# Techno-peasant needs help yet again - how do I turn on the ring tone for my iPhone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 23, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305 "2019-12-23T20:08:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/1 "2019-12-23T20:08:02Z")

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This seems like a simple issue.

I have a bran-spanking new iPhone.

I would like friends to be able to call me on it.

That means I want it to go “ring” when said friends call.

Except it doesn’t.

When a call come in it vibrates. But no noise.

I’ve wandered through the settings and can’t find how to turn on the ring sound

Thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/2 "2019-12-23T20:41:33Z")

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On the left-hand side of your phone, there is a switch. Please make sure the switch is in the UP position (not showing red). If it is down, your phone is in silent mode.

If the switch is up, then go to your phone, go to the main screen, and find the SETTINGS button - its gray, with gears.

The top option under SETTINGS should be Airplane Mode. Make sure Airplane mode is turned OFF, e.g. not a green dot.

If THAT doesn’t work, under SETTINGS, find the option for PHONE. under PHONE\< you’ll see a number of options. Make sure you don’t have unknown callers silenced.

Finally, you can also look under SETTINGS, and then Sounds and Haptics. Make sure you have a ringtone assigned.

Good luck!

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/3 "2019-12-23T21:16:28Z")

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The switch! Thanks -had forgotten all about that!

Thanks muchly!

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/4 "2019-12-24T05:36:42Z")

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I’m not joking about being a techno-peasant … :eek:

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**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/5 "2019-12-24T08:56:15Z")

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Well, Law is in the Humanities, Phones are under STEM… 😃

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/6 "2019-12-24T14:55:42Z")

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iPhones have a physical switch to silence them? How… quaint.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/7 "2019-12-24T15:02:23Z")

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> [@DesertDog](#):
>
> iPhones have a physical switch to silence them? How… quaint.

You mean - “How useful!”  
Very handy to just flip the switch to silent when going to, say, a movie. No need to unlock the phone and dig through a menu system to do it.

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/techno-peasant-needs-help-yet-again-how-do-i-turn-on-the-ring-tone-for-my-iphone/845305/8 "2019-12-24T15:16:28Z")

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Man - what a joy to hear of someone even techno-stupider than I! 😃

I also just got an iPhone. I’m somewhat torn between my intrinsic dislike for tech, and a desire to not reflexively ignore the limited things about the iPhone that could enhance my life. I DID figure how to make it ring. Now, I just need someone who wants to CALL me! 😉

My foolproof system for silencing the phone when I go to the movies is to leave it at home! 😃