How to Change the Text Message Sound on Android: 3 Easy Ways

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Add a more personalized touch to your text notifications

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: April 4, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Changing the Default Text Tone
|
• Changing Tones for Contacts (Google)
|
• Changing Tones for Contacts (Samsung)
|
• Finding Text Message Tones
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Do you want to change how you hear text message notifications? Whether you want to change the default text tone or set custom tones for certain contacts, you've come to the right place. Android phones (including Samsung Galaxy, Pixel, and other Android models) are super customizable, and changing the text message tone is easy. Keep reading to learn how to change the text message notification tone on any Android device.

Changing the Text Notification Sound on Android

To change the default text message tone, go to Settings > Notifications > App Notifications > the text messaging app > Notification Categories and select a new sound for New or Incoming messages. Change the text tone for specific conversations in your texting app.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Changing the Default Text Tone

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1. 
   1
   Open your Android's Settings. You can tap the app icon that looks like a gear on your home screen, or swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel and tap the gear icon there.

   • Use this method to change the default notification sound for text messages on your Android. This sound applies to everyone who texts you who does not have a customized sound.
2. 
   2
   Tap Notifications. It's in the third grouping of menu options next to an orange icon.
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3. 
   3
   Tap App Notifications. This is the first option on the menu. A list of all apps installed on your phone will appear.
4. 
   4
   Select your text messaging app. This works for many default texting apps, including Google Messages on Stock Android devices and Samsung Messages on Samsung Galaxy phones.

   • Instead of going through settings, you can also open the text messaging app, click the More icon (it might be three dots), and go to Settings to see the same steps.
5. 
   5
   Tap Notification Categories. This is at the bottom of the page and will let you choose how to receive notifications. Each app works a little differently from this point, so here are instructions for the most popular options:

   • Google Messages: Go to Incoming messages > Sound. Then, choose a sound picker app (if you have more than one installed) and select the sound you want to use for that text category.
   • Samsung Messages: Go to New messages > Sound. Then, choose a sound picker app (if you have more than one installed) and select the sound you want to use for that category.
     • If you are using an app like WhatsApp, you can manage the text notification sounds in the app at ⋮ > Settings > Notifications > Notification tone.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Changing Tones for Contacts (Google)

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1. 
   1
   Open Google Messages. It looks like a speech bubble on a white background.

   • Use this method to change the text sound for a specific conversation. For example, if you want a certain sound to play when your partner texts you, this method will help you set a custom tone for them.
2. 
   2
   Tap the conversation for which you want to change the notification sound. The conversation will be displayed.
3. 
   3
   Tap the other person's name. It's at the top of the conversation window.
4. 
   4
   Tap Notifications. It's next to an icon of a bell.
5. 
   5
   Tap Sound. It's in the 5th grouping of menu options. If you have multiple sound pickers installed on your Android, you'll need to specify one now.
6. 
   6
   Tap a sound to use. Custom tones are listed first, then brand-specific sounds appear, and they are all listed alphabetically in each category.

   • Once you pick a sound, tap
     
     to navigate back to the "Conversations" menu and close the app if you want.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Changing Tones for Contacts (Samsung)

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1. 
   1
   Open Samsung Messages and go to a conversation to change the sound. This app looks like a speech bubble with three dots in the middle.

   • Use this method to change the text sound for a specific conversation. For example, you can assign a certain friend a tone that only sounds when they text you. Your default text message tone will still play when other people text you.
2. 
   2
   Tap ⋮. You'll see this three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of your screen.
3. 
   3
   Tap Notification sound. It's most likely the third option down the menu next to an icon of a music note.
4. 
   4
   Tap a sound to select it, then tap

   

   . You'll navigate back to the three-dot menu and can close the app.

   • You should see the sound you selected in blue text under "Notification sound."
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Finding Text Message Tones

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1. 
   1
   Find tons of custom sounds for your Android on Zedge. You can also use apps like Zedge to get custom sounds for any function on your Android, including for text messages. If you want to make your Android text notification sound like the Xbox starting up sound, for example, Zedge is a great app to check out.

   • If you don't like Zedge, just search the Google Play Store for other sound-picker apps, and you should find plenty. Just be careful, as they aren't all free.
   • You can also make your own ringtones and text alert sounds using free audio software like Audacity on your computer or an MP3 cutter app like Ringdroid. To make your own ringtone, you'll need to start with an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file.

Community Q&A

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• Question

  I have done the same and still only get a vibration, no sound. What else can I try?

  

  Community Answer

  Go to settings and then click sound and make sure your ringtone volume is on.

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• While this wikiHow article is about changing the text tone, you can also change the ringtone for contacts on your phone in the Contacts app.
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