Where to find Snapchat's notification settings

Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. Tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll down and tap Notifications. This is where you control what sounds play when Snapchat alerts you.

The Notifications menu shows you every type of alert Snapchat can send — messages, stories, friend requests, and more. Each one has its own sound setting. You can change them individually or turn sounds off entirely for specific alert types.

Key Takeaways

  • Snapchat's notification sounds are controlled in Settings > Notifications, where you can change the sound for each alert type separately.
  • You can choose from Snapchat's built-in sounds or use a sound from your phone's library, depending on whether you use iOS or Android.
  • Turning off notification sounds for specific events (like friend requests) while keeping others on gives you control without silencing everything.
  • Your phone's Do Not Disturb or silent mode will override Snapchat's settings, so check both places if notifications aren't working as expected.

Changing notification sounds on iPhone

On iPhone, tap the sound option next to the notification type you want to change. Snapchat shows you a list of built-in sounds — names like "Chime", "Ping", "Swoosh", and "Whistle". Tap the one you want to hear. You'll get a preview of what it sounds like before you confirm.

iPhone users cannot pick custom sounds from their phone's music library directly through Snapchat. You're limited to the sounds Snapchat provides. If none of them work for you, your other option is to turn the notification sound off for that alert type and rely on visual notifications instead.

Changing notification sounds on Android

Android gives you more flexibility. Tap the sound option next to the notification type you want to change. You'll see Snapchat's built-in sounds listed first. Below those, you can tap Add Sound or Choose Sound (the exact wording depends on your Android version) to pick a sound from your phone's library.

Navigate to any audio file stored on your device — music, voice recordings, or downloaded sounds. Select it and it becomes your notification sound for that alert type. This means you can use a song clip, a voice memo, or any other audio file as your Snapchat notification.

Turning off sounds for specific notification types

You don't have to choose between hearing everything or hearing nothing. In the Notifications menu, find the alert type you want to silence — for example, "Friend Requests" or "Story Updates". Tap the sound option and select None or Silent.

This is useful if you want to hear when a friend sends you a message but don't need a sound every time someone views your story. You'll still see the notification on your screen; it just won't make a noise. The notification will also still appear in your notification center if you swipe down from the top of your screen.

Why your notification sound might not be working

If you've set a notification sound but Snapchat stays silent, check your phone's overall volume and Do Not Disturb settings first. On both iPhone and Android, Do Not Disturb mode silences notifications even if Snapchat is set to play a sound. Swipe down from the top of your screen to see if Do Not Disturb is on, and turn it off if you want to hear notifications.

Also check that your phone isn't in silent mode. On iPhone, look for the mute switch on the side of the device — if it's toggled toward the back, your phone is silent. On Android, press the volume down button and make sure your phone is set to a volume level above zero, not vibrate-only.

If your phone's volume is up and Do Not Disturb is off, go back into Snapchat's Notifications settings and confirm the sound is actually set to something other than None. Sometimes the setting reverts if you force-close the app or update it.

Using vibration instead of sound

If you want an alert but prefer not to use sound, most Android phones let you set a vibration pattern for notifications. In Snapchat's Notifications menu, look for a Vibration option below the sound setting. You can usually choose from a few preset patterns or turn vibration off.

iPhone doesn't offer vibration-only options within Snapchat itself, but you can use your phone's Haptic Feedback setting in the main Settings app. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and turn on Haptic Feedback to feel a tap when notifications arrive, even if the sound is off.

Managing notification sounds across different alert types

Snapchat groups notifications into categories: Messages, Snaps, Stories, Friend Requests, and others. You can set a different sound for each category. This lets you know what's happening without looking at your phone — a "Ping" for messages, a "Chime" for friend requests, and silence for story views.

Spend a few minutes setting up sounds that match how you want to use Snapchat. If you're trying to focus, turn off sounds for everything except direct messages. If you're waiting for a friend to respond, keep message sounds on and turn off story notifications. You can change these settings anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song as my Snapchat notification sound?

On Android, yes — you can pick any audio file from your phone, including songs. On iPhone, you're limited to Snapchat's built-in sounds. If you want a custom sound on iPhone, you'd need to use a third-party app to convert the song into a ringtone format, which is more complicated than most people need.

Will my notification sound play if my phone is on silent?

No. Silent mode overrides Snapchat's settings on both iPhone and Android. If you want to hear notifications, make sure your phone's mute switch (iPhone) or volume level (Android) allows sound. Vibration may still work depending on your phone's settings.

Why did my notification sound change back to default?

Snapchat sometimes resets notification settings after an app update or if you force-close the app. Go back into Settings > Notifications and set your preferred sound again. If this keeps happening, try uninstalling and reinstalling Snapchat.

Can I set different sounds for different friends?

Snapchat doesn't offer per-contact notification sounds the way some messaging apps do. You can only set sounds by notification type — messages, snaps, stories, and so on. All messages will use the same sound regardless of who sends them.

What if I don't see a Notifications option in Settings?

Make sure you're in the main Snapchat Settings menu, not your phone's Settings app. Open Snapchat, tap your profile icon, tap the gear icon, and scroll down. Notifications should appear in the list. If it's still missing, try updating Snapchat from your app store.