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

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Apple 2026 Back to School Graphic

Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer Just Went Live in Select Countries

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Apple's annual Back to School promotion is now live in select countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The offer provides college students and educational staff with a free item with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model. The exact offer varies by country, with options including a pack of four AirTags, AirPods 4,...
iphone 17 cyber

Apple Closes Unlocked iPhone Loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon Financing

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
Carrier-financed iPhones purchased from Apple will soon be locked to the carrier, ending a workaround customers used to purchase an unlocked iPhone on a payment plan. Until the rule change, buying an iPhone from Apple and opting for financing through Verizon or T-Mobile meant you would get an iPhone not locked to either carrier's network. That's no longer the case, and now iPhones financed...