can i make my ringer silent but still receive text alerts

Well ironically they can't come here because they are not very tech-savvy and that is the reason why they use an iPhone in the first place.

But honestly it isn't a matter of "not understanding" a system.

The question is answered, iPhone cannot do this simple request.

I used an iPhone for four years, and I use my Macbook everyday. Sometimes Apple just drops the ball, no sense in defending what is wrong or missing.

FWIW, this is what is needed:

pdroth, why even bother answering if what you posted doesn't at all address what OP wants?

I would also like to know how to do this. Typical iPhone un-customizability.

You just posted to a 2-year old thread, where iOS handled differently at that time. If you have a question ask it, but don't start your adventure here by criticizing others, as it may not get you any help. This is a user to user support forum, and people that answer here are fellow users that volunteer time to answer questions.

As far as your issue regarding silencing the phone but not text messages. The only way to get around that would be to remove the ringer sound. Putting the phone in mute will mute both the ringer and the text message sound. Using Do Not Disturb will silence ringer and text messages for all, or you can silence all text message and allow rings from Favorites if you set it to allow Favorites.

If your "acquaintance" would like to see that feature added, they need to tell Apple. It is not saying it will happen, but the only way to let Apple know about customer desires is to use the feedback page HERE, and then click on the appropriate subject area. Apple does not participate in the forum, this is a user to user forum.

>The only way to get around that would be to remove the ringer sound.

Like a silent MP3 ringtone or something? Weak. So it can't be done conventionally. Great.

And there is no statue of limitations for criticizing crappy answers, Level 8 Apple forums guy (what a hobby to have...).

Anyway I don't use iPhone, but my acquaintance does. Tried to help them out, but looks like the best advice is: go for Android.

You seem to not have come here looking for help, but with an attitude to complain about Apple devices. As a non-iOS device user, you do not understand the iPhone system, just as I do not understand Android, despite having tried to use an Android tablet, which is now collecting dust in the desk. If you acquaintance has a question, then show them how to get here, and you can hang around the Android site or somewhere else to bash Apple.

You can read this article:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5800

Sounds like your "acquaintance" needs a better source of assistance with the iPhone.

I think she'd have a better chance of getting results by emailing Steve Jobs.

I'll just tell my mom (seeing as you all had such trouble with the word acquaintance) that it can't be done.