Whether you’re craving some variety or just want to differentiate your phone’s sounds from other similar models, we detailed below a series of methods to change the notification sound on your Android phone and make it stand out.
Change Default Global Notification Sounds on Android 12
If your phone is running Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 12, the following instructions show how to change your phone’s default notification sound.
Change Default Global Notification Sounds on Older Android Versions
One of the major advantages of using Android is that you can tweak almost everything about it, including the device’s default global notification sounds. These are the sounds you hear when you receive a text message on your phone or an alert from an app. If you have a phone running Android 8.0 to 11, follow these steps to jazz up your notification sounds. You have access to a library of sounds here and can pick your favorite. Note that these options will vary based on the device you own.
Change Notification Sounds by App
The majority of apps don’t have an in-app option for changing the notification sounds, and most make use of the default alert tone of your device. Luckily, you are able to customize the notification sound for individual apps from the Notifications settings (applies to Android 8 and up) Note: this method works for the majority of apps on your phone, including Instagram, Spotify, and 9Gag. Since Instagram sends different kinds of alerts (not only for Instagram direct messages), including Direct Video Chat, First Posts, and Stories, it’s possible to set different notification sounds for each in the Notifications section.
Apps with built-in notification sound option
Some apps offer built-in options for changing the notification sounds. You will be able to change the notification sound directly from within the app. Here’s how to do it in a few select apps.
Gmail
Follow these instructions to easily change the Facebook app’s notification sound without going through Settings.
The Facebook app offers direct access to your default library of notification sounds and adds a few of its own for good measure. Follow these steps to change it up.
Google Messages App
If you’re using Google Messages for your messaging needs, follow these steps to quickly change the notification sounds for the app.
How to Add Custom Notification Sounds
What if you can’t find a notification sound that truly suits you? In that case, you may want to give custom notification sounds a try. You can do this in one of two ways: you can either use an app like Zedge or create a custom notification sound from an audio file you have on your phone, which can be your favorite song or a short recording you’ve made.
Change Notification Sounds with Zedge
Before you install Zedge, keep in mind that the app is only free to use for a period of three days. After that, you are invited to select between the two paid plans to continue to enjoy the features. Also, in the free version, you won’t be able to take advantage of the app’s full sound library. Nevertheless, you can still use the trial to figure out if the app is a good match for you. Note: Zedge requests permission to modify your system’s settings. If you’re not comfortable doing that, you may want to use the alternative to set your custom notification sounds.
Set a Custom Notification Sound Using Media Files
If you’d like to use something you’ve recorded or an audio file as your custom notification sound, you can. It’s possible to set it directly from Settings. Note: if you’re looking to use a larger audio file, it’s recommended that you cut the track and use the resulting sample as your new notification sound. You can also set the audio track as the notification sound for individual apps via your handset’s Notification Settings. Connect your phone with your computer and receive notifications on your Windows PC or learn how to access your notification history on your phone.
1. Can I turn the notification sound off temporarily?
Yes, you can. Android has baked in a solution to help you focus and be less distracted by notifications sounds. It’s called Do Not Disturb mode, and you can learn how to take advantage of it by following this tutorial right here.
2. I’m experiencing delayed notifications. What can I do?
If you’re having trouble getting your notifications to show up on time on your Android, try this fix to get rid of the problem.
3. How can I hide notifications from my lockscreen?
Don’t want your notifications exposed to anyone who picks up your phone? This tutorial will walk you through the steps to have your notifications hidden from your lockscreen.
