Where to find notification sound settings

You change notification sounds in the Settings app, not in individual apps themselves. Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics (on newer iPhones) or Sounds (on older models), then scroll down to find the app whose notification sound you want to change. The sound options available depend on which app you're adjusting — some apps let you pick from dozens of sounds, while others offer only a few choices.

If you don't see an app listed under Sounds & Haptics, that app either doesn't send notifications or hasn't been configured to do so yet. You can still change its sound once it sends you a notification. After the first notification arrives, the app will appear in your Sounds & Haptics settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Notification sounds are changed in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, not within the app itself.
  • You can set different sounds for different apps, and each app's available sounds depend on what the app developer included.
  • Some apps let you customize sounds only after they've sent you at least one notification.
  • You can also turn off sound for specific apps while keeping vibration, or silence all notifications during Focus modes.

Step-by-step: changing a specific app's notification sound

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your home screen.

Step 2: Tap Sounds & Haptics (iPhone 15 and newer, or iPhone XS and newer with iOS 16+) or Sounds (older models).

Step 3: Scroll down past the ringtone and text tone options until you see a list of apps. Find the app whose notification sound you want to change.

Step 4: Tap the app name. A menu will open showing the available notification sounds for that app.

Step 5: Tap the sound you want to use. You'll hear a preview of it immediately.

Step 6: Go back to the previous screen — the sound is now saved automatically. You don't need to tap a save button.

What to do if an app isn't showing up in your list

If you don't see an app in your Sounds & Haptics settings, it means that app hasn't sent you a notification yet, or notifications are turned off for it entirely. The fastest way to make it appear is to wait for the app to send you a notification naturally, or to open the app and trigger a test notification if the app offers that option.

Alternatively, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app in that list. Make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. Once notifications are enabled and the app sends at least one alert, it will show up in your Sounds & Haptics settings and you can customize its sound.

Turning off sound while keeping vibration

If you want an app to vibrate when it notifies you but make no sound, go to Sounds & Haptics, find the app, and look for a None or Silent option at the top of the sound list. Tap it. The app will still vibrate your phone, but you won't hear anything.

This is useful for apps you want to notice without disturbing others around you. Your iPhone will still vibrate even if your phone is in silent mode, so you won't miss the notification.

Using Focus modes to silence notifications by time or place

If you want to change notification sounds based on when or where you are, Focus modes let you do this automatically. Go to Settings > Focus, create or edit a Focus mode (like Work or Sleep), and tap Notifications. From there, you can choose which apps send notifications while that Focus is active, and whether they make sound.

For example, you could set your Work Focus to allow Slack notifications with sound but silence all social media apps. When you turn on Work Focus, those rules take effect automatically. This is more powerful than changing individual app sounds because it lets you have different rules for different times of day or contexts.

Why some apps have limited sound options

Some apps offer only two or three notification sounds, while others offer ten or more. This is because app developers decide which sounds to include. Apple's built-in apps like Mail and Messages typically have more options, while third-party apps vary widely.

You cannot add custom sounds from your music library to most apps' notifications — the sounds must come from the set the app developer included. A few apps do allow custom sounds, but this is rare and usually requires the app to have that feature built in specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most apps don't allow this. You're limited to the sounds the app developer included. However, you can set a custom ringtone or text tone using your music library in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone or Text Tone — those two do accept songs from your library. For app notifications, check if the app itself has a settings menu that might offer this option, though it's uncommon.

Why did my notification sound change after an iOS update?

Apple sometimes changes the default notification sounds available in iOS updates, or removes sounds that were in older versions. If your app's sound disappeared, go back to Sounds & Haptics for that app and pick a new one from what's currently available. Your choice will stick even after future updates.

Can I have different notification sounds for the same app on different devices?

Yes. Each device has its own Sounds & Haptics settings, so you can set Mail to use one sound on your iPhone and a different sound on your iPad. These settings don't sync across devices — you'll need to change them separately on each one.

What's the difference between notification sound and alert style?

Notification sound is the audio that plays when an alert arrives. Alert style (Banner, List, or None) controls whether the notification appears on your screen and how. You can have a notification with sound but no banner, or a banner with no sound. Both are controlled in Settings > Notifications for each app.

Will changing notification sounds affect my Do Not Disturb or silent mode?

When your phone is in silent mode, notification sounds won't play — only vibration will work. Do Not Disturb silences notifications entirely unless you've allowed specific contacts or apps through. Changing a notification sound doesn't override these settings; the sound just won't be heard when those modes are active.