Where to find Snapchat notification settings

Snapchat's notification sound controls live in your phone's system settings, not inside the Snapchat app itself. This is different from what many people expect — you cannot change the notification sound from within Snapchat. Instead, you go to your phone's main settings, find Snapchat in the apps list, and adjust the sound there.

The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both take about two minutes once you know where to look. The reason Snapchat works this way is that your phone's operating system controls all notification sounds for security reasons — apps cannot override your phone's audio settings on their own.

Key Takeaways

  • Snapchat notification sounds are controlled through your phone's system settings, not the Snapchat app itself.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Snapchat and tap Sound to choose a different notification tone.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Notifications and select Sound to pick a custom notification sound.
  • You can set different notification sounds for different types of Snapchat alerts, such as messages versus friend requests.
  • If you do not see a Sound option, your phone may not support custom notification sounds for that app, or the feature may be turned off.

Steps to change notification sound on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down until you see Notifications. Tap Notifications, then scroll through the list of apps until you find Snapchat. Tap Snapchat to open its notification settings.

Once you are in Snapchat's notification settings, look for an option labeled Sound or Notification Sound. Tap it to see the list of available sounds your phone offers. You will see options like Chime, Bells, Alarm, and others depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. Select the sound you want, and it will be applied immediately to all Snapchat notifications.

If you want different sounds for different types of notifications — for example, a different sound for direct messages versus friend requests — look for separate notification categories within Snapchat's settings. Some versions of iOS let you customize sounds per notification type, though this depends on how Snapchat has set up its notification categories.

Steps to change notification sound on Android

Open the Settings app and look for Apps or Application Manager (the name varies by phone brand). Scroll down and find Snapchat in the list. Tap Snapchat to open its app settings.

Look for Notifications or App Notifications in the menu. Tap it, then look for an option called Sound or Notification Sound. Tap Sound to see the available notification tones. Your phone will show sounds that came with Android, plus any custom sounds you have added to your phone. Select the one you want.

Some Android phones let you set different sounds for different notification channels — for instance, one sound for direct messages and another for story updates. If you see multiple notification categories listed under Snapchat's settings, you can tap each one and set a different sound for each. This is useful if you want to know at a glance what type of Snapchat alert just came in without looking at your phone.

What to do if you cannot find the Sound option

If you go through the steps above and do not see a Sound option, the most common reason is that notifications are turned off entirely for Snapchat. Look for a toggle labeled Allow Notifications or Notifications On. Make sure it is switched on, then go back and look for the Sound option again.

On some Android phones, particularly older models, the Sound option may not appear if your phone does not support per-app notification sounds. In that case, you can only change notification sounds globally through your phone's main sound settings, which will affect all apps at once. Check your phone's Settings > Sound or Settings > Sound and Vibration to see if there is a Notifications option there.

If you have recently updated Snapchat or your phone's operating system, the Sound option may temporarily disappear until the update fully installs. Restart your phone and check again. If the option still does not appear after a restart, uninstall and reinstall Snapchat — sometimes a corrupted installation prevents access to notification settings.

Using custom sounds you have added to your phone

Both iPhone and Android let you add your own sound files to your phone and use them as notification sounds. On iPhone, you can add custom sounds through the Files app or by syncing them through a computer. On Android, you typically add custom sounds by placing audio files in a specific folder on your phone, usually called Notifications or Ringtones.

Once you have added a custom sound file to your phone, it will appear in the Sound list when you open Snapchat's notification settings. The file must be in a supported audio format — MP3 and WAV work on both platforms — and should be short, ideally under 30 seconds. Longer files may not work or may be cut off when the notification plays.

Turning off Snapchat notifications entirely

If you want to silence Snapchat notifications without changing the sound, you have two options. You can turn off notifications for Snapchat completely by toggling off Allow Notifications in Snapchat's notification settings. This stops all Snapchat alerts from reaching your phone.

Alternatively, you can use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence notifications during specific times without turning them off permanently. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create a custom Focus that silences Snapchat. On Android, go to Settings > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. This way, you get notifications when you want them and silence when you do not, without having to change settings twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different notification sound for messages versus stories?

It depends on your phone and how Snapchat has set up its notification categories. Some versions of iOS and Android allow per-category sounds, while others do not. Open Snapchat's notification settings and look for separate categories like Direct Messages or Stories. If you see them, you can set different sounds for each. If you only see one Sound option, your phone applies the same sound to all Snapchat notifications.

Why does my notification sound keep reverting to the default?

This usually happens after a Snapchat update. Updates sometimes reset notification settings to their defaults. Go back into Snapchat's notification settings and select your preferred sound again. If it keeps reverting, try uninstalling and reinstalling Snapchat to clear out any corrupted settings files.

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

Not directly — most phones do not let you pick songs from your music app as notification sounds. You would need to extract a short clip from the song, save it as an audio file, add it to your phone's Notifications folder, and then select it from the Sound list. This process is more involved than using a built-in sound.

What if my phone is on silent mode?

Silent mode overrides notification sounds on both iPhone and Android. Even if you have set a custom Snapchat notification sound, your phone will not play it when silent mode is on. You will still see the notification on your screen, but you will not hear the sound. Switch your phone out of silent mode if you want to hear notifications.

Does changing the notification sound affect other apps?

No. Each app has its own notification sound settings. Changing Snapchat's notification sound does not affect notifications from other apps like Instagram, Messages, or email. You can set a unique sound for each app if you want to know which app is notifying you without looking at your phone.