This tutorial shows you how to assign any ringtone, text tone, or vibration pattern to a specific contact so that you can tell who’s calling without looking.
Why set a per-contact ringtone
Assigning a distinct ringtone to a close contact like your wife is very helpful in situations when you cannot interact with your device. For example, you don’t want to take your eyes off the road when driving. In such situations, a special ringtone immediately tells you it’s your wife calling.
As a member of two bands, I’ve assigned my band members ringtones made from a song by each respective band. So whenever my musicians buzz me, I can instantly tell which bandmate is calling.
I also have a distinct ringtone set for my mom, so I know she’s calling or texting me without ever touching my phone. Per-contact customization extends to vibration patterns, making it easy to figure out who’s calling even with your iPhone set to silent and deep in your pocket.
Set a specific ringtone or text tone for a contact
- Open the Contacts app and select a saved contact.
- Tap the Edit button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down to the Ringtone or Text Tone tab and select one.
- Pick the tone you want to use and hit Done > Done.
Set a different ringtone or text tone vibration for a contact
- Select a contact in the Contacts app and hit Edit.
- Tap Ringtone or Text Tone.
- Select Haptics or Vibration from the top.
- Pick one of the built-in vibration patterns or create your own vibration. As an example, you could tap out the rhythm of your favorite Megadeth song and assign it to your best friend.
- Go back to the previous screen, and tap Done to save the changes.
The iPhone’s default ringtone can become boring over time. Setting different ringtones for specific contacts will not only make it easy to tell who’s calling without looking but also give your iPhone a bit of flare.
Do per-contact ringtones work on Apple Watch?
Unfortunately no. Setting per-contact ringtones only applies to your iPhone. When you get an incoming call or text from that person , your iPhone will play the custom ringtone but your Apple Watch will use the default ringtone.
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