How to Set a Custom Text Tone for On Call Central Notifications on iPhone (2025 Update)

SMS messaging is still the most common notification method for On Call Central users — and the iPhone remains the most popular device.

Many users ask how they can make their iPhone play a different sound when On Call Central sends them a text message. Some want a louder, attention-grabbing alert, while others simply want to distinguish On Call Central notifications from regular text messages.

This quick guide will show you how to set a unique text tone for On Call Central messages on modern iPhones.

 You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 17 or later 
• About 5 minutes of time

 Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create or Edit the On Call Central Contact

Open the Phone or Contacts app. Tap the “+” icon in the top right to add a new contact (or find an existing one if you’ve saved it before). Name the contact “On Call Central.” In the Phone field, enter (855) 643-2255 — this is the toll-free text notification number On Call Central uses to send all SMS notifications.

Alternatively, if you already have a text from On Call Central:

Open the conversation in the Messages app. Tap the number at the top (855) 643-2255. Tap “Add to Contacts” → “Create New Contact.”

2.  Assign a Custom Text Tone

In the Contacts app, open your new On Call Central contact. Tap “Edit” in the top-right corner. Scroll down to “Text Tone.” Choose a distinct sound from your list of alert tones — something loud or unique so you’ll know right away that it’s an On Call Central message.

💡 Pro Tips:

Try the built-in Alarm or Radar tones for something hard to miss. You can also download custom tones from the iTunes Store or set one you’ve imported via Finder or GarageBand. If you’d like that nostalgic “old-school pager” sound, search “pager tones” in the iTunes Store — there are still several available for purchase (around $1.29 each).

3.  Save the Contact

Tap Done to save your changes.

From now on, whenever you receive a text message from On Call Central (855) 643-2255, your iPhone will play the custom text tone you selected — helping you easily distinguish it from all your other messages.

That’s It!

Now you’ll always recognize your On Call Central notifications instantly — whether you need a subtle alert during the day or something loud enough to wake you in the middle of the night.

If you’re not receiving your notifications by text or email or if you have any questions about On Call Central, contact us at support@oncallcentral.com, and we’ll help you get everything working again.