Turn on vibration for all notifications

Your iPhone can vibrate when you get calls, texts, and app notifications. The simplest way to turn this on is through Settings. Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then toggle on Vibration. This setting applies to most notifications across your phone.

If you have an older iPhone model, the menu may say Sounds instead of Sounds & Haptics. The vibration toggle is in the same location either way. Once you turn it on, your phone will vibrate whenever a notification arrives, even if your ringer is off.

Key Takeaways

  • Vibration is controlled in Settings under Sounds & Haptics, and one toggle turns it on for most notifications at once.
  • You can customize vibration separately for calls, texts, and individual apps, so different contacts or messages can feel different.
  • Silent mode (the physical switch on the side of your phone) mutes sound but does not stop vibration unless you turn vibration off in Settings.
  • Some apps like Messages and Mail have their own vibration settings that override the main Sounds & Haptics toggle.

Set vibration for calls and texts separately

Calls and text messages can have their own vibration patterns. Go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics. Scroll down to find the Calls section and the Text Tone section. Each one has a Vibration option below it. Tap the vibration option to choose a pattern — options include Standard, Heartbeat, Alarm, and others.

You can pick different vibration patterns for calls versus texts, so you know which type of notification you are getting without looking at your phone. If you want calls to vibrate but texts to stay silent, you can turn vibration on for calls and off for texts.

Turn on vibration for individual apps

Some apps like Messages, Mail, and Calendar have their own notification settings. Open Settings, scroll down to find the app name, and tap it. Look for Notifications or Sounds & Haptics within that app's settings. Many apps let you toggle vibration on or off separately from the main phone settings.

This is useful if you want your Messages app to vibrate but your email to stay silent, or vice versa. Not every app offers this level of control — some follow the main phone vibration setting automatically. If you do not see a vibration option in an app's settings, the app is using your phone-wide vibration preference.

Use Silent mode without losing vibration

The physical switch on the left side of your iPhone controls Silent mode. When you flip it toward the back of the phone, the ringer turns off but vibration keeps working. This is the fastest way to silence calls and notifications without turning off vibration entirely.

If you flip the switch and your phone stops vibrating, it means vibration is turned off in Settings. Go back to Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, and make sure the Vibration toggle is on. Then Silent mode will mute sound while keeping vibration active.

Create custom vibration patterns

You can make a custom vibration pattern for a specific contact. Open Contacts, find the person, and tap Edit. Scroll down to Vibration and tap Create New Vibration. Tap the screen in a rhythm to record your pattern — short taps make short vibrations, and longer holds make longer ones. Tap Stop when you are done, then Save.

Now when that contact calls or texts you, your phone will vibrate in the pattern you created. This works for individual people in your contacts, so you can have a unique vibration for your boss, your partner, or your best friend. You can also assign a custom vibration to a group of contacts by editing them one at a time.

Check if vibration is working on your device

If your phone is not vibrating, first check that vibration is turned on in Settings under Sounds & Haptics. Then check that Silent mode is not on — look at the physical switch on the left side of your phone. If the switch shows orange or red, Silent mode is active and may be preventing vibration depending on your settings.

Test vibration by going to Settings, Sounds & Haptics, and tapping on a vibration pattern option. Your phone should vibrate immediately. If it does not, try restarting your iPhone. If vibration still does not work, the vibration motor may need service — contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.

Vibration settings for Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb is different from Silent mode. When Do Not Disturb is on, notifications are silenced but can still vibrate. Go to Settings, tap Focus, then Do Not Disturb. Scroll down to Notifications and choose which contacts or apps are allowed to notify you. Those allowed notifications will still vibrate even when Do Not Disturb is active.

You can also set a schedule for Do Not Disturb — for example, turning it on automatically at 10 p.m. and off at 7 a.m. During those hours, only calls or messages from people on your allowed list will vibrate your phone. This is useful if you want to sleep without sound but still feel important notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my iPhone not vibrating even though I turned it on?

Check that Silent mode is not on — the physical switch on the left side of your phone should not show orange. Also restart your iPhone by powering it off and back on. If vibration still does not work, the vibration motor may be damaged and need repair.

Can I make my iPhone vibrate for some apps but not others?

Yes. Go to Settings, find the app name, tap Notifications, and look for a Sounds or Vibration option. You can turn vibration on for Messages but off for Mail, for example. Apps that do not have their own notification settings will use your phone-wide vibration preference.

Does Silent mode stop vibration?

No. Silent mode only mutes sound. Your phone will still vibrate for notifications when Silent mode is on, as long as vibration is turned on in Settings. If you want to turn off both sound and vibration, you must turn off vibration in Settings separately.

Can I set different vibration patterns for different people?

Yes. Open Contacts, find the person, tap Edit, scroll to Vibration, and tap Create New Vibration. Tap the screen in a rhythm to record your pattern, then save it. That contact will vibrate in your custom pattern when they call or text.