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Dharv97
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

How to fix low Text Tone volume compared to other sounds on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Text Tones are LOW!! iPhone 17 Pro Max



Is anyone else out there noticing that the text notifications are much lower than ringtone, alarm, and media volume!!?? I have tried the force reset (Volume Up + Volume down, then holding Lock until the screen goes black)—If this is done right, then the screen should only show swipe to power off and NOT the SOS option. I have to explain this so that you all KNOW I am doing it right.


In addition to that, I have toggled OFF the following options:

  • Attention Awareness Features
  • Adjust volume with buttons
  • Match ringer volume
  • ***Reduce loud sounds are never enabled, but I did make sure that they were disabled


I have chatted in with an apple Rep, and they had me to reset all the settings on my phone, which is what made me post today because I had to set up all my alarms again, my sleep schedule, my passcode and Face ID, and several other things that I had set to my liking that I had to set up all over again.


I called in because the chat rep wanted to try and set me up with an apple reservation at the Apple Store, but due to the troubleshooting that I’ve done already I find that it wouldn’t help much. I am currently running iOS 27.0.1, which is the latest. I have made comparison with a friend’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, and they’re having the same exact issue, only they are running iOS 26.6.2. I was then instructed to remove my case from the phone, turn off Bluetooth and then force reset the phone again. I’ve tried that and I’m still having the same issue. I just got this phone a month ago and it’s already discontinued and I'm starting to feel like maybe this was a bad decision. Especially with being instructed to remove the case on my phone when I’ve made it clear that Media volume, Alarms, and Ringtone plays absolutely fine at max, only the text volume is very low. I have also made comparisons with another friend of mine who is using a regular 15, and they are also having the same issue.


I’m not sure if anyone else is having this issue or if anyone has a solution to this problem, but I truly feel like I’ve hit a brick wall with having to take my case off, which never hindered sound from the device to begin with.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Text Tone volume LOW

Posted on Oct 23, 2026 4:54 AM

4 replies

WheelieNick
User level: Level 9 (74,110 points)

Oct 23, 2026 4:55 AM in response to Dharv97

Hi there


Please try this to see if you can fix the issue


  • Use a Louder, Lighter Tone: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Text Tone and switch away from softer default tones to a sharper, higher-frequency sound (such as "Note," "Classic" tones, or custom-imported loud audio files). 
  • Check Per-Contact Custom Tones: Open Contacts, select a specific person, tap Edit, and check if a quieter custom Text Tone is assigned to them instead of the global default. 
  • Check Muted Conversations in Messages: Open the Messages app, swipe left on individual quiet conversations, and tap the bell icon if the alert is silenced or muted for that thread. 
  • Use Haptic Feedback to Supplement: Increase haptic intensity under Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Haptics so physical vibrations compensate for the softer audio notification.


Zurarczurx
User level: Level 6 (8,142 points)

Oct 23, 2026 7:26 AM in response to Dharv97

Create your own tones from your music. Max out the volume and have a bit of compression for punch. Save them to your phone - you have to use Garage Band for saving them but I use Audacity to create the clips processing.

Dharv97 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 23, 2026 7:02 AM in response to WheelieNick

Hi WheelieNick,


The tone i am currently using is ‘Rattle’, and the loudest one is the default which is ‘Note’, and i dislike that one because most people don’t actually set or change theirs, so i like to know when my phone is alerting me that it’s mine and not anyone else’s.


i don’t have any custom tones set for any contacts.


i never mute any of my threads, and if they are muted, it’s only when im in focus modes, otherwise im getting all alerts.


Haptic stays enabled even when silenced, but even when i use the ‘Note’ tone, it’s still noticeably lower than anything else on the device both when selecting it in the settings and when having someone to text me to see how it sounds.


This needs to be something implemented into an iOS patch. Unfortunately, the volume adjusters in the settings are not adjusting the text tone in the way it should. Alarms, media, and ringer at max sounds great, but text tone at MAX, it’s not.

Dharv97 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 23, 2026 8:03 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Hey Zurarczurx,


What you’re suggesting is a great temporary fix, but i do; however, already have a custom tone that I’ve created months ago on my previous iPhone, which has transferred to this one via iCloud backup.


When selecting that tone as a ringtone, it plays just fine like how i recorded and clipped it to be. But i can select that same custom tone as a text tone and it plays way lower than if i selected it as a ringtone.


Plus, i actually like the haptic features that are bundled with the iOS ringtones and I’ll lose them with custom tones.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256381488