Simpson’s “Doh!”[1]
– Chewbacca’s growl from Star Wars
– Pacman chomping sound

Some professional tone ideas for work contacts:
– Simple chime tone
– Soft piano note
– Subtle bell ring

The tone you choose can set the mood for the interaction, so pick ones that fit each relationship and situation.

Third Party Apps

The default text tone options on iPhone and Android can feel limiting after a while. Luckily, there are plenty of third party apps that offer more tone options and easy tone creation.
For iPhone users, ToneCreator (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tonecreator-create-ringtones-text-tones-and-alert-tones/id392175916) is a top choice, with over 100 sounds and the ability to turn any song into a custom tone. You can make tones in just a few taps and easily assign them to specific contacts.
On Android, Ringtone Maker (https://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-apps-for-ringtones-651491/) makes it simple to turn music, podcasts, and more into ringtones and text tones. It also includes a library of free sounds to choose from.
The advantage of third party tone apps is having more options at your fingertips so you can truly customize the notification experience. With just a bit of effort, you can set up unique tones that make your phone more fun and personalized.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues with text tones not working properly on your iPhone, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:

First, make sure your ringer is turned on and not set to silent mode. You can toggle the ringer switch on the side of your iPhone to ensure it is not muted.

Next, go into Settings > Sounds & Haptics and check that you have a text tone selected. The default is “Tri-tone” but you can select a different alert sound here.

You’ll also want to verify that notifications are enabled for the Messages app. Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and ensure they are turned on.

If the text tone is not working for specific contacts, check that you don’t have them muted. Go to Settings > Messages > (select contact) and make sure “Mute” is toggled off.

Try resetting your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will wipe any issues that may be occurring at the network level.

As a last resort, you can restore your iPhone to factory default settings. Back up your device first, then go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This should clear any software issues.

If none of these solutions fix your iPhone not alerting you of texts, you may need to contact Apple support for further troubleshooting assistance.

Text tone etiquette

When using text tones, it’s important to consider text tone etiquette to avoid offending or annoying your contacts. The tone you choose conveys context and nuance that can be easily misinterpreted through text. According to etiquette expert Cynthia Lett in an article on WRAL, “Being respectful, kind, [and] considerate of people’s time” is key for digital etiquette.^[1]

To maintain proper text tone etiquette:

Set appropriate tones for different contacts based on your relationship. More casual tones can be used for close friends.
Respect others’ preferences – if a contact requests you avoid certain tones, honor their wishes.

Use tone indicators where helpful to clarify intent if tone could be ambiguous.
Consider time of day – avoid overly perky tones late at night or early morning.

With some thoughtfulness, you can craft tones that convey your desired intent while maintaining respectful relationships.

[1] https://www.wral.com/story/texting-etiquette-context-tone-and-timing-matters/18430623/

Customizing beyond text tones

Text tones are just one way to customize your phone’s sounds for contacts. Here are some other options for personalizing your contact alerts:

Custom ringtones – You can set a unique ringtone for each contact on both iPhone and Android. On iPhone, edit the contact, tap Ringtone and select a song from your library. On Android, edit the contact, tap Set ringtone and pick one.[1] This lets you identify callers without even looking at your phone.

Custom text tones for Android – While iPhone only offers default text tones, Android lets you use any song snippet as a custom text tone. Just edit the contact, tap Text tone, pick a song and select a 30-second clip.[2]

Alert noises for notifications – You can also set custom sounds for app notifications from specific contacts. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > (app) and select a Custom sound per contact. On Android, go to App settings > Notifications > Advanced settings.[3]

Contact-specific vibration patterns – Both platforms allow custom vibration patterns for incoming calls/texts from chosen contacts. On iPhone, edit the contact, tap Vibration and create a pattern. On Android, edit the contact, tap Vibration and select a preset or make a custom one.