How to personalize your alerts by changing iPhone notification sounds
CyberGuy explains how to customize alerts by changing the default notification sound on your iPhone
The 'Rebound' default notification tone has been controversial.
Ever since Apple rolled out iOS 17, there’s been a bit of a buzz — or, should we say, a lack thereof.
The default notification tone, "Rebound," has been causing quite a stir among users.
It’s soft and subtle, but for many, it’s just too quiet.
Fear not, fellow iPhone users. We will show you how to customize your alerts by changing the default notification sound on your iPhone.
Default alerts setting on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
How to update your iPhone's software
First things first: If you haven't already updated the software on your iPhone, you'll want to do that first. Here's how to do it.
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Click Software Update to check for the latest iOS version available
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Steps to update your iPhone’s software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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How to change the default notification sound on your iPhone
Now that you've updated to the latest software, let's tackle the steps to change the notification sound:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Go to Sound & Haptics and click it
- Tap Default Alerts
- Choose your preferred notification sound from the list of alert tones that appear.
- If you'd like to change the default notification sound back to what it was before you updated to iOS 17, select Tri-tone
Steps to change the default notification sound on your iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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How to make notifications quieter or louder
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Go to Sound & Haptics and click it
- Adjust the volume for Ringtone and alerts with the slider
Steps to make notifications quieter or louder (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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How to personalize your iPhone notifications and ringtones
After following the steps mentioned above, all apps that utilize default alerts will adopt the tone you’ve selected. However, the alert sound for notifications from specific apps (such as Calendar and Reminder Alerts) will remain unchanged unless you manually adjust it. Here's how to do that.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Sound and Haptics
- Then, choose the Type of Alert and change it by tapping the desired sound.
- Additionally, you can set custom iPhone ringtones from the same menu.
Steps to personalize your iPhone notifications and ringtones (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
You can also associate a ringtone with one of your contacts on your iPhone. Here are the steps to do that.
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Kurt's key takeaways
Whether you’re a fan of the gentle Rebound or team Tri-tone, it’s all about what rings true for you. A louder alert might be the ticket for those who need a sound that cuts through the noise.
What’s your notification sound of choice, and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
