Finally, after years, you can customize the sound for standard notifications on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. This means that you can choose your own sounds and haptic feedback (vibrations) for notifications that use the standard sound.
This has been possible since iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 and is a welcome addition. Together with iOS 17, Apple has updated the ringtones and notification sounds for the iPhone. However, not everyone is a fan of these sounds because in some cases they are difficult to hear or too short.
Adjust sound for standard notifications
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Choose ‘Hear and feel’
- Tap ‘standard notifications’
- Select the desired sound
You can choose from several new tones that are less disturbing. Under ‘Classic’ you will find tones that were used for iOS 17, including ‘Tritone’.
Adjust notification tone for Apple Watch
- Open Settings on your Apple Watch
- Go to ‘Hear and feel’
- Tap ‘Standard notifications’
- Choose a desired sound
Of course, you can also change this via the Watch app for iPhone. Open it, go to ‘My Watch’ and tap ‘Hear and feel. Select a desired item and adjust the ringtone.
Revert to old sound
Since iOS 17 was released, iPhone users have had their say about the new sound and we’ve already received several messages about it. Some users are excited about the new echo tone, while others have difficulty accepting this change.
The users who complain about the new notification sound indicate that it is simply too quiet and therefore not noticeable compared to its predecessor’s relatively loud ‘three-tone’ notification sound. The new notification sound is a subtle combination of two quieter notes with a slight reverberation and echo.
Especially if the iPhone is stored in a pocket or bag, the muffled sound can be more difficult to hear than the old ‘three-tone’ sound. This may prevent notifications from going unnoticed. In addition, the associated haptic vibration is also weaker and more difficult to perceive. So do you want to go back to the old sound? Then select ‘Tritone’ under Settings ▸ Hearing and Feeling ▸ standard notification (Default Alerts) ▸ Classic.