Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

DexBell

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 23, 2016
839
1,068
So I have several text tones I have purchased from the iTunes store that have been working perfectly. I just restarted my XS Max for the first time and can not get the tones to play when I get a text after restarting again and making sure it was set up right. I still get the dumb bell tone default. Any ideas?
 
  • Like
Reactions: scots

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
So I have several text tones I have purchased from the iTunes store that have been working perfectly. I just restarted my XS Max for the first time and can not get the tones to play when I get a text after restarting again and making sure it was set up right. I still get the dumb bell tone default. Any ideas?

I was just going to start another thread on this. It's really annoying me. Only the alert tones loaded by Apple work. If I select a tone that I purchased on iTunes or made in GarageBand, it will play the sound when I select it, but it will just play the default "Note" sound whenever I get a message. If i select a different, stock Apple sound, it will work as intended.

I can't seem to fix this issue. I've gone through Apple and I've been getting no help at all. I've chatted with Support and they ultimately had me go into an Apple Store. They've had me go to Sound settings and redownload all purchased tones, Reset all Settings, Erase and restore from backup, Erase and Set up as new iPhone and have even swapped out my iPhone XS Max last week. Those solutions work for a few days/week and then my notification sounds stop working again.

A few days ago I decided to jump on the Beta train so that way I could have access to the Feedback app. I submitted the issue so I'm hoping I get a response.

Has anyone else had this issue that wont go away??
 
  • Like
Reactions: scots

scots

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2019
7
1
Raleigh, NC
Same thing is happening to me! It started on my iPhone X. The tones just quit working all of a sudden. I ended up giving up on trying to figure it out, wiped the X and restored from backup. The tones worked for a day or two after that, then I restarted the phone and they quit working again. Then I got the XS Max. Transferred everything over from the X. Tones worked for a while. Restarted the XS Max, and they quit working again. I have the newest iPad Pro 11" with the same tones and no problems with them on there, even after multiple restarts.
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
Same thing is happening to me! It started on my iPhone X. The tones just quit working all of a sudden. I ended up giving up on trying to figure it out, wiped the X and restored from backup. The tones worked for a day or two after that, then I restarted the phone and they quit working again. Then I got the XS Max. Transferred everything over from the X. Tones worked for a while. Restarted the XS Max, and they quit working again. I have the newest iPad Pro 11" with the same tones and no problems with them on there, even after multiple restarts.

Same here! I got the iPhone X when it came out and didn't have an issue until mid-last year because the resets and restarts seemed to fix the issue. Towards the end of last year the "solutions" were only temporary and the problem has been consistent since I've upgraded to the XS Max. It seems to be linked to my iCloud somehow...? No other friends/family seem to have this issue with the exact same model of phone on the same carrier but the issue always returns for me. I hate having to do a reset for a small and annoying issue. I also have the newest iPad Pro 11" and that seems to work just fine without these issues.

Do you use an Apple Watch?
 

scots

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2019
7
1
Raleigh, NC
I do have Apple Watch. I had a series 2 until November when I upgraded to a series 4. December was when I upgraded from iPhone X to iPhone XS Max. I think October was when the issue with the tones not working started for me on iPhone X. If I select a tone that I purchased rather than one of the built-in tones, the tone plays properly when I select it - but when the actual event occurs that the tone is applied to, the default Apple tone for the event plays and at a louder volume.
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
I do have Apple Watch. I had a series 2 until November when I upgraded to a series 4. December was when I upgraded from iPhone X to iPhone XS Max. I think October was when the issue with the tones not working started for me on iPhone X. If I select a tone that I purchased rather than one of the built-in tones, the tone plays properly when I select it - but when the actual event occurs that the tone is applied to, the default Apple tone for the event plays and at a louder volume.

I've had a Series 3 since May 2018. I wonder if that could be part of an issue somewhere? Since the Apple Watch can only play that default "Note" sound for message alerts. But that's how it works for me, too. I know that the actual tones are on my phone because they play when I select them.

I think October was when the issue kept persisting for me as well, now that I think of it. Apple replaced my XS Max in October for a camera issue and the sound issue kept coming back about a week after that! I only had my Max for about 2 weeks prior to having it replaced. That's odd that it would happen around the same time. I really wish I could get help from someone at Apple. The "Genius" at the Apple store took my phone in the back to show other reps back there the issue. They also saw that if you go into the settings screen where you select your tone and leave it on that page, the correct sound will play when you get messages, but only while that screen is open. Once you go back, the default "note" sounds plays instead.

As she was going through the process of swapping out my phone she said "It's most likely a software bug. You're probably better off just waiting and hoping it gets fixed in the next software update." Now I know every single troubleshooting step has been taken and the issue just wont go away. I'm not sure what else to do besides spamming the Feedback App with the same issue which I don't want to do.
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
I haven't taken my phone in for a Genius to look at. That's about the only thing I haven't done at this point.

I know the Feedback app is on/for beta builds of iOS. Have you submitted it here as well: https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I've done that several times but I don't think I'll ever get a response through there. Once someone reached out to me in the Feedback app so I have a little more hope on there.
 

scots

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2019
7
1
Raleigh, NC
Yeah - I hadn't found anything about this happening to anyone else until today. I look at MacRumors almost every day (but not usually the forums), and today this thread just happened to show on the right side as I was browsing. I was like "OMG!!! It's not just me!!!" So I immediately signed up so I could reply. LOL
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
Yeah - I hadn't found anything about this happening to anyone else until today. I look at MacRumors almost every day (but not usually the forums), and today this thread just happened to show on the right side as I was browsing. I was like "OMG!!! It's not just me!!!" So I immediately signed up so I could reply. LOL

Nice! That's lucky. I've been lurking and reading for years and finally started in the forums last year. I searched and this was the only thread I found with the same issue.

I'm now chatting with Apple Support again. Hopefully now that I've gone through all the motions that they wanted me to they can escalate me to someone that can actually do something. Lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scots

JonDigital

macrumors regular
Jul 26, 2010
235
141
Coral Springs, FL
Just wanted to throw my hat in the ring that this has been happening to me since around Sept/Oct 2018. iPhone XS Max. I've called Apple support and I had someone confirm, whether true or not, that it is a known issue. When the next iOS update came out I got excited it was fixed but just like the rest of you, it stopped working a few days later.

14 page Apple support forum thread on this:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8074620
 
  • Like
Reactions: scots

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
Just wanted to throw my hat in the ring that this has been happening to me since around Sept/Oct 2018. iPhone XS Max. I've called Apple support and I had someone confirm, whether true or not, that it is a known issue. When the next iOS update came out I got excited it was fixed but just like the rest of you, it stopped working a few days later.

14 page Apple support forum thread on this:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8074620

I've seen that one! Those forums fall on deaf ears, too.
It's really weird that it happened around the same time for all of us. Out of curiosity, do you use an Apple Watch?
 

Jimbo47

macrumors 6502a
Jun 21, 2010
728
3
Add me to the list as well. Though mine is happening on an 8 Plus on 12.0.1... just started 2 days ago with a tone I purchased.
 

JonDigital

macrumors regular
Jul 26, 2010
235
141
Coral Springs, FL
I've seen that one! Those forums fall on deaf ears, too.
It's really weird that it happened around the same time for all of us. Out of curiosity, do you use an Apple Watch?
Sorry for the delayed response. I do use an Apple Watch.

Do you use Carplay? I seem to think this started happening when I was driving home one night. Downloaded text message tone was working prior to getting in car and when driving I started getting the default "note" notification tone.
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sorry for the delayed response. I do use an Apple Watch.

Do you use Carplay? I seem to think this started happening when I was driving home one night. Downloaded text message tone was working prior to getting in car and when driving I started getting the default "note" notification tone.

I don't use CarPlay. I still use the trusty AUX cord until I upgrade my unit in a few months!
It seems like all of the people that I see that also have this issue also use an Apple Watch.
 

scots

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2019
7
1
Raleigh, NC
So...not sure what exactly is going on...but a few days ago I decided to try the purchased tones again - and they've been working for about 3 days now, even after a power cycle of my iPhone. Before they wouldn't even work for 24 hours if I power cycled the phone. The only thing major I can think of that occurred since I last tried them and they weren't working is that I deleted a bunch of apps from my phone that I really wasn't using anymore - mostly games. It freed up a decent amount of space on my phone, although I wasn't running low on space beforehand - having almost half my 256 free before deleting. Guess I'll see how long they continue to work...
 
  • Like
Reactions: simplynando

wa2be

macrumors member
Aug 30, 2016
89
57
I started a thread on this same problem back in September, on my iPhone 7. Still having issues with it as recently as this week. My purchased tones had started working again, but after doing a restart on my phone this week they stopped working and I'm back to the Apple default tones. Sometimes the purchased tones will come back on their own a few days after a restart, sometimes I have to try downloading the tones over and over before it works. I've just learned to live with the fact that my purchased tones may come and go!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-12-broke-my-ringtones.2139928/#post-26605958
 
  • Like
Reactions: simplynando

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
So...not sure what exactly is going on...but a few days ago I decided to try the purchased tones again - and they've been working for about 3 days now, even after a power cycle of my iPhone. Before they wouldn't even work for 24 hours if I power cycled the phone. The only thing major I can think of that occurred since I last tried them and they weren't working is that I deleted a bunch of apps from my phone that I really wasn't using anymore - mostly games. It freed up a decent amount of space on my phone, although I wasn't running low on space beforehand - having almost half my 256 free before deleting. Guess I'll see how long they continue to work...
I started a thread on this same problem back in September, on my iPhone 7. Still having issues with it as recently as this week. My purchased tones had started working again, but after doing a restart on my phone this week they stopped working and I'm back to the Apple default tones. Sometimes the purchased tones will come back on their own a few days after a restart, sometimes I have to try downloading the tones over and over before it works. I've just learned to live with the fact that my purchased tones may come and go!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-12-broke-my-ringtones.2139928/#post-26605958

I hope your guys’ problems are actually fixed! Mine work for exactly one week (I’ve kept track of my experiences with this) after I make some kind of change like a reset or software update. I just updated my phone to iOS 12.1.3 so fingers crossed that my tones will work longer than just a week!

I’ve spoke with Apple about this and they sent the issue up to senior advisors and a technical team and the only way I can get a hold of them is by a replying to specific email thread with my case number and they haven’t responded To me AT ALL in the 2.5 week period since the process began, so i’m sure that’s a lost cause.
 

simplynando

macrumors 6502
Aug 15, 2016
334
310
Las Vegas, Nevada
I hope your guys’ problems are actually fixed! Mine work for exactly one week (I’ve kept track of my experiences with this) after I make some kind of change like a reset or software update. I just updated my phone to iOS 12.1.3 so fingers crossed that my tones will work longer than just a week!

I’ve spoke with Apple about this and they sent the issue up to senior advisors and a technical team and the only way I can get a hold of them is by a replying to specific email thread with my case number and they haven’t responded To me AT ALL in the 2.5 week period since the process began, so i’m sure that’s a lost cause.

UPDATE: It worked perfectly fine yesterday after the update but today it stopped working again. So frustrating!
 

neoIDjoe

macrumors newbie
Aug 29, 2018
5
0
This started happening to me far before that time frame. Probably earlier in 2018 or even in 2017. Back then I had the 5s and summed it up to outdated hardware. It’s good to see I’m not the only one with this issue.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.