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artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
Just got my first smartphone. Iphone 5. I have hunted everywhere… HOW in blazes can I set the thing to occasionally beep or do something when someone left a message? EIther voice, missed call, or text.
If I don't manually pick up, turn on and check the phone I have no way to know there is a message on it.
There has to be a setting somewhere. I sure can't find it.
 

snicklesnackle

macrumors member
Jan 28, 2017
59
14
Go to messages in notifications, it should be on already by default. You can switch from vibrate to ring with the switch on the side.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
Just got my first smartphone. Iphone 5. I have hunted everywhere… HOW in blazes can I set the thing to occasionally beep or do something when someone left a message? EIther voice, missed call, or text.
If I don't manually pick up, turn on and check the phone I have no way to know there is a message on it.
There has to be a setting somewhere. I sure can't find it.
For messages there's a setting in notifications that can be enabled to get repeat alerts for up to 5 or 10 of them every couple of minutes. For missed calls or voicemails there is no such thing. There's also unfortunately no notification LED that can keep on blinking when there are some new notifications, which would help with this kind of thing too.

You can potentially use something like Google Voice or YouTube for voicemail purposes and it can also pick up missed calls and set it up so that you get a text message when there's a voicemail or a missed call and that way make use the text messages repeat alert in relation to voicemails or missed calls.
 
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44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,493
For messages there's a setting in notifications that can be enabled to get repeat alerts for up to 5 or 10 of them every couple of minutes. For missed calls or voicemails there is no such thing. There's also unfortunately no notification LED that can keep on blinking when there are some new notifications, which would help with this kind of thing too.

I know this is slightly deviating away from the actual topic at hand, but there is the option to use the camera flash as an LED indicator that a phone call/message is incoming on your iPhone. At least this would serve as a notification at the present time.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
I know this is slightly deviating away from the actual topic at hand, but there is the option to use the camera flash as an LED indicator that a phone call/message is incoming on your iPhone. At least this would serve as a notification at the present time.
There is that option, it just doesn't help as a reminder, as you mentioned. It's also certainly more invasive in a sense that a smaller and dimmer reminder notification LED which can also be customized. But, yes, it's there as far as being able to assist in noticing an incoming notification at the time of that notification (along the lines of notifciation sounds and/or vibration work).
 

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
For messages there's a setting in notifications that can be enabled to get repeat alerts for up to 5 or 10 of them every couple of minutes.
Ok, I'm not finding that. Anywhere.

To be clear, the phone rings just fine. Even got everyone set to their own ring.
But if I'm not by the phone, and the call goes to voice mail, the only way I know is if I pick up the phone, swipe it to unlock and look. Surely there is a setting somewhere to beep or do something every few minutes. I just can't find it. Not in notifications, not in any of the sub listings, under phone I would think but no, nothing.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
Ok, I'm not finding that. Anywhere.
Settings > Notifications > Messages > Repeat Alert (at the bottom of the page)
[doublepost=1486490808][/doublepost]
You may need to be on iOS 10 for that. You didn't mention what version you are on and so people assume 10.x.
It's something that has been around for some time now, even before the iOS 7 redesign, if I recall correctly.
 
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eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,363
27,894
It's something that has been around for some time now, even before the iOS 7 redesign, if I recall correctly.
Found it, thanks! Totally forgot that was there and that it HAS been there for a while. I don't get into that part of Settings very much.
 
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artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
You may need to be on iOS 10 for that. You didn't mention what version you are on and so people assume 10.x.
9.3.1 and no I'm not upgrading anything.
[doublepost=1486491459][/doublepost]
Settings > Notifications > Messages > Repeat Alert (at the bottom of the page)
[doublepost=1486490808][/doublepost]
It's something that has been around for some time now, even before the iOS 7 redesign, if I recall correctly.

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! Ok, found it. Thanks. Needed a road map.
It was set to once. Looks like the max is 10. At 2 min intervals. Still calls could be missed. I'm often away from the phone for more than 20 min. Gees, this still can't be it. My husbands phone beeps all flipping night long if his work leaves a text. But he's even less able to figure this out than I am.

Reading through other posts I also figured out what that half moon icon is, I THINK I set that now to show on the screen if I get a missed call.
Might have to ask someone to call me and test this.
 

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
FAIL….. had my husband call, let it go to voice mail and just left it along. I still got ONE notice about a min after his message was left.
And that's it.

sigh. Who ever called these things "smart" phones????
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
FAIL….. had my husband call, let it go to voice mail and just left it along. I still got ONE notice about a min after his message was left.
And that's it.

sigh. Who ever called these things "smart" phones????
That's how iOS is designed. Seems like Apple isn't into the whole repetitive reminder aspect of things, even if the user might want that.
 

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
That's how iOS is designed. Seems like Apple isn't into the whole repetitive reminder aspect of things, even if the user might want that.

Yea apple never was one to listen to what users want. Steve Jobbs did what ever he wanted sure everyone didn't know they wanted it. Usually his ideas were on target though. He's gone now they just do what ever and to heck with the consumer.

Oh well… guess I'll have to be one of those people constantly checking the phone.
Or not. Remember before answering machines? If no one picked up, try again later. Still works. lol.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
Yea apple never was one to listen to what users want. Steve Jobbs did what ever he wanted sure everyone didn't know they wanted it. Usually his ideas were on target though. He's gone now they just do what ever and to heck with the consumer.

Oh well… guess I'll have to be one of those people constantly checking the phone.
Or not. Remember before answering machines? If no one picked up, try again later. Still works. lol.
iOS has been like this for years from the beginning basically since the days Steve Jobs was in charge of it and all things Apple.

Ultimately if you are away from the phone for awhile you are down to simply quickly checking any lock screen notifications when you get back to it.
 

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
yup, gonna have to check.
Meanwhile, I still have my 19.00 "stupid" phone with boost. Twice today I got phishing scam calls and boy that thing just beeps and beeps forever until I do something. With all the multitude of settings on this "smart" phone, seems such an obvious thing is not to be had.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
yup, gonna have to check.
Meanwhile, I still have my 19.00 "stupid" phone with boost. Twice today I got phishing scam calls and boy that thing just beeps and beeps forever until I do something. With all the multitude of settings on this "smart" phone, seems such an obvious thing is not to be had.
In a sense it's that kind of phishing spam call experience that probably figured into Apple potentially believing that this kind of thing might not be the experience they want the users to have.
 
Last edited:

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
In a sense it's that kind of phishing spam call experience that probably figured into Apple potentially believing that this kind of thing might not be the experience they want the users to have.

yea but getting something to tell you someone left a message should be MY choice right? Heck even old answering machines at least had a flashing light. I can see a need to silence a phone. So there should be a SIMPLE way to do that. Silence when your at say a movie, or alerts for any other time.

I'm guessing there is some combination of settings somewhere that must be canceling each other out. Too many settings to do the simplest things.
Shouldn't need the help of a forum, and a road map just to find alert settings. Mine is set now to 10 alerts. yet I only got 1. Even 10 isn't enough. It should be until I turn it off.

But I didn't design the thing.
(ha… my daughter is building her own phone from scratch. This after I've watched her have several screaming fits over the •¶§∞ programers who can't get it right. I can't wait. I bet hers will be much better.)
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
yea but getting something to tell you someone left a message should be MY choice right? Heck even old answering machines at least had a flashing light. I can see a need to silence a phone. So there should be a SIMPLE way to do that. Silence when your at say a movie, or alerts for any other time.

I'm guessing there is some combination of settings somewhere that must be canceling each other out. Too many settings to do the simplest things.
Shouldn't need the help of a forum, and a road map just to find alert settings. Mine is set now to 10 alerts. yet I only got 1. Even 10 isn't enough. It should be until I turn it off.

But I didn't design the thing.
(ha… my daughter is building her own phone from scratch. This after I've watched her have several screaming fits over the •¶§∞ programers who can't get it right. I can't wait. I bet hers will be much better.)
I understand and agree. It's just not quite how Apple does things with iOS (or basically ever did with iOS). What we are talking about isn't really something that Apple offers in iOS, short of some limited similar type of functionality just for Messages basically (at least so far).
 

HealthyFruitSalads

macrumors newbie
Mar 21, 2016
25
3
Off topic but why not a 5s instead of an iPhone 5 since buying one at this time is a waste and spending a bit could get you a 5s that can last a good year or more with better hardware?
 

artmakersworlds

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 6, 2017
12
1
Earth. Ur uh, Michigan
Honestly I don't know the difference. My daughter said a 5 would be more than enough. It's what she has. Said to find one factory unlocked, which I did. She then said NOT to allow all the many updates and what not. With the help of youtube I found instructions to disable all that easy enough.
No clouds, no constant upgrade reminders. She said if you ever want to jail break it apple is hell bent on preventing that with their incessant upgrades. I don't know that I need mine jailbroken, (or what that does) but I trust her.
Got this on ebay pretty reasonable and got the same deal she has with AT@T only 45.00 a month. Way more data than I'll probably ever use.
HAD a voip phone for the house. Till their box gave out, new one they sent never would connect right. Wasn't going to go smart phone till summer so this pushed it up a bit. I got rid of the 24.00 a month voip now so not much of an increase in phone bills really. And considering now I can take credit cards with the thing I might do some craft shows next summer.
I did invest in the 32GB version mainly because I can stuff it with music and pictures. I even found a case I MIGHT get for 25.00 to make it a true underwater camera. Not sure I want to do that just yet. I have a gopro which is fine. (Hate the wide angle lens though.)
For the time being, I got a stupid phone from boost, only 10.75 every THREE months unless I use it more. Got that just for emergencies when the voip goes out or when in the car. Gonna hang onto that for a bit until I'm sure there are no issues with this ebay phone. Once I cancel that, the rate goes away forever. Grandfathered in.
So far so good though. I think when my last boost runs out I may do away with that one all together.

As for apps, aside from the maps.. Sure beats dragging out the old paper map. Can't even find those anymore.
I like being able to check local weather. But aside from that I'm not an app person. Don't care. Photos, music, google maps, weather, that's all I need. This should, hopefully last for years. Every apple computer I ever owned has lasted a very VERY long time. Apple may have issues with how it's software works now, but hardware? Good stuff. Always has been.

Yea that got off topic…. sort of. Still about the phone.
 
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