Set a Ringtone for a Specific Contact on iPhone - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Set a Ringtone for a Specific Contact on iPhone

by

On iPhone, Apple allows you to set custom ringtones for specific contacts, so if you assign one to a person you know, you'll be able to identify them straight away the next time they call you.

Contact Posters iOS 17
Setting a special ringtone for someone in your Contacts app enables you to recognize when that particular person is calling you, without you even having to look at your iPhone's screen.

To know instantly when someone you know is trying to get in touch with you, follow these steps.

Set a Custom Ringtone for a Contact

  1. Launch the Contacts app on your iPhone and select a contact from the list.
  2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner of the screen, then tap the Ringtone field.
  3. Choose one of the sounds that you want to use from the ringtones list.
  4. Tap Done in the top-right corner of the screen, then tap Done again on the next screen.

contacts

That's all there is to it. The next time that person calls you, your iPhone will sound the special ringtone that you chose. Did you know that you can also assign custom alert tones for your WhatsApp contacts? Check out our separate guide to learn how.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....