Where to find Snapchat notification settings

Snapchat's notification sound controls live in your phone's settings, not inside the Snapchat app itself. This means the steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone or Android device, and the exact menu names vary by phone model and operating system version.

On both platforms, you are controlling how your phone handles Snapchat alerts — not changing a sound that exists only within the app. Your phone's operating system decides which sounds play and when, so Snapchat cannot override those choices.

Changing notification sounds on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen, then tap Notifications. Scroll down and find Snapchat in the list of apps. Tap it to open Snapchat's notification settings.

Look for the option labeled Sounds or Sound. Tap it to see the available notification sounds your phone offers. You will see options like "Default", "Chime", "Bells", "Chord", and others depending on your iOS version. Select the sound you want to hear when you receive a Snapchat message or notification. The phone will play a preview of each sound as you tap it.

If you want no sound at all, look for a None option in that same menu. Selecting it will silence Snapchat notifications while keeping the visual alert (the badge on the app icon or banner at the top of your screen).

Changing notification sounds on Android

Open the Settings app, then tap Apps or Applications (the exact name depends on your phone maker). Find and tap Snapchat. Look for Notifications or App notifications.

Tap Notification sounds or Sound and vibration. You will see a list of sounds available on your device. Select the one you want. Android typically offers fewer built-in notification sounds than iPhone, but you may see options like "Default", "Ping", "Chime", or others depending on your phone model.

Some Android phones let you choose a custom sound from your music library. If you see an option to browse files or select from your device, you can pick any audio file stored on your phone. The file must be in a format your phone recognizes, usually MP3 or WAV.

Key Takeaways

  • Snapchat notification sounds are controlled through your phone's settings, not through the Snapchat app itself.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Snapchat > Sounds and choose from the list of system sounds.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Notifications > Notification sounds and select your preferred sound.
  • You can silence Snapchat notifications entirely by choosing "None" on iPhone or disabling sound on Android, while keeping visual alerts active.
  • Some Android phones allow you to upload a custom sound file from your device instead of using a built-in option.

Why the sound might not change

If you selected a new notification sound but still hear the old one, your phone may have cached the previous setting. Close the Settings app completely and reopen it to refresh. On iPhone, you can also toggle the notification setting off and back on to force an update.

Check that notifications for Snapchat are actually turned on. If Allow Notifications is disabled in your notification settings, your phone will not play any sound at all, regardless of which sound you selected. You need both notifications enabled and a sound selected for the alert to play.

On Android, some phones have a separate Do Not Disturb mode that overrides notification sounds. If your phone is in this mode, Snapchat notifications will be silent even if you chose a sound. Check your quick settings panel (swipe down from the top of your screen twice) to see if Do Not Disturb is active.

Turning off sound for Snapchat only

If you want to keep notifications but remove the sound, you have two options. The first is to select "None" as your notification sound (iPhone) or disable sound in the notification settings (Android). This keeps the visual alert — the banner at the top of your screen or the badge on the app icon — but removes the audio.

The second option is to use your phone's Focus mode (iPhone) or Do Not Disturb mode (Android) to silence all notifications during certain hours. This affects all apps, not just Snapchat, but it is useful if you want silence during work or sleep without changing individual app settings.

Notification sound differences between iPhone and Android

iPhones come with a larger selection of built-in notification sounds — typically 20 or more options with names like "Chime", "Bells", "Chord", "Ding", and "Sparkle". These sounds are consistent across all iPhones running the same iOS version.

Android phones vary widely depending on the manufacturer. A Samsung phone offers different sounds than a Google Pixel, which offers different sounds than a OnePlus. Some Android phones let you use any audio file as a notification sound, while others limit you to a preset list. Check your phone's notification settings to see what options are available on your specific device.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

On Android, some phones allow this through the notification sound menu — you can browse your device files and select an MP3 or WAV file. On iPhone, you cannot use a song directly from Apple Music or your library as a notification sound. You would need to use a third-party app to create a custom alert tone and add it to your phone's system sounds, which is more complex.

Why do I hear Snapchat notifications even though I turned off the sound?

Check whether your phone is in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode — these override individual app settings and silence all notifications. Also verify that you actually selected "None" or disabled sound in the notification settings; sometimes the change does not save if you close the settings menu too quickly. Restart your phone to force the setting to take effect.

Does changing the notification sound affect message notifications and snap notifications differently?

No. The sound setting you choose in your phone's notification menu applies to all Snapchat alerts — messages, snaps, stories, and friend requests all use the same notification sound. Your phone does not let you assign different sounds to different types of Snapchat notifications.

Will changing my notification sound drain my battery?

No. The notification sound itself uses negligible battery power. If anything, turning off the sound slightly reduces battery drain because your phone does not have to play audio, but the difference is too small to notice in daily use.

What if my phone does not show a Snapchat option in notification settings?

Make sure Snapchat is installed and has been opened at least once. If it still does not appear, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. You may also need to restart your phone. If Snapchat still does not show up, your phone's operating system may not have loaded the app's notification settings yet — wait a few hours and check again.