Where to find notification sounds on your Android phone

The notification sound settings live in your phone's main Settings app, not in individual apps. Open Settings, then look for a section called Notifications or Sound and Vibration — the exact name depends on your phone's manufacturer and Android version, but it is always in the same general area. Once you are there, you will see options to change the default sound that plays when any app sends you a notification.

If you want to change the sound for one specific app instead of all notifications, you can do that too. Go to Settings, find Notifications, then look for a list of your installed apps. Tap the app you want to adjust, and you will see its own sound settings separate from the system default.

Key Takeaways

  • Default notification sounds are changed in Settings > Notifications or Settings > Sound and Vibration, depending on your phone model.
  • You can set one sound for all notifications, or change the sound for individual apps by opening that app's notification settings.
  • Android comes with built-in sounds you can choose from, and you can also use custom sounds you have saved on your phone.
  • Turning off sound entirely while keeping notifications visible is done in the same menu where you change the sound itself.

Changing the default sound for all notifications

Start by opening Settings on your home screen or app drawer. Scroll down until you see Notifications, Sound, or Sound and Vibration — different manufacturers use different names. Tap it to open.

Look for an option that says Notification Sound, Default Notification Sound, or Notification Tone. Tap it, and your phone will show you a list of built-in sounds. Play each one by tapping it — you will hear a preview. When you find one you want, tap it again to confirm the selection. That sound will now play whenever any app sends you a notification.

If you do not see a Notification Sound option in the main Notifications menu, look for Advanced or More Options at the bottom of that screen. Some phones hide the sound settings there.

Changing the sound for a single app

Open Settings and go to Notifications. You should see a list of apps below the main notification settings. Find the app you want to adjust — for example, Gmail or Slack — and tap it.

Inside that app's notification settings, look for Sound or Notification Sound. Tap it and choose from the list of available sounds the same way you would for the default. This app will now use that sound instead of the system default, while all other apps continue to use whatever default you set earlier.

Not every app shows up in this list. Some apps manage their own notification sounds through their own settings instead. If you cannot find an app in the Notifications list, open the app itself, look for Settings or Preferences, then search for Notification Sound or Sound Settings within that app.

Using a custom sound from your phone

Android lets you use sounds you have downloaded or recorded yourself, but the process depends on where you want to use the sound. For the system default notification sound, you will need to save your custom sound file to a specific folder on your phone first.

Connect your phone to a computer and open your phone's file system. Create a folder called Notifications inside the Sounds folder (the path is usually Phone Storage > Sounds > Notifications). Copy your custom sound file there — it should be an MP3 or WAV file, and shorter than 30 seconds works best. Disconnect your phone, then go back to Settings > Notifications > Notification Sound. Your custom sound should now appear in the list.

For a custom sound on a single app, the process is different and varies by app. Open the app's settings, find Notification Sound, and look for an option to choose from your phone's files or gallery. Not all apps offer this option — many only let you choose from their built-in sounds.

Turning off notification sound while keeping notifications visible

If you want to see notifications arrive but hear no sound, you have two options. The quickest is to use Do Not Disturb mode, which silences all sounds but still shows notifications on your lock screen and in your notification panel. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings, then tap Do Not Disturb.

For more control, go back to the notification settings for the app or the system default. Instead of selecting a sound, look for an option that says None, Silent, or No Sound. Tap it, and that notification will arrive silently. You will still see it in your notification panel and on your lock screen — you just will not hear it.

What to do if you cannot find the notification sound setting

The location of notification settings varies significantly between phone manufacturers. Samsung phones use Sound and Vibration, Google Pixel phones use Notifications, and other brands may use different names entirely. If you cannot find it by scrolling through Settings, use the search function instead.

Open Settings and look for a search icon or search bar at the top. Type "notification sound" and your phone will show you the exact setting you need. Tap the result and it will take you directly there. This method works on almost every Android phone regardless of manufacturer.

If the search does not find anything, your phone may not have a system-wide default notification sound setting — some older or heavily customized Android phones do not. In that case, you can only change notification sounds within individual apps by opening each app's own settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different notification sounds for different times of day?

Not through the standard notification settings. However, you can use Do Not Disturb schedules to silence notifications during certain hours, and some apps like Gmail let you set their own quiet hours. For more complex automation, third-party apps like Tasker can change notification sounds based on time, location, or other triggers, but they require more setup.

Why is my notification sound not working even though I selected one?

Check that your phone's volume is not muted. Press the volume down button on the side of your phone and look at the screen — if it shows a muted speaker icon, tap the speaker icon to unmute it. Also check that Do Not Disturb mode is not turned on. If volume is on and Do Not Disturb is off, restart your phone and try again.

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

You can, but most songs are too long to work well as notifications. Copy a short clip (under 30 seconds) to your phone's Notifications folder using the method described above, then select it from the notification sound list. Some apps let you choose directly from your music library, but the notification will only play the first 30 seconds or so before cutting off.

What happens to my notification sounds if I update Android?

Custom sounds you saved to your phone's Notifications folder will stay there. System default sounds may change if the manufacturer updates their sound library, but your selection will usually carry over. If it does not, you can straightforward select your preferred sound again after the update.