Where to find notification sound settings on your phone

The steps to change your message notification sound depend on which phone you use and which messaging app you have. On both Android and iPhone, you can change the sound for text messages, email, social media apps, or any other app that sends notifications — each one has its own settings.

The fastest way to find these settings is to open the app itself, look for a Settings or Preferences menu (usually a gear icon), and search for "notifications" or "sound". Most apps let you change the notification sound without touching your phone's main settings at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Most messaging apps have their own notification sound settings inside the app itself, separate from your phone's main settings.
  • On Android, you can change notification sounds through the app's settings menu or through your phone's Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications.
  • On iPhone, open the app, go to Settings within that app, and look for Notifications or Sound options — iPhone does not let you change notification sounds through the main Settings app for most third-party apps.
  • You can set different notification sounds for different contacts or conversation threads in some apps like Messages and WhatsApp.
  • If you do not hear a notification sound, check that your phone is not in Silent mode and that the app's notification settings are actually turned on.

Changing notification sounds in the Messages app on Android

Open the Messages app (or whatever default texting app your phone uses). Tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) in the top left corner, then tap Settings. Look for Notifications or Sound settings — the exact name varies by phone brand and Android version.

Once you find the Notifications section, you should see an option for "Notification sound" or "Message tone". Tap it to see a list of available sounds. Select the one you want. Some phones also let you choose a different sound for each contact by opening a conversation, tapping the contact name at the top, and looking for a notification sound option there.

Changing notification sounds in Messages on iPhone

Open the Messages app and tap Settings at the bottom right (or swipe left on a conversation thread and tap Details). Scroll down to find Notifications or Sound. Tap "Text Tone" or "Notification Sound" to choose from the list of available tones.

If you want a different sound for a specific person, open that conversation, tap their name at the top, then tap "Edit" and look for a notification sound option. Not all iPhone versions show this option for individual contacts, so it may not be available on your device.

Changing notification sounds in WhatsApp, Telegram, and other third-party apps

Open the app and tap Settings (usually a gear icon or three dots in the top right). Look for Notifications or Sound. You should see separate options for message notifications and call notifications — you can set different sounds for each.

Some apps let you set different sounds for different groups or contacts. In WhatsApp, for example, open a conversation, tap the contact or group name at the top, scroll down to Custom Notifications, and toggle it on. Then you can choose a unique sound for that conversation only.

What to do if you cannot hear your notification sound

First, check that your phone is not in Silent mode. On iPhone, look for the physical mute switch on the left side of the phone and make sure it is not toggled to silent (you should see red). On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings and check that Do Not Disturb or Silent mode is off.

Next, open the app's notification settings and confirm that notifications are actually turned on — sometimes they are disabled by default. Check that the notification sound volume is not set to zero. On Android, go to Settings > Sound and Vibration and make sure the notification volume slider is not all the way down. On iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds and Haptics and check that the volume for alerts is turned up.

If notifications are on but you still do not hear anything, restart the app or restart your phone. Sometimes the notification system needs to refresh. You can also test the sound by sending yourself a message from another phone or account to see if the notification actually plays.

Using vibration and visual alerts instead of sound

If you want to be notified without hearing a sound, most apps let you turn off the sound but keep vibration or a visual alert. In the notification settings, look for options like "Vibrate", "Flash", or "LED notification". You can usually turn on vibration, a screen flash, or a notification light without playing any sound.

This is useful if you are in a meeting, at work, or in a quiet space where a sound would be disruptive. You can also set different notification styles for different apps — for example, vibration only for work email and sound for personal messages.

Setting up Do Not Disturb to silence notifications at specific times

Both Android and iPhone have a Do Not Disturb mode that silences all notifications during times you choose. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus (or Do Not Disturb on older versions) and create a new focus schedule. You can set it to turn on automatically at bedtime, during work hours, or at any time you want.

On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. You can usually allow notifications from certain contacts or apps to come through even when Do Not Disturb is on — for example, you might want calls from family to ring through but silence everything else at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from my music library as a notification sound?

On Android, yes — many phones let you select any audio file stored on your device. Go to Settings > Sounds and look for an option to choose a custom sound. On iPhone, you are limited to the built-in tones unless you use a third-party app or create a custom tone through iTunes.

Why did my notification sound change after a phone update?

Phone updates sometimes reset notification settings to defaults. Open the app's settings and choose your preferred sound again. If the sound you had before is no longer available, you may need to pick a new one.

Can I have different notification sounds for different people texting me?

Yes, in most messaging apps. Open a conversation with that person, tap their name or number at the top, and look for a notification sound or custom notification option. Not all apps support this, but Messages, WhatsApp, and Telegram do on most devices.

What if an app does not have a notification sound option in its settings?

Some apps use your phone's default notification sound and do not let you change it within the app. On Android, you can sometimes override this through Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications > Sound. On iPhone, you are limited to the app's built-in options.