Change Facebook Messenger Notification Sound (iPhone & Android)

This guide shows you how to change the notification sound for new messages in the Facebook Messenger app on both iPhone (iOS) and Android. You’ll learn where the setting lives, how to pick a different sound, and what to do if the change doesn’t stick. You only need your phone and the Messenger app installed.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone or Android phone with the Facebook Messenger app installed
• The app must be logged in to your Facebook account
• A few minutes of time — the process takes less than two minutes once you know where to tap

Step-by-Step

The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, so follow the section that matches your device.

On iPhone (iOS)

1. Open the Messenger app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen. This opens the “Me” menu.
3. Scroll down and tap “Notifications & Sounds”.
4. Under the “Sounds” section, tap “Sound” (next to a small speaker icon).
5. You’ll see a list of alert tones. Tap a few to preview them — each plays a short sample.
6. Tap the sound you want, then tap “Save” in the top-right corner of the screen.
7. Go back to the main chat list. Your new sound is now active for all message notifications.

On Android

1. Open the Messenger app on your Android phone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap “Notifications & Sounds”.
4. Tap “Sound” under the “Notifications” section.
5. A system picker opens. Choose a sound from the list, or tap “Add” (the plus icon) to select a custom audio file from your phone’s storage.
6. Tap “OK” or “Save” to confirm your choice.
7. Return to the chat list. The new sound applies to all incoming message alerts.

Note: On some Android phones, the system sound picker may show “Default notification sound” instead of a list. If you pick that, Messenger will use whatever sound your phone uses for other app notifications — not a Messenger-specific one.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong app’s sound. The setting lives inside Messenger, not in your phone’s main Settings app. If you change “Notifications” under iOS Settings > Messenger, you only control whether banners appear — not the sound itself.
• Forgetting to tap “Save” on iPhone. If you pick a sound and immediately close the screen without tapping Save, the change is discarded.
• Testing with your phone on silent. If your phone is in silent or Do Not Disturb mode, you won’t hear the new sound even after you set it. Turn off silent mode before testing.
• Choosing a sound from the wrong list. On Android, the “Sound” option under “Notifications & Sounds” is the correct one. There’s also a “Message preview” option above it — that controls text previews, not sounds.
• Assuming one sound applies to all chats. Messenger does not let you assign different sounds to individual conversations. The sound you choose applies to every message notification.

Tips

• Use a custom sound on Android. Unlike iPhone, Android lets you pick any audio file as the notification sound. Save an MP3 or other audio file to your phone, then tap “Add” in the sound picker to locate it.
• Preview before saving. On both platforms, tapping a sound plays a preview. Use this to make sure the tone is loud enough and distinct from other app sounds.
• Check your phone’s notification volume. Messenger sounds play through the “Notifications” volume channel on Android and the “Ringer” volume on iPhone. If the sound seems too quiet, adjust those volume sliders in your phone’s Settings.
• Restart the app after changing. Occasionally the new sound doesn’t apply until you fully close Messenger and reopen it. Swipe it away from your recent apps list and relaunch.
• Update the app. Older versions of Messenger may have the sound setting in a different place. Make sure your app is up to date from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Troubleshooting

If you followed the steps but still hear the old sound or no sound at all, try these fixes in order:

1. Force-quit and reopen Messenger. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and swipe the Messenger card away. On Android, open the recent apps screen and swipe Messenger away. Then relaunch the app.
2. Check your phone’s silent mode. On iPhone, flip the mute switch on the side of the phone. On Android, check the quick settings panel for a “Silent” or “Vibrate” icon. The sound won’t play if the phone is muted.
3. Verify you saved the change. Go back to Messenger > Profile > Notifications & Sounds > Sound. On iPhone, confirm the selected sound is highlighted and tap Save again. On Android, confirm your chosen sound is shown in the list.
4. Restart your phone. A simple reboot clears most notification glitches.
5. Clear the app cache (Android only). Go to your phone’s Settings > Apps > Messenger > Storage, then tap “Clear Cache.” This does not delete your messages. On iPhone, there is no cache-clear option; instead, uninstall and reinstall the app.
6. Check if Do Not Disturb is on. Both iOS and Android have a Do Not Disturb mode that blocks notification sounds. Look for a crescent moon icon in your status bar or quick settings.
7. Reinstall Messenger. If nothing else works, delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play Store. Log back in with your Facebook credentials. This resets all app settings to defaults, so you’ll need to set your sound again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different notification sound for a specific person in Messenger?

No. Messenger only has one global notification sound for all chats. You cannot assign unique sounds to individual contacts within the app. Some third-party apps or phone-level automation tools might offer workarounds, but Messenger itself does not support this.

Why do I still hear the default sound after changing it?

This usually happens because you didn’t tap “Save” on iPhone, or because your phone’s notification channel is overriding the app setting on Android. Check your phone’s Settings > Apps > Messenger > Notifications and make sure the sound is set to “Default” or “Follow app.” Then restart Messenger.

Does changing the Messenger sound also change the sound for Facebook posts or comments?

No. The sound setting inside Messenger only affects incoming message alerts within the Messenger app. Notifications from the main Facebook app (likes, comments, friend requests) have their own separate sound settings.

Can I use a song I downloaded as my Messenger notification sound?

On Android, yes — you can select any audio file from your phone’s storage using the “Add” button in the sound picker. On iPhone, no. iOS restricts notification sounds to the built-in tones. You cannot use a custom MP3 without jailbreaking the device.

Why is the “Sound” option grayed out in Messenger on my Android?

This can happen if your phone’s system notification settings have disabled sound for the Messenger app entirely. Go to your phone’s Settings > Apps > Messenger > Notifications, and make sure “Sound” is enabled there. Also check that your phone is not in “Vibrate only” mode.

Will updating Messenger reset my notification sound?

Usually no. App updates preserve your settings. However, if you uninstall and reinstall the app, all settings — including the notification sound — return to defaults. You’ll need to set your preferred sound again after a reinstall.

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