Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (2024)

You can set your phone to make a brief noise or vibration every time a notification comes through. Like customizing your ringtone with your favorite song, you can pick unique notes and sounds for all your apps or a specific one. Our guide teaches you how to change the notification sound for the essential apps on your Android tablet or phone so that no Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone sounds the same in a busy hallway.

Our tutorial series uses a Samsung Galaxy phone with the custom One UI skin and Google Pixel for the stock Android phone sections. If you're using another Android device, you should be able to follow along without issue. We also take note of the different options you may encounter in our steps.

How to change notification sounds for text messages

When your messages come through, you want the notification to become loud, clear, and distinctive. You can do this for all of your messages or change it on a per-contact basis. Though our screenshots use a Google Pixel running Android 14, we've also referenced the differences between a Samsung Galaxy and a OnePlus phone using One UI 6.1 and OxygenOS 14, respectively. However, if you're using an older Android version, you can follow our guide — the UI will differ from what we've included in our steps below, but the process remains the same.

How to change notification sounds for Google Messages

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Tap on the Menu or Profile icon.
  3. Choose Message settings (or Settings for older versions).
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (1)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (2)
  4. Tap Notifications.
  5. Scroll down to Default settings and tap Incoming Messages. If you don't see this option, select Behavior, sound & more, or Notification categories.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (3)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (4)
  6. Tap Default. Skip to the next step if you're using a Samsung device.
  7. Select Sound: you can choose from a category of notification sounds or pick an app to complete this step. For a OnePlus phone, you may see Ringtone instead.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (5)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (6)
  8. Tap on a sound name to Select a notification sound. For Samsung devices, you can customize the notification sound volume by tapping on the volume slider.

If you do not see these options, you must turn on Manage notification categories for each app by going into Settings > Notification > Advance Settings.

To change the notification sounds for individual contacts in Google Messages, do the following:

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Tap on a conversation.
  3. Select the Three-dot icon in the top right corner next to the Camera icon.
  4. Tap Details.
  5. Tap Notifications > Sound.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (9)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (10)

How to change notification sounds for Samsung Messages

If you own an older Samsung device, Samsung Messages will be your default messaging app. We will go over the steps for changing notification sounds for Samsung Messages. Our tutorial uses a Samsung Galaxy phone with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Steps may vary for older Android/One UI versions.

  1. Open Samsung Messages.
  2. Tap the Three-dot icon next to Search.
  3. Select Settings.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (11)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (12)
  4. Tap Notifications > Notification categories.
  5. Select General notifications or New messages.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (13)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (14)
  6. Tap Sound and select an app. We use SecSoundPicker in this example.
  7. Select a new sound. You can also change the notification sound volume by adjusting the slider at the top of the page.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (15)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (16)

To change the notification sound for each contact, follow these steps:

  1. Open Samsung Messages.
  2. Tap on a conversation.
  3. Select the Three-dot icon in the top right corner.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (17)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (18)
  4. Choose Notification sound.
  5. Tap on a new sound and use the back arrow to save your settings.

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When your calls come through, you can instantly recognize who they are based on the new sound or ringtone you've set for your contact. Setting a custom ringtone helps filter out unknown, potentially unwanted spam callers from people you know.

A ringtone slightly differs from a notification sound. Ringtones are designed for incoming calls and can be music or a string of sounds, while notification sounds are used for messages and app alerts. They serve the same purpose but have separate settings. Plus, you're likely to set a notification sound with one of the sounds found on your phone, whereas you might download a new ringtone from a popular music app.

1:13

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How to change notification sounds for all apps

You can set one notification sound for all apps, especially if you're tired of hearing the default sound. Below, we use a Google Pixel phone for the stock Android section, but we also show the steps for Galaxy phones below it. Both phones run Android 14, and we use One UI 6.1 in our Samsung Galaxy device section. Older versions may vary slightly, but the steps mostly stay the same.

  1. Go to Settings on your Android device.
  2. Tap Sound & vibration.
  3. Select Default notification sound.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (23)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (24)
  4. Choose a category of sounds; tap on a new sound.

Changing notification sounds for all apps on a Samsung Galaxy device

  1. Go to Settings on your Samsung Galaxy device.
  2. Tap Sounds and vibration.
  3. Tap Notification sound.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (25)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (26)
  4. Choose a new sound; adjust the notification sound volume using the slider above.

How to change notification sounds by app

In this example, we use Gmail. Emails can come through your phone, taking over your notifications. To help differentiate the notification sounds from other apps, we set a new one for Gmail. You can do this on any Android device with the Gmail app installed.

If you're trying to change the notification sound for your phone and contacts app, we cover this extensively in our change ringtones guide.

  1. Open the Gmail app.
  2. Tap on the Hamburger button.
  3. Scroll down to Settings.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (27)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (28)
  4. Tap on your email address.
  5. Select Notification sounds.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (29)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (30)
  6. Tap Notification sound under Email.
  7. Select Sound and choose from a list of available sounds. Depending on the device, you may have to complete this action using another app. Once you've picked the new notification sound, choose Done.
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (31)
    Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (32)

Keeping notifications under control while on the go

Changing your notifications and recognizing your priority alerts based on sound can be helpful. However, there might also be times when you're required to mute your notifications. You don't have to silence them forever or mute every app; you can opt to snooze them instead. Snoozing doesn't silence all your apps indiscriminately; you select which channels to mute while keeping others on. This includes having multiple email accounts saved on your phone; you can mute one but leave the other alone. It's a great way to declutter your notification space.

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Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps (2024)

FAQs

Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps? ›

What you have to do is: go to Settings>>>Notifications>>>Advanced settings.... and then you'll have to turn on the option "Manage notification categories for each app"... And then you're good to go 👍🏻😊.

Can you make different apps have different notification sounds on Android? ›

What you have to do is: go to Settings>>>Notifications>>>Advanced settings.... and then you'll have to turn on the option "Manage notification categories for each app"... And then you're good to go 👍🏻😊.

How do I add custom sounds to Android notifications? ›

How to change notification sounds on Android phones
  1. Go to Settings > Sound and vibration.
  2. Tap Default notification sound.
  3. Select a Sounds collection.
  4. Upload a custom sound (optional)
  5. Select a sound.
  6. Tap Save.
May 23, 2023

How to set different notification sounds for different apps on Android 14? ›

Customize Notification Sounds on Phones Running Android 14

On the app info page, tap Notifications and turn on the Allow notifications toggle. Tap Notification categories and select the alert type for which you want to change the notification sound. Tap Sound and choose your preferred alert sound from the list.

How to change notification sounds for different apps on Samsung S23? ›

On Samsung One Ui 6.0 this is in Settings > Apps > Choose the app > Look at notifications. For messages this is in Notifications > Notification Categories > New Messages > Sound > Choose the preferred tone.

How to set notifications for specific apps on Android? ›

Option 1: In your Settings app
  1. Open your device's Settings app.
  2. Tap Notifications. App settings.
  3. Under "Most recent," find apps that recently sent you notifications. To find more apps, in the dropdown menu, tap All apps.
  4. Tap the app.
  5. Turn the app's notifications on or off.

Where can I download notification Sounds? ›

You can download them from a website like notificationsounds.com or you can use an app like Zedge:
  • You can download Zedge for free from the Google Play Store. ...
  • If you have an audio file (MP3, M4A, WAV, or OGG format) on your computer, transfer it to your Android.
Aug 11, 2023

How to change Grindr notification sound? ›

Within the Grindr app for Android:

Locate "Notification Settings" and tap on it. You can "Enable or disable" the notification for sounds or vibrations.

How do I get different notification sounds for different apps on note 20? ›

Step 1: Once again, start by swiping down to open up your Quick Settings menu, and choose the Settings icon. Step 2: This time, scroll down until you reach Apps, and select it. Step 3: Your downloaded apps will appear in alphabetical order. Select the app that you want to change the notification sound for.

Why don't I have notification categories on Android? ›

For some reason, it's off by default. Go into settings, notifications, advanced settings, then toggle manage notification categories for each app.

How to add a custom notification sound on Android? ›

How to Add Custom Notification Sounds
  1. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration. ...
  2. Tap Default notification sound > My Sounds.
  3. Tap + (plus sign).
  4. Find and select your custom sound.
  5. Your new ringtone should appear in the list of available ringtones in the My Sounds section.
Jan 10, 2024

How do I set up separate app sounds on my Samsung? ›

What to Know
  1. Separate App Sound can split sounds between your phone and Bluetooth devices.
  2. To turn it on, make sure Bluetooth is enabled in Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and the device is paired.
  3. Then, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Separate app sound > Turn it on.
Dec 14, 2023

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