How to Add a Custom Notification Sound on Samsung Phones

Where to Find the Notification Sound Settings

Custom notification sounds on Samsung phones live in the Settings app under Notifications. Open Settings, scroll down to find Notifications, then tap it. From there, you can set a custom sound for all notifications at once, or dive into individual apps to give each one its own sound. The path is the same whether you use Android 12, 13, or 14 on a Samsung device.

Before you start, make sure your custom sound file is saved on your phone. Samsung accepts MP3, OGG, and WAV files. The file should be at least one second long and no longer than about 30 seconds — notification sounds that are too long will be cut off when they play. Store the file anywhere on your phone's internal storage; the easiest spot is a folder called Notifications or Sounds in your Files app.

Key Takeaways

Custom notification sounds must be MP3, OGG, or WAV files stored on your phone's internal storage before you can use them.
To set a sound for all notifications, go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Notification Sound and choose your file.
To set a custom sound for one app only, find that app in Settings > Notifications and tap its name to open app-specific sound options.
If your custom sound does not appear in the sound picker, move the file to your phone's root Notifications folder using the Files app.
Some apps (like messaging or email) have their own notification sound settings inside the app itself, separate from the system settings.

Setting a Custom Sound for All Notifications

Open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll down and tap Advanced Settings. Look for Notification Sound and tap it. A sound picker will open showing Samsung's built-in sounds first. Scroll down to the bottom of the list — your custom files should appear there if they are in the right location. Tap the sound you want to use, and it will play a preview. Once you hear it and confirm it is the one you want, tap it again or look for a checkmark button to confirm the selection.

If your custom sound does not show up in the list, the file may be in the wrong folder. Open your Files app, navigate to the root of your internal storage (the main folder, not inside Documents or Downloads), and create a new folder called Notifications if it does not already exist. Move your sound file into that folder, then go back to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Notification Sound and refresh the list by closing and reopening it.

Setting a Custom Sound for One App Only

If you want different notification sounds for different apps — for example, a special sound for text messages but the default for email — go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to see the list of apps. Find the app you want to customize and tap its name. A menu will open with options specific to that app. Look for Notification Sound or Sound and Vibration and tap it. The same sound picker will appear, and you can choose a custom file the same way you would for all notifications.

Not every app will have this option in the system settings. Some apps, especially messaging and email clients, manage their own notification sounds inside the app itself. If you do not see a sound option when you tap the app name in Settings, open the app, go to its own Settings or Preferences (usually found by tapping the menu icon or your profile picture), and look for Notifications or Sound there. Gmail, WhatsApp, and Samsung Messages all have their own sound controls inside the app.

Preparing Your Sound File for Use

Before you upload or move a sound file to your phone, check that it meets Samsung's requirements. The file must be in MP3, OGG, or WAV format. If you have a sound in a different format (like M4A or FLAC), you can convert it using a free online converter or a desktop app like Audacity. Keep the file length between one and 30 seconds; longer files will be cut off, and very short files (under one second) may not play reliably.

To get the file onto your phone, you can email it to yourself and read it, use a cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive, or connect your phone to a computer and drag the file into the internal storage folder. Once the file is on your phone, move it to the Notifications folder (or create one in the root of your storage if it does not exist). This step is important — Samsung looks in specific folders for custom sounds, and files in random locations may not appear in the sound picker.

Troubleshooting When Your Custom Sound Does Not Appear

If you have moved a sound file to your phone but it does not show up in the notification sound picker, the most common cause is the file being in the wrong location. Open your Files app, tap Internal Storage, and look at the root level (the main folder you see when you first open Internal Storage). You should see a folder called Notifications or Sounds. If it does not exist, create it by tapping the menu button (three dots) and selecting Create Folder. Name it Notifications, then move your sound file into it.

Another reason your file might not appear is if the format is wrong. Double-check that the file ends in .mp3, .ogg, or .wav. If it ends in something else (like .m4a or .flac), the phone will not recognize it. You can rename the file by long-pressing it in the Files app and tapping Rename, but renaming alone will not convert the format — you will need to actually convert the file using a converter tool first.

If the file is in the right place and the right format but still does not show up, try restarting your phone. Sometimes the file system needs a moment to refresh. After restarting, go back to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Notification Sound and check again. If it still does not appear, try moving the file to a different location (like your Downloads folder) and see if it shows up there — this can help you figure out whether the issue is the file itself or the folder location.

Testing Your Custom Notification Sound

Once you have selected a custom sound, test it before you rely on it. When you tap the sound in the picker, it should play a preview when ready. Listen to make sure the volume is appropriate — notification sounds should be loud enough to hear but not so loud that they startle you. If the preview sounds too quiet or too loud, you can adjust the overall notification volume in Settings > Sound and Vibration > Volume and adjust the Notifications slider.

After you have set the sound, send yourself a test notification to hear how it sounds in real use. If you set it for all notifications, send an email to yourself or trigger any notification. If you set it for a specific app, open that app and trigger a notification from it (for example, send yourself a text message if you set a custom sound for SMS). The sound should play with the volume and tone you expect. If it does not sound right, go back to Settings and try a different file.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but the song must be in MP3, OGG, or WAV format and stored in your Notifications folder on internal storage. Most songs in your music library are in these formats, so you can copy the file to the Notifications folder and use it. Keep in mind that very long songs will be cut off after about 30 seconds, so a notification sound made from a full song will only play the first 30 seconds.

Why does my custom sound work for some apps but not others?

Some apps manage their own notification sounds and do not use the system notification sound setting. Gmail, WhatsApp, Slack, and other messaging apps often have their own sound controls inside the app. Check the app's own Settings or Preferences menu for a Notifications or Sound option. If the app has its own setting, that will override the system setting.

What happens if I delete the sound file after I set it as my notification sound?

If you delete the file from your phone, the notification sound will revert to Samsung's default sound the next time a notification arrives. To avoid this, keep the file in your Notifications folder as long as you want to use that sound. If you need to free up storage space, consider moving the file to cloud storage instead of deleting it.

Can I set different notification sounds for different contacts?

The system notification settings do not offer per-contact sound control, but some messaging apps do. Open your messaging app (like Samsung Messages or WhatsApp), find the contact, and look for a notification settings option for that conversation. Many apps let you mute or customize the sound for individual contacts or group chats.

My phone is running an older version of Samsung. Will these steps still work?

The basic steps are the same on Android 11 and later, though the exact menu names may vary slightly. On very old Samsung phones (Android 10 or earlier), the Notifications menu might be organized differently. If you cannot find Advanced Settings, try Settings > Apps > Notifications or Settings > Sound and Vibration > Notification Sound. The file format and folder location requirements remain the same across all versions.

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