How to Change the Text Ringtone on a Samsung Galaxy J7

This guide walks you through changing the notification sound for text messages on a Samsung Galaxy J7. The J7 runs Samsung’s One UI (or the older TouchWiz/Samsung Experience) on top of Android, so the menus may look slightly different depending on your Android version, but the core steps are the same. You’ll need the sound file you want to use (if it’s not one of the built-in options) and about two minutes.

What You’ll Need

Your Samsung Galaxy J7
An audio file (MP3, M4A, OGG, WAV) if you want to use a custom sound instead of the built-in ones
Optional: a file manager app (the default “My Files” app works fine) to locate the audio file

Step-by-Step

Open the Messages app. This is the default Samsung texting app, usually a green icon with a white speech bubble. If you use a different texting app (like Google Messages or WhatsApp), the steps below change the sound for that app separately — see the Troubleshooting section.
Tap the three-dot menu. It’s in the top-right corner of the main Messages screen. A dropdown menu will appear.
Select “Settings.” This opens the messaging app’s settings page.
Tap “Notifications.” On some versions, this is labeled “Notification settings” or “Alerts.” If you don’t see it, look for “Sound” directly under the “Notifications” section — some J7 firmware versions put the sound option right there.
Tap “Sound” (or “Notification sound”). This opens a list of built-in sounds. You’ll see options like “Basic Bell,” “Chime,” “Prestige,” etc.
Choose a built-in sound by tapping it. A preview will play. If you like it, tap “OK” or “Save” at the bottom (or just tap “Done” on some versions). That’s it for a stock sound.
To use a custom sound: If you want your own audio file, tap “Add” or “Add from device” at the bottom of the sound list. This opens your file manager.
Navigate to your audio file. Use the folder structure to find the MP3 or other audio file you want. Common places are the “Download” folder, “Music” folder, or “Notifications” folder on your SD card or internal storage.
Tap the file to select it. It will immediately be set as your notification sound. You’ll hear a preview. Tap “OK” or “Save” to confirm.
Test it. Send yourself a text message (or ask a friend to text you) to confirm the new sound plays.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong sound. The “Sound” setting inside Messages only affects text message notifications. It does not change your ringtone (calls), email alerts, or alarm. Those are separate settings.
Using the wrong app’s settings. If you’re using Google Messages (the default on many newer phones) or another third-party texting app, the steps are different. You need to open that specific app’s settings, not the Samsung Messages app.
File format issues. The J7 generally supports MP3, M4A, OGG, and WAV files for notifications. Some less common formats (like FLAC or AMR) may not appear in the file picker. Convert the file to MP3 if it doesn’t show up.
Forgetting to hit “Save” or “OK.” On some J7 versions, tapping a sound previews it but doesn’t save it. You must tap the confirmation button at the bottom of the list.
Putting the file in a hidden folder. If you downloaded the sound via a browser, it might be in a folder that the file picker doesn’t show by default. Use “My Files” to move it to a standard folder like “Notifications” or “Music” first.

Tips

Keep the file short. Notification sounds play for only a few seconds. A long audio file will be cut off mid-play. Use a sound that’s under 5 seconds for the best effect.
Use the “Notifications” folder. If you create a folder called “Notifications” on your internal storage or SD card, Android automatically lists any audio files in it as notification sound options in many apps.
Volume is separate. The notification volume is controlled by the same slider as your ringtone (unless you’ve turned off “Use volume keys for media”). Check your volume settings if the new sound is too quiet or too loud.
Set a different sound for specific contacts. You can assign a unique notification sound to a specific person. Open the conversation with that person, tap the three-dot menu, select “Details,” then “Notifications,” and choose a custom sound. This overrides the default for that contact only.
Silent mode overrides. If your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb, no sound will play regardless of your setting. Make sure notifications are allowed in your current sound mode.

Troubleshooting

The new sound doesn’t play. First, check that you’re not in Silent or Do Not Disturb mode. Then, go to Settings > Sounds and Vibration and check the “Notification sound” slider — it might be turned down or muted independently. Also, verify that the Messages app’s “Notifications” toggle is on (not greyed out).
The custom file doesn’t appear in the list. The file might be corrupted, in an unsupported format, or in a location the picker can’t access. Try moving it to the “Music” folder on the internal storage. If it still doesn’t show, rename it to something simple like “sms.mp3” and try again.
I changed the sound but it reverts to the old one. This can happen if the phone restarts or the app crashes. Go back to Messages > Settings > Notifications > Sound and re-select your choice. If it keeps reverting, clear the Messages app cache (Settings > Apps > Messages > Storage > Clear Cache) and try again.
I’m using a third-party texting app. Open that app (e.g., Google Messages), tap the three dots in the top-right, go to Settings > Notifications > Sounds (or “Incoming messages”), and select the sound there. The Samsung Messages settings will not affect it.
The sound plays but is very quiet. Notification sounds are often quieter than ringtones. Use a file that isn’t compressed too heavily, or increase the “Notification” volume in Settings > Sounds and Vibration > Volume (some versions have a separate slider).
I don’t see the “Notifications” option in Messages settings. On some older J7 firmware (Android 6/7), the path is slightly different: open Messages, tap the three-dot menu, select “Settings,” then “Notifications.” If it’s still not there, look for “Sound” directly in the main Settings screen. If you truly can’t find it, the phone may be running a very old version — consider updating the Messages app via the Play Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a song from my music library as a text notification?
A: Yes, as long as it’s an MP3, M4A, OGG, or WAV file. The phone will play the first few seconds of the song as the notification. Keep in mind it will be cut off after a few seconds, so choose a part that starts with a clear sound.

Q: Will this change the sound for all my apps?
A: No. This only changes the sound for the Samsung Messages app. Other apps (WhatsApp, email, etc.) have their own notification sound settings, which you change within each app’s preferences.

Q: How do I get the sound back to the default?
A: Go back to Messages > Settings > Notifications > Sound and select the first option, usually named “Default” or “Basic Bell.” If you had a custom sound, you can also just delete the file from your phone.

Q: Can I set a different sound for each contact?
A: Yes. Open the conversation with that contact, tap the three-dot menu, choose “Details,” then “Notifications,” and select a custom sound. This overrides the default for that person only.

Q: My phone is on vibrate but I still want sound for texts. What do I do?
A: You can’t have sound while in Vibrate mode — that’s the point of the mode. However, you can set a contact or group to “Priority” in Do Not Disturb settings, which allows sound even when DND is on, but that’s separate from the notification sound itself.

Q: Where do I download safe notification sounds?
A: You can use any audio file you already have, or download royalty-free sounds from sites like Zedge (a popular app for ringtones and notifications). Always download from reputable sources to avoid malware. The file will typically land in your “Download” folder.

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

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