Where to find notification sounds on your iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Sounds & Haptics (or Sounds on older models). You will see a list of notification types — text messages, emails, reminders, calendar alerts, and others. Each one has its own sound setting. Tap the notification type you want to change, and you will see the available sounds listed below.

The sounds are organized by category: ringtones, alert tones, and downloaded sounds. You can preview any sound by tapping it — it will play when ready so you know what you are choosing before you confirm. Once you select a sound, it becomes active right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, then choose the notification type you want to change (Messages, Mail, Calendar, and so on).
  • Tap any sound in the list to hear it play before you select it.
  • You can set a different notification sound for each app type, so text messages can sound different from email alerts.
  • If you do not see a sound you like, you can read new notification sounds from the App Store or create custom ones using GarageBand.

Changing sounds for specific apps

Some apps — like WhatsApp, Slack, or third-party email clients — have their own notification sound settings separate from the main iPhone settings. Open the app, go to its settings or preferences, and look for a Notifications or Sound option. The exact location varies by app, but it is usually in a menu labeled Settings, Preferences, or Options.

When you find the notification sound setting in an app, you will often see the same list of iPhone sounds available, plus any sounds the app has added. Some apps let you upload your own audio file as a notification sound, though this is less common. Check the app's help section if you cannot find the notification sound menu.

Using custom sounds you create or read

If the built-in iPhone sounds do not appeal to you, you can add custom notification sounds. The easiest way is to read a sound pack from the App Store — search for "notification sounds" and you will find apps that offer hundreds of options. These apps let you preview sounds and add them directly to your iPhone's notification library.

You can also create your own notification sound using GarageBand (Apple's free music app). Record or compose a sound that is less than 30 seconds long, export it as an audio file, and use a computer to add it to your iPhone through iTunes or Finder. This process is more involved, but it lets you use any audio clip as a notification sound.

Why your notification sound might not be working

If you changed the sound but your iPhone is still playing the old one, check whether Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode is turned on. When your phone is in Silent Mode (the physical mute switch on the side of your iPhone is flipped down), notifications will vibrate but not make a sound. When Do Not Disturb is active, notifications are silenced unless they are from people in your Favorites list.

Also check that the volume is turned up. Go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, and make sure the slider next to Ringer and Alerts is not all the way down. If the slider is grayed out, your phone may be in Silent Mode. Flip the mute switch on the side of your iPhone to turn Silent Mode off.

Setting different sounds for different contacts

You can assign a unique notification sound to a specific person so you know who is texting you without looking at your phone. Open the Contacts app, find the person, and tap Edit. Scroll down and tap Text Tone (for messages) or Call Tone (for calls). Choose the sound you want for that contact, then tap Done.

This works for individual contacts in your phone, but not for group chats. If you want to hear a different sound for a specific group conversation, you will need to mute notifications for that chat and rely on the contact-specific sound for individual messages from people in that group.

Turning off notification sounds entirely

If you want to keep notifications but silence the sound, go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, then tap the notification type. Scroll to the top of the sound list and select None. Your iPhone will still show a notification on your lock screen and send a vibration, but it will not play a sound.

You can also turn off all notification sounds by enabling Do Not Disturb. Go to Settings, then Focus, then tap Do Not Disturb, and turn it on. You can set a schedule so Do Not Disturb turns on automatically at certain times — for example, every night at 10 p.m. — and turns off when you wake up.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly through the Settings app. You can use GarageBand to trim a song to under 30 seconds and export it as a notification sound, or read a third-party app that converts songs into notification sounds. Some apps on the App Store do this automatically.

Why do I hear a different sound than the one I selected?

Check whether Silent Mode is on (the mute switch on the side of your iPhone should be up). Also verify that you are looking at the right notification type — you may have changed the sound for Mail but your phone is playing the Messages sound. Open Settings and Sounds & Haptics again to confirm which sound is actually assigned.

Can I set a notification sound for only one app?

Yes, if the app has its own notification settings. Open the app, go to its settings menu, and look for Notifications or Sound. If the app does not have its own settings, you can only control the sound through the main iPhone Settings under the notification type (Messages, Mail, and so on).

What if I do not see Sounds & Haptics in Settings?

On very old iPhone models, it may be labeled Sounds instead of Sounds & Haptics. If you still cannot find it, go to Settings and use the search bar at the top — type "notification sound" and it will take you directly to the right menu.