How to Change Notification Sound on iPhone

This guide shows you how to change the notification sound for incoming text messages, emails, calendar alerts, and other app notifications on your iPhone. You can pick from Apple’s built-in sounds or use a song from your music library. Before you start, make sure your iPhone is running a recent version of iOS (the steps below apply to iOS 17 and later).

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone with the latest iOS update installed (Settings > General > Software Update)
If you want to use a song as a custom sound, the song must be downloaded to your device’s Music app

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app. It’s the gear icon on your home screen.
Tap “Sounds & Haptics” (or “Sounds” on older iOS versions). This is where you manage all system sounds and vibration patterns.
Choose the type of alert you want to change. You’ll see options like “Text Tone,” “New Voicemail,” “Calendar Alerts,” “Reminder Alerts,” and more. Tap the one you want to customize.
Pick a sound from the list. A list of built-in sounds will appear. Tap each one to preview it. When you find one you like, tap it to select it (a checkmark appears).
For a custom sound (using a song): Scroll to the top of the sound list and tap “Vibration” to set a custom vibration pattern (optional). Then, tap “Song” at the top of the list. This takes you to your Music library. Select a song to use as the notification sound. Note: The song must be downloaded to your device, not just in iCloud.
For app-specific notifications (like WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.): Go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, then tap “Sound.” From there, you can choose a sound from the same list. Note that some apps have their own in-app sound settings that override this.
Test your new sound. After selecting, send yourself a test message or create a test calendar event to hear the new sound.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong setting: The “Text Tone” setting controls the sound for iMessage and SMS. If you want to change the sound for a specific app, you need to go to that app’s notification settings, not the general Sounds menu.
Using a song that isn’t downloaded: If you select a song that’s only in iCloud, it won’t play as a notification sound. You’ll need to download it first (tap the download icon in the Music app).
Forgetting to check the mute switch: If your iPhone is on silent (the switch on the side is orange), no sound will play. This is a common reason why your new sound “doesn’t work.”
Assuming the sound applies to all apps: Changing the “Text Tone” only affects the Messages app. Each app has its own sound setting, so you’ll need to change them individually.

Tips

Use a custom vibration pattern: In the same sound selection screen, tap “Vibration” and choose “Create New Vibration” to make a unique pattern that helps you identify the notification without looking at your phone.
Set different sounds for different contacts: In the Contacts app, open a contact, tap “Edit,” then tap “Text Tone” to assign a specific sound just for that person. This is great for knowing who messaged you without checking.
Keep it short: Apple recommends using sounds that are shorter than 30 seconds for notifications. Longer songs will be truncated.
Use “Haptics” to feel alerts: In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, you can adjust the haptic strength for alerts. This is useful if you often have your phone on silent.

Troubleshooting

If your new notification sound isn’t playing, try these steps:

Check the mute switch: Make sure the ring/silent switch on the side of your iPhone is not set to silent (showing orange).
Check Do Not Disturb or Focus: If you have a Focus mode enabled (like Do Not Disturb), it may silence notifications. Go to Settings > Focus and check if any are active.
Restart your iPhone: A simple restart often fixes sound glitches. Press and hold the power button and either volume button, then slide to power off. Turn it back on after a few seconds.
Check the volume: Make sure your ringer volume is up. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag the “Ringer and Alerts” slider to the right.
Update iOS: If you’re on an older version, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
Reset all settings (as a last resort): Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your data, but it will reset all system settings (like Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, and sounds) to defaults. You’ll need to set your sounds again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any song as a notification sound?

Yes, any song that is downloaded to your iPhone’s Music app can be used as a notification sound. The song will be trimmed to about 30 seconds for the alert.

Why is my notification sound not changing for a specific app?

Some apps, like WhatsApp or Telegram, have their own in-app notification settings that override the system settings. Open the app, go to its settings, and look for “Notifications” or “Alerts” to change the sound there.

How do I change the sound for email notifications?

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > New Mail (or New Voicemail, etc.) and select a sound. For the Mail app, you can also set different sounds for different accounts in the Mail settings.

Can I create a custom notification sound?

You can create a custom vibration pattern, but for sounds, you can’t record a new one directly on the iPhone. You can, however, use a song from your library, or use a third-party app to create a sound file and then add it to your Music library.

Will changing the notification sound affect my alarm?

No, the alarm sound is set separately in the Clock app. Changing notification sounds will not affect your alarm.

How do I restore the default notification sound?

Go to the sound setting you changed, scroll to the top of the list, and tap “Default” (or the original sound name). The default text tone is “Tri-tone” (iOS 17 and later) or “Note” (older versions).

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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