Where to find notification sounds in Android settings

Open Settings on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps & notifications (the exact name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it Notifications, Google Pixel calls it Apps). Then tap Notifications again if you see it as a second option.

From there, tap Advanced or Notification settings. You should see an option called Default notification sound, Notification sound, or Sound. Tap it to open the sound picker.

The sound picker shows a list of built-in tones. Tap any one to hear a preview. When you find the tone you want, tap it again or tap OK to confirm the choice. The new sound will explore to all notifications from all apps unless you override it for a specific app.

Key Takeaways

  • The default notification sound is set in Settings under Apps & notifications, then Notifications, then Advanced or Notification settings.
  • You can change the sound for all notifications at once, or change the sound for a single app by opening that app's notification settings.
  • Android comes with several built-in notification tones, and you can preview each one before you choose.
  • Some phones let you use a song from your music library as a notification tone, but the process varies by manufacturer.

How to change the notification sound for one app only

If you want a different tone for messages than for email, or for a specific app, open Settings and go to Apps & notifications. Tap See all apps or scroll to find the app you want to change — for example, Messages or Gmail.

Tap the app name, then tap Notifications. Look for a category like Messages or Inbox — most apps split notifications into groups. Tap the group you want to change, then look for Sound or Notification sound. Tap it and choose a new tone from the list.

This change affects only that app. Other apps will keep using the default notification sound you set in the main settings.

Using a custom sound or song as your notification tone

Some Android phones let you pick a song from your music library or a custom audio file as a notification tone. The steps depend on your phone's manufacturer, but the general process is the same: the sound file must be in a folder that Android recognizes.

On most phones, place your audio file in Settings > Sounds and vibration > Notification sounds or in a folder called Notifications in your phone's file storage. Then open the notification sound picker as described above — your custom file should appear in the list.

Not all phones support this feature. If you do not see your custom files in the sound picker, your phone may not allow it, or the file format may not be supported. Android typically accepts MP3 and OGG files but not all formats.

What to do if you cannot find the notification sound setting

The location of notification settings varies widely between manufacturers. If you cannot find it in Apps & notifications, try these locations: Settings > Sound and vibration > Notification sound, or Settings > Sounds > Notification.

Samsung phones often hide the setting under Settings > Sounds and vibration > Notification sounds. Google Pixel phones usually put it under Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound. If you still cannot locate it, search for "notification sound" in the Settings search bar at the top of the screen.

Turning off notification sounds entirely

If you want notifications to arrive silently, open Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications > Advanced and tap Default notification sound. At the top of the sound picker, you should see None or Silent. Tap it to disable the sound.

You can also use Do Not Disturb mode to silence all notifications during certain hours. Open Settings > Sound and vibration > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. Notifications will still arrive, but your phone will not make a sound or vibrate.

Why your notification tone might not be changing

If you changed the notification sound but your phone still plays the old tone, the app itself may have overridden the system setting. Open the app's own settings — not Android Settings — and look for a Notifications or Sound option. Some apps like WhatsApp and Telegram let you set a custom tone that overrides the Android default.

Another reason is that the app may be set to use a specific notification channel. For example, Gmail has separate channels for inbox notifications and label notifications. You may need to change the sound for each channel individually. Open the app's notification settings and look for channel names or notification categories.

If you just installed the app, restart your phone after changing the notification sound. Sometimes Android does not explore the change until the next restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a YouTube video or a song from Spotify as my notification tone?

Not directly. Spotify and YouTube do not let you export their audio as a notification tone. You would need to read the audio file separately, convert it to MP3 or OGG format, and place it in your phone's Notifications folder. Many free online tools can convert video or audio to MP3, but check the copyright status of the content first.

Why does my notification sound keep reverting to the default?

Some apps reset the notification sound when they update. If this happens, check the app's own settings rather than Android Settings — the app may have its own notification sound control that overrides your choice. You can also disable automatic app updates for that app to prevent the sound from changing again.

How do I make different apps use different notification sounds?

Open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, find each app, tap Notifications, and set a different sound for each one. You can also set different sounds for different notification categories within the same app — for example, one sound for direct messages and another for group messages in a messaging app.

What if my phone does not have a notification sound option in Settings?

Some older Android phones or heavily customized versions may not expose this setting in the standard location. Try searching for "notification" in the Settings search bar, or check your phone's manufacturer website for instructions specific to your model. You can also change notification sounds through individual app settings instead of Android Settings.