Where to find notification sound settings
The location of notification sound settings depends on your device and operating system. On most phones and computers, you'll find these settings in a dedicated notifications or sound menu, though the exact path varies.
On Android phones, open Settings, then look for Apps & notifications or Notifications. On iPhones, go to Settings and tap Notifications. On Windows computers, open Settings, then System, then Notifications & actions. On Mac computers, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), then Notifications.
Key Takeaways
- Most devices let you change notification sounds either globally for all apps or individually for each app.
- Android and Windows offer the widest selection of built-in sounds, while iPhones and Macs have more limited options.
- You can often upload custom sounds on Android and Windows, but iPhones require sounds to be added through iTunes or a computer first.
- Turning off sound entirely and using vibration or visual alerts is an option on every device if you prefer silent notifications.
Changing the default sound for all notifications
On Android, open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, then Notifications, and look for Default notification sound or Notification sound. Tap it to see a list of available sounds. Select the one you want, and it will apply to all apps unless they override it with their own sound settings.
On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Notifications, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sounds. Choose your preferred sound from the list. This becomes your default, though individual apps can still use different sounds if their developers have set that up.
On Windows, open Settings, go to System > Notifications & actions, scroll down, and click Advanced options. Under Notification sounds, you can select a sound for different notification types. Windows separates sounds for different categories like messages, reminders, and alerts.
On Mac, open System Preferences or System Settings, click Notifications, select an app from the list on the left, and choose a sound from the Alert sound dropdown. You must do this per app rather than setting one global default.
Changing sounds for individual apps
Most apps let you override the system default and set their own notification sound. On Android, open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, find the specific app, tap Notifications, and look for a Sound or Notification sound option. Not all apps offer this choice — it depends on how the developer built the app.
On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the app in the list, and tap it. Scroll down to Sounds and choose a different sound if the option is available. Some apps do not allow you to change their notification sound.
On Windows, right-click the app in your taskbar, look for App settings or Preferences, and find the notifications section within the app itself. Windows does not always let you control individual app sounds from the system settings — many apps manage their own sounds internally.
On Mac, the process is the same as setting a default: go to System Preferences or System Settings, click Notifications, select the app, and choose a sound from the dropdown.
Using custom sounds on Android and Windows
On Android, you can add your own sound files. First, place an audio file (usually MP3 or WAV format) into the Notifications folder on your phone's internal storage. You may need to create this folder if it does not exist. Open Settings, go to Apps & notifications > Notifications > Default notification sound, and your custom file should appear in the list.
On Windows, open Settings, go to System > Notifications & actions > Advanced options, and click App notifications. Scroll down to find the notification sound section. Click the dropdown next to a notification type, and you should see an option to browse for a custom sound file on your computer. Windows accepts WAV files most reliably.
Custom sounds on both Android and Windows must be relatively short — typically under 30 seconds — or the system may not play them in full or may reject them entirely.
Custom sounds on iPhone and Mac
iPhones do not let you add custom notification sounds directly from the phone. Instead, you must add them through a computer using iTunes or Finder. Create or download an audio file in M4A format (iPhone's preferred format), connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer, open iTunes or Finder, and drag the file into the Tones section. Once synced, the sound will appear in your iPhone's notification sound list.
On Mac, you cannot add custom notification sounds at all through the system settings. Some third-party apps offer workarounds, but the built-in notification system does not support custom audio files.
Turning off notification sounds entirely
If you want notifications without sound, every device offers alternatives. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications > Default notification sound, and select Silent or None. You can also enable Vibration in the same menu to feel notifications instead of hearing them.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, select an app, and toggle off Sounds. You can keep Badges and Banners on so you still see notifications visually. Enable Haptic if you want the phone to vibrate instead.
On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications & actions > Advanced options, and toggle off Play notification sounds. You will still see visual notifications on your screen.
On Mac, select an app in System Preferences > Notifications, and choose None from the Alert sound dropdown. Visual notifications will still appear.
Troubleshooting when sounds do not change
If you change a notification sound and it does not take effect, first check whether your device is in silent or do-not-disturb mode. On iPhone, look for the mute switch on the side of the phone. On Android, swipe down from the top and check whether Do Not Disturb is enabled. On Windows and Mac, check your system volume settings to ensure notifications are not muted.
If the sound still does not play, restart your device. Sometimes notification settings do not apply until the system reboots. If a specific app's notification sound is not changing, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app, as corrupted settings files can prevent changes from taking effect.
On iPhone, if a custom sound you added through iTunes is not appearing in your notification list, try syncing your phone again or restarting it. On Android, make sure your custom audio file is in the correct folder and in a supported format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different notification sounds for different contacts?
On iPhone, yes — open Contacts, select a person, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Ringtone or Text Tone to assign a custom sound to that contact. On Android, this depends on your phone's manufacturer and messaging app. Some phones and apps support it, others do not. Check your Contacts app or messaging app settings to see if the option is available.
Why is my notification sound very quiet?
Check your device's overall volume level — notification volume is often tied to your system volume or a separate notifications volume slider. On Android, go to Settings > Sound and look for Notification volume. On iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and check the volume slider. On Windows and Mac, check your system volume in the taskbar or menu bar.
Can I use a song from my music library as a notification sound?
On Android, you can if you move the audio file to your Notifications folder, but most music files are too long. You would need to trim the song to under 30 seconds using an audio editor first. On iPhone, you must convert the song to M4A format and add it through iTunes or Finder before it will appear in your notification sounds list. On Windows and Mac, the process is similar — trim the file first, then add it through your system settings or app preferences.
Do notification sounds work when my phone is locked?
Yes, on all devices. Notification sounds play whether your phone or computer is locked or unlocked. If you are not hearing them, check whether your device is in silent mode, do-not-disturb mode, or whether your volume is muted.