How to Change Your Notification Sound on Any Device

Where to find notification sound settings

The path to notification sounds differs by device and operating system. On Android, open Settings, then Sound & Vibration (or Sound, depending on your phone model). On iPhone, go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics. On Windows, open Settings, then System, then Notifications & Actions. On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Notifications, then select the app you want to change.

Most devices let you change notification sounds at two levels: system-wide (all notifications sound the same) or per-app (each app has its own sound). System-wide changes are faster if you want one sound for everything. Per-app changes take longer but give you more control — for example, you can make text messages loud and work emails silent.

Key Takeaways

Android and iPhone store notification sounds in Settings under Sound or Sounds & Haptics, but the exact menu name varies by phone model and operating system version.
You can change sounds for all notifications at once or pick a different sound for each app individually.
Most phones come with 10 to 20 built-in notification sounds, and you can usually add custom sounds by saving audio files to your phone's file system.
Desktop computers (Windows and Mac) let you change notification sounds through System Settings, though fewer built-in options exist compared to phones.
If a notification sound does not change after you select it, restart the app or restart your phone to force the change to take effect.

Changing notification sounds on Android phones

Open Settings and scroll to Sound & Vibration (Samsung phones) or Sound (most other Android phones). Tap Notification Sound or Notification Sounds. You will see a list of built-in sounds — tap one to preview it, then tap OK or Save to confirm. The change applies to all apps unless you have already set a custom sound for a specific app.

To change the sound for one app only, open Settings, then Apps (or Application Manager), then find the app in the list. Tap it, then look for Notifications. Some apps have their own notification settings inside the app itself — open the app, go to Settings within that app, and look for Sound or Notifications. Gmail, WhatsApp, and Slack all work this way.

If you want to use a sound that is not in the built-in list, download an audio file (MP3 or WAV format) and save it to your phone's Notifications folder. On most Android phones, this is located at Internal Storage > Media > Notifications. After you save the file there, it will appear in your notification sound list.

Changing notification sounds on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics. Scroll down to find Notification Sounds. Tap it and you will see a list of built-in tones. Tap any tone to hear a preview, then tap it again to select it. This change applies to all notifications system-wide.

To change the sound for a single app, open Settings, scroll down to find that app in the list, and tap it. Then tap Sounds & Haptics (if it appears) or Notifications. Some apps do not offer this option — in that case, they use whatever sound you set in the main Sounds & Haptics menu. Apps like Messages, Mail, and Calendar usually have their own notification sound settings.

iPhone does not let you add custom notification sounds through the Settings app the way Android does. If you want a custom sound, you must create or download a ringtone file (in M4R format), add it to your phone through iTunes or Finder on a computer, and then select it from the notification sounds list. This process is more complicated than on Android.

Changing notification sounds on Windows computers

Open Settings and go to System > Notifications & Actions. Scroll down to Advanced Notification Options. Under each app listed, you will see a toggle for Sound. Turn it on, then click on the app name to expand its options. Click Change Sound to open a dropdown menu of available notification sounds.

Windows comes with a smaller set of built-in notification sounds than phones do — usually around 10 options. You cannot easily add custom sounds through the Settings interface. If you want a custom notification sound, you must manually place an audio file in the Windows Sounds folder (usually C:\Windows\Media\Sounds), restart your computer, and then select it from the dropdown menu.

Changing notification sounds on Mac computers

Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs) and click Notifications. On the left side, you will see a list of apps. Click the app you want to change, then look for a Sound dropdown menu. Click it and select from the available alert sounds. Mac comes with about 15 built-in sounds like Glass, Submarine, and Ping.

To add a custom sound on Mac, save an audio file (AIFF or WAV format) to the Library > Sounds folder in your home directory. Restart your computer, then open System Preferences > Notifications again. The new sound should appear in the Sound dropdown for any app.

What to do if your notification sound does not change

If you select a new notification sound but your phone or computer keeps playing the old one, the app may not have registered the change. Close the app completely and reopen it. If that does not work, restart your entire device — this forces the operating system to reload all notification settings.

On Android, check whether the app itself has overridden your system settings. Open the app, go to its Settings or Preferences menu, and look for Notifications or Sound. If the app has its own notification sound setting, that will take priority over the system-wide setting. On iPhone, make sure you are changing the sound in the right place — some apps have notification settings both in the main Settings app and inside the app itself.

If you are using a custom sound file and it does not appear in your list, verify that the file is in the correct format (Android uses MP3 or WAV; iPhone uses M4R; Mac uses AIFF or WAV) and in the correct folder. File format mismatches are the most common reason custom sounds do not show up.

Turning off notification sounds without turning off notifications

You can silence notifications without disabling them entirely. On Android, open Settings > Sound & Vibration, then turn off Notification Sound while leaving Vibration on. You will still get notifications — your phone will just vibrate instead of making noise. On iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and toggle off Sound under Notifications.

On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions, find the app, and toggle off Sound. On Mac, open System Preferences > Notifications, select the app, and uncheck the Sound checkbox. All of these options let notifications still appear on your screen and send you alerts — they just remove the audio component.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different notification sounds for different contacts?

On iPhone, open Contacts, select a person, tap Edit, then scroll down and tap Ringtone or Text Tone to assign a custom sound to that contact. On Android, this depends on your messaging app — some apps like Google Messages do not support per-contact sounds, but others like Samsung Messages do. Check your app's settings to see if the option exists.

Why does my notification sound keep reverting to the default?

This usually happens when an app update resets your notification settings. Open the app and check its internal notification settings — the app may have its own sound preference that overrides your system setting. You may need to change the sound in both places for it to stick.

What audio file formats work for custom notification sounds?

Android accepts MP3 and WAV files. iPhone requires M4R format (which is iTunes-protected audio). Mac accepts AIFF and WAV files. Windows accepts WAV files. If your audio file is in a different format, you will need to convert it using a free tool like Audacity or an online converter before saving it to your device.

Can I use a song as my notification sound?

Yes, but most devices limit notification sounds to 30 seconds or less. If you want to use part of a song, you will need to trim it first using audio editing software like Audacity (free) or GarageBand (Mac only). Save the trimmed clip in the correct format for your device, then move it to the Notifications folder.

How do I silence notifications from one app but keep sounds for others?

On any device, open that app's notification settings and turn off Sound or toggle off the notification sound option. The app will still send you notifications — they just will not make noise. You can do this for as many apps as you want, leaving sound on for the ones that matter most to you.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.