Use a Ringtone as Text Tone on iPhone - iOS 17

I have always had one of the Apple default text tones as my ringtone. I can no longer set a Text tone as my ringtone as well. Very frustrating! It was not removed but I was listening to other ringtones and accidentally selected it as my default… Now, I cannot get the text tone (Bell) back for my ringtone.

tstreetkid wrote:

Apple fix this! Any of the stock tones, text or ring, should be assignable as either a text tone or a ring tone, like before iOS 17.

You aren't writing Apple here. This is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't actively participate. If you want to share your request with Apple, you can use this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Jssuss wrote:

Well I would like to hear one tone for text or phone for one person so I don’t have to memorize more tones than needed for each person to be identified.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

PeakNewby wrote:

I believe this forum is just Apple users talking to Apple users. We should all request this fix through the Apple help desk.

They were helpful in setting up the work around a contained in these chats. Maybe if we have enough people asking apple directly they will build it into the next update?

You are correct. And, just in case people have missed things, here is the feedback link:

Product Feedback - Apple

PeakNewby,

I've set up the automation with a communications trigger of receiving a Message from the oncall number. I also set up a shortcut as you outlined (volume up, open file). However, how do I get it to play the file? Which action did you use? Could you provide a screenshot? Here's mine so far. 'Fire Truck' is an MP3 which I have saved in an iCloud Drive folder. REALLY loud and annoying.

I also took your advice and purchased 'Best Alarm Loud Wake Up' from the iTunes Store. I was able to set it as the text tone for the oncall number. Like you I want double assurances. $1.29 is worth not missing an oncall notification.

AND I upped the number of times to replay the text tones to 10. While that is overkill for my personal messages and I may get annoyed long term, I'll give it a try for now.

TIA

Hi PeakNewby,

This sounds perfect! I’ve been scouring through the Apple shortcuts to try and do the same. It have had no luck on finding the “receiving text from “ starting point for the automation. Are you able to share your starting point?

I’m with you there. I had my frequent contacts, including my 85 yr old Mom, set with the same ring and text tones. This allowed me to know who was contacting me at work. Half my ring/text tones are gone, and half of my texts and calls are silent. And the selection is horrible.

nightmare!!

PUT THIS BACK!

ahburles wrote:

I’m with you there. I had my frequent contacts, including my 85 yr old Mom, set with the same ring and text tones. This allowed me to know who was contacting me at work. Half my ring/text tones are gone, and half of my texts and calls are silent. And the selection is horrible.

nightmare!!

PUT THIS BACK!

You seem to be under the impression Apple will see your demand here? They won't. This is a user to user only forum and no one from Apple is here. Shouting at other Apple users, some of whom may even agree with you, will get you nothing.

Shout at Apple if you'd like --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Hi

I have a brand new Iphone 15 IOS 17.4.

Custom ringtone plays when I just select it to assign it to a function e.g ringtone BUT it does not play the ringtone when a call comes in??

So calls are being missed (ringtone), text, voicemail, mail, Calendar alerts, reminder alerts and default alerts as I don't hear the tones

Is this a different problem ? or an extension to this problem ?

Thanks

China888 wrote:

Hi

I have a brand new Iphone 15 IOS 17.4.

Custom ringtone plays when I just select it to assign it to a function e.g ringtone BUT it does not play the ringtone when a call comes in??

So calls are being missed (ringtone), text, voicemail, mail, Calendar alerts, reminder alerts and default alerts as I don't hear the tones

Is this a different problem ? or an extension to this problem ?

Yes, this is a different problem. I suggest you start your own thread. You're more likely to get the help you need that way.

Kelsey1397 wrote:

Apple PLEASE FIX THIS ASAP! I’m a firefighter who gets called via text message, and the only one that wakes me up in the middle of the night is the alarm ringtone!!! I need this feature back!!!

Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I really like the new ringtones however, it is very frustrating to not be able to use the same ringtone and text tone for a specific individual. This is got to be fixed! I have some individuals who I need to respond ASAP. It was easy when I had the same ringtone and text tone for those individuals. Please fix this!

It’s VERY handy to have the option of text & ring tone being the SAME sound for some contacts - as it was. PROGRAMMERS please STOP ruining our experience with each new “update”, aka “set back”. It’s literally to the point where “updates” can be hassles to us, the CUSTOMERS that pay your salary ….

I too am having the same problem ever since the new iOS I cannot use a ringtone for my text tone and now I don’t get my text when I should because I’m older and I can’t hear well. I sure wish they would switch that so I can now use my ringtone as a text tone as well.

dsmithsb wrote:

I too am having the same problem ever since the new iOS I cannot use a ringtone for my text tone and now I don’t get my text when I should because I’m older and I can’t hear well. I sure wish they would switch that so I can now use my ringtone as a text tone as well.

You should let Apple know.

Product Feedback - Apple

Meanwhile, try to use a tone that is not musical and has a fairly low pitch. The ability to hear higher-pitched sounds is usually what goes first as we age. I use "Synth" under the classic tones. I have also found that any tone that sounds like music is easily masked by any ambient music.

You might also want to explore the iTunes Store to see if there are any tones that you can hear more reliably. Also, make sure you have Sounds & Haptics>Haptics set to Always Play.