Where to find notification sound settings on your Samsung

Open Settings on your Samsung phone. Scroll down and tap Sounds and vibration (on some models it appears as Sound). From there, tap Notification sounds to see all available sounds and pick a new one.

The exact menu names vary slightly between Samsung models and Android versions, but the path is always Settings → Sounds → Notification sounds. If you cannot find "Notification sounds" as its own option, look for Default notification sound under the main Sounds menu instead.

Once you tap into Notification sounds, you will hear a preview of each sound as you scroll through the list. Samsung includes dozens of built-in options ranging from straightforward beeps to musical tones. Select the one you want and tap it — the selection saves automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings, then Sounds and vibration, then Notification sounds to change your default notification tone.
  • You can preview each sound by tapping it before you confirm your choice.
  • Different apps may have their own notification sound settings that override the system default.
  • If you want a custom sound, you can add MP3 files to your phone's Notifications folder and select them from the list.
  • Turning off vibration in the same menu will silence both sound and haptic feedback for incoming notifications.

Changing notification sounds for individual apps

Many apps on your Samsung do not use the system default notification sound — they have their own settings. Open the app, go to its Settings (usually found by tapping the menu icon or your profile picture), and look for Notifications or Sound. From there you can pick a different tone just for that app.

Common apps with separate notification settings include Gmail, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Slack. If you change the system default but one app still uses the old sound, that app has its own override turned on. Checking the individual app is faster than troubleshooting the system settings.

Adding your own notification sounds

Samsung lets you use custom MP3 files as notification sounds if you place them in the right folder. Connect your phone to a computer or use a file manager app on your phone to navigate to Internal Storage → Notifications. Copy any MP3 file into that folder.

Once the file is there, go back to Settings → Sounds and vibration → Notification sounds. Your custom file will appear at the top or bottom of the list. Tap it to set it as your default. If the Notifications folder does not exist, create it yourself using your file manager.

Keep file sizes small — notification sounds are usually 10 to 30 seconds long. A file that is too large or in the wrong format (like WAV or FLAC) may not appear in the list or may not play correctly.

Turning off notification sounds entirely

If you want silence instead of a tone, go to Settings → Sounds and vibration and toggle off Sound or Notification sound. Your phone will still vibrate unless you also turn off Vibration in the same menu. Turning off sound but leaving vibration on is useful if you want to feel notifications without hearing them.

Be aware that this silences all notifications system-wide. If you want only certain apps to be silent, mute them individually through their own settings instead of changing the system default.

Using Do Not Disturb to silence notifications on a schedule

If you want notifications to be quiet during certain hours but normal at other times, use Do Not Disturb mode. Go to Settings → Sounds and vibration → Do Not Disturb and turn it on. You can set a schedule so it activates automatically at bedtime and turns off when you wake up.

Do Not Disturb lets you choose which contacts or apps can still make noise — for example, you might allow calls from family but silence everything else. This is more flexible than muting all notifications, because you can keep important alerts while blocking the rest.

Troubleshooting: notification sounds not changing

If you change the notification sound but your phone keeps using the old one, check whether the app itself has overridden the system setting. Open the app's settings and look for its own notification sound option. If it is set to something other than "Default," change it back to Default so it uses your system choice.

Another common issue is that the sound file is corrupted or in an unsupported format. If you added a custom MP3 and it does not appear in the list, try a different file. Also restart your phone after adding new files to the Notifications folder — sometimes the system needs to refresh to see them.

If notification sounds stopped working entirely after an update, restart your phone and check that you have not accidentally turned on Do Not Disturb or muted the system volume using the physical buttons on the side of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my notification sound still the old one after I changed it?

The app you are using probably has its own notification sound setting that overrides the system default. Open the app, find its Settings or Notifications menu, and change the sound there. If it is set to "Default," then check whether Do Not Disturb is on or your phone is in silent mode.

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

Not directly from the Music app, but you can copy the MP3 file to your Notifications folder and select it from the notification sounds list. Use a file manager to navigate to Internal Storage → Notifications and paste the file there. Keep it short — 10 to 30 seconds works best.

What is the difference between notification sounds and ringtone sounds?

Notification sounds play for messages, emails, and app alerts. Ringtone sounds play for incoming calls. They have separate settings: go to Settings → Sounds and vibration → Ringtone to change your call sound, and Notification sounds to change alerts. You can set them to different tones.

Will changing notification sounds affect my alarm sound?

No. Alarms have their own separate setting. Go to Settings → Sounds and vibration → Alarm sound to change what plays when your alarm goes off. Notification, ringtone, and alarm sounds are all independent of each other.

How do I make notifications silent but keep my ringtone loud?

Go to Settings → Sounds and vibration and turn off Notification sound. Your ringtone will stay on. Alternatively, use Do Not Disturb mode and set it to allow calls from all contacts while blocking notifications — that way calls will ring but messages will be silent.