Where to find notification sounds in iPhone settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Sounds & Haptics (on newer models) or Sounds (on older ones). This is where you control what your phone plays when notifications arrive. You can change the sound for calls, texts, emails, reminders, and dozens of other apps — each one separately.

The exact path depends on your iOS version, but the menu is always in the main Settings app. If you have an iPhone 15 or later, you may also see Haptics listed alongside sounds; that controls vibration patterns, which you can adjust independently.

Key Takeaways

  • Notification sounds live in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, where you can change the sound for texts, calls, emails, reminders, and individual apps.
  • Each notification type has its own sound setting, so you can make texts loud and calls silent, or vice versa.
  • Built-in iPhone sounds are free and come with your phone; you cannot add custom sounds through Settings alone on most iPhones.
  • Turning off a notification sound is different from silencing your phone — the Mute switch on the side controls calls and alerts, but not app notifications in Do Not Disturb mode.
  • Some apps let you change their notification sound inside the app itself, which overrides the system setting.

Changing sounds for texts, calls, and emails

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. You will see separate rows for Ringtone (incoming calls), Text Tone (incoming texts), and New Mail (incoming emails). Tap any of these to hear a list of built-in sounds and pick one. The sound plays as you tap it, so you know what you are choosing before you confirm.

Each notification type is independent. You can set your ringtone to a loud alert and your text tone to a quiet chime, or turn one off entirely by scrolling to the top and selecting None. The same applies to email, reminders, calendar alerts, and AirDrop notifications — each has its own row in the Sounds menu.

Changing notification sounds for individual apps

Apps like Messages, Mail, and third-party services (Slack, Discord, WhatsApp) often have their own notification sound settings inside the app, separate from the system Sounds menu. Open the app, go to its Settings or Preferences, and look for a Notifications section. You may find options to choose a sound, turn notifications on or off, or set a custom alert tone.

When an app has its own notification settings, those override what you set in the main Sounds & Haptics menu. So if you silence notifications in the app itself, the system sound setting does not matter. This is useful if you want Messages to be loud but Slack to be silent, without changing your phone-wide settings.

Understanding the difference between Mute and notification sounds

The physical switch on the left side of your iPhone (the Mute switch) silences calls and alerts, but it does not always silence app notifications. When the switch is set to Mute (you see an orange line), incoming calls and system alerts will vibrate instead of ring. However, notifications from apps may still play sound depending on your Do Not Disturb settings.

If you want app notifications to respect the Mute switch, go to Settings > Notifications, tap an app, and make sure Allow Notifications is on. The Mute switch will then silence that app's notifications. If you turn off Allow Notifications entirely, the app will not send any alerts at all, even when your phone is unmuted.

Using Do Not Disturb to control when sounds play

Do Not Disturb is a separate feature that silences notifications during specific times or when you are driving. Go to Settings > Focus (or Do Not Disturb on older iOS versions) and turn on the feature. You can set a schedule (for example, 10 PM to 7 AM) or set up it manually by swiping down from the top-right corner and tapping the moon icon.

When Do Not Disturb is active, calls and notifications will not make sound or light up your screen — they will only appear in your notification center. You can allow calls or messages from specific contacts to come through even in Do Not Disturb mode by tapping Calls or Messages in the Focus settings. This is useful if you want to sleep but still hear from family or your boss.

Adding custom notification sounds (iPhone 15 and later)

Starting with iOS 18 on iPhone 15 and newer, you can add custom notification sounds by recording audio files and importing them through the Files app or a computer. The process is technical and requires audio files in specific formats (usually M4A or WAV). Most people stick with the built-in sounds, which cover common preferences like bells, chimes, alerts, and nature sounds.

If you have an older iPhone, custom notification sounds are not available through Settings. Some apps (like Messages or Slack) let you upload a custom sound within the app itself, but this only works for that specific app, not system-wide notifications.

Troubleshooting when notification sounds are not working

If you set a notification sound but do not hear it, check three things: first, make sure the Mute switch is not on (look for the orange line on the left side of your phone). Second, go to Settings > Notifications and confirm that Allow Notifications is turned on for the app you are testing. Third, check whether Do Not Disturb is active — if it is, notifications will be silent.

If none of that works, restart your iPhone by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on. Sometimes the notification system gets stuck and a restart fixes it. If the problem persists, go back to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and try selecting a different sound, then switching back to your preferred one — this can reset the notification system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different notification sounds for different people?

Yes, but only for calls and texts. In the Contacts app, open a contact, tap Edit, and scroll down to find Ringtone or Text Tone. You can assign a unique sound to that person. For other apps like email or reminders, you cannot set per-contact sounds through Settings.

Why is my notification sound very quiet even though I turned up the volume?

Notification volume is tied to your system volume, which you control with the physical buttons on the side of your phone. Press the up button to raise it. If you have Do Not Disturb on, notifications will be silent regardless of volume. Also check that the app itself is not muting notifications in its own settings.

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

Not directly through Settings on most iPhones. Some apps like Messages or WhatsApp let you choose a song from your library as a notification sound within the app. On iPhone 15 and later, you can convert a song to an audio file and import it as a custom sound, but this is complicated and most people use the built-in options instead.

What happens to my notification sounds if I update iOS?

Your custom sound choices stay the same after an iOS update. If you assigned a specific ringtone to a contact or chose a particular text tone, those settings will remain. Built-in sounds do not change, though Apple occasionally adds new ones in major updates.

How do I turn off notification sounds for one app but keep them for others?

Open Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and turn off Allow Notifications. That app will send no alerts at all. If you want it to send notifications but silently, turn on Allow Notifications but turn off Sounds in that same menu. Other apps will keep their notification sounds unchanged.