A method and apparatus to reduce communication device peak current for alert tones are disclosed. A portable device may include a processor coupled to a transceiver and an alert tone controller coupled to the processor. The transceiver may be configured to process an audio signal representing an alert tone. The processor may be configured to determine whether an audio volume level setting exceeds a predetermined threshold. The alert tone controller may be activated based on the determination. The alert tone controller may be configured, based on the activation, to reduce an audio signal by adjustment to a peak-to-peak amplitude of the audio signal and generate an adjusted audio signal by a restriction on the maximum amplitude of the reduced audio signal.