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How to Customize Samsung's Notification Sounds
Everything you should know about notification sounds
By Briley S. Kenney Briley S. Kenney Writer Hillsborough Community College Briley Kenney has 10+ years' experience writing about technology. His work is featured at Ideaing, Smartwatches.org, Tech Cocktail, CMSCritic, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 31, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Samsung Samsung Quick Tips What to Know
Set a ringtone: Go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Ringtone, then select the plus (+) to choose from media on your device.Set ringtones for individuals: Go to Contacts, choose a contact, then go to Edit > View More > Ringtone.Set custom notifications: Put the sound file in one of the Notifications folders on your phone's storage. This article explains how to set custom notification sounds on Samsung smartphones. While the option to change ringtones and alerts on Android is universal, the process is different for Samsung phones. Choose a Universal Ringtone for Calls
The first method for selecting a custom ringtone will set the track or tune for the entire system. What this means is that it's the ringtone you will hear anytime someone calls, whether stranger or friend. The exception is if you designate a ringtone for a specific contact, then that tone plays instead. To set a universal ringtone, do the following: Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notifications and quick-launch tray. Select Settings (gear icon). Alternatively, you can swipe from the bottom of the screen up when you're on the homepage to open the app drawer. From there, you can choose Settings (gear icon). Select Sounds and vibration in the Settings menu. Tap the Ringtone option to select from a list of available tones. Choose the tone or song you want and you're done. To choose a track or tone that's not included in the system list select the + (plus) icon in the top right of the Ringtone list. This option allows you to choose a ringtone from the list of tracks and media currently stored on your phone. If the track you want to use is not stored locally on your device then you will not be able to select it as a ringtone. Be sure to download the track or tone you want to use and store them in either the Ringtones or Notifications folder on your SDcard—this applies to both internal and external storage. Choose a Universal Notification Sound
Similar to choosing a universal ringtone for calls, you can set a system-wide tone for notifications and alerts. All text notification sounds, default app alerts and push notifications will use it. To set a universal notification sound, do the following: Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notifications and quick-launch tray. Select Settings (gear icon). Alternatively, you can swipe from the bottom of the screen up when you're on the homepage to open the app drawer. From there, you can choose Settings (gear icon). Select Sounds and vibration from the Settings menu. Tap the Notifications sounds option to select from a list of available tones. Choose the tone or song you want and you’re done. Unlike what you can do with ringtones, you cannot choose a tone that's not included in the list from the settings menu. If you wish to use a notification sound that doesn't appear in the list, ensure it's stored locally in one of the Notifications folders on your phone's storage. You can download or move the file to either the folder on your internal or external storage. It doesn't matter which you use, it's a matter of preference. Choose a Custom Ringtone for a Single Contact
While the universal ringtone will play anytime, a custom ringtone will overrule it. That means you can set individual tones for each contact in your phone if you want. The melody can help you identify who is calling without even looking at your phone. To set a custom ringtone for a single contact, do the following: Swipe from the bottom of the screen up when you're on the homepage to open the app drawer. From there, you can choose Contacts (person icon). Be sure you're selecting the Samsung Contacts app and not any others that might be installed on your phone. From the list of contacts stored on your phone, choose the one you wish to give a custom ringtone. On the next screen, select the Edit option (pencil icon). At the bottom of the edit screen, choose the View More option which expands the page to include more settings. Scroll down to the bottom where you’ll see Ringtone. By default, the universal ringtone will be active. Just choose the tone or track you wish to use from the list and you're all set. To choose a track or tone that's not included in the initial list, do the following instead: From the available Ringtone list, select the + icon in the top right.This option will allow you to choose a ringtone from the list of tracks and media currently stored on your phone. If the track you want to use is not stored locally on your device then you will not be able to select it as a ringtone. Be sure to download the track or tone you want to use and store them in either the Ringtones or Notifications folder on your SDcard—this applies to both internal and external storage. Choose a Custom Ringtone for a Single App
Similar to the universal ringtone and custom ringtone situation, you can set a custom notification sound for each app. It's also important to mention that some apps will send out multiple alerts or notifications, in which case you could customize each one. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notifications and quick-launch tray. Select Settings (gear icon). Alternatively, you can swipe from the bottom of the screen up when you're on the homepage to open the app drawer. From there, you can choose Settings (gear icon). Scroll down and select Apps from the Settings menu. Find the app you wish to customize in the list and select it. On the app info page, scroll down and select Notifications. You'll see all possible notifications listed for that particular app. You can enable and disable them individually, and you can also customize the notification sound. Tap on the notification or alert you want to change. On the notification category page, you'll see a field labeled Sound which lists the current sound––usually the default. Tap that field and then select the tone or sound you wish to use from the list. Custom Ringtones Must Be Stored Locally
Unlike what you can do with ringtones, you cannot choose a tone that's not included in the list from the settings menu. If you wish to use a notification sound that doesn’t appear in the list, ensure it's stored locally in one of the Notifications folders on your phone's storage. You can download or move the file to either the folder on your internal or external storage; it doesn't matter which you use, it's a matter of preference. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Change Android Notification Sounds How to Set a Custom Ringtone on iPhone How to Make a Song Your Ringtone On iPhone How to Fix Not Getting Text Notifications on iPhone How to Change the Default Ringtone on Your iPhone How to Change the Ringtone on Your Android Phone How to Change the Alarm Sound on iPhone How to Turn On Snapchat Notifications M4R File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Customize Your iPhone Do Alarms Go Off When a Phone is On Silent? How to Use Samsung's Do Not Disturb Mode How to Turn up the Alarm Volume on iPhone How to Turn Off Do Not Disturb on Android Manage Browsing History and Other Private Data in IE11 8 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Speaker Is Not Working Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies