Change WhatsApp Call & Message Sounds on Samsung Galaxy

This guide shows you how to change the notification sounds for WhatsApp messages and calls on a Samsung Galaxy phone. You’ll learn how to set custom tones for individual chats, group chats, and calls, and how to make sure your changes stick. No special tools are needed—just your phone and the WhatsApp app.

What You’ll Need

• A Samsung Galaxy phone (any recent model running Android 10 or newer)
• The latest version of WhatsApp installed from the Google Play Store
• An audio file (MP3, M4A, OGG) if you want to use a custom sound that isn’t built into WhatsApp

Step-by-Step

Change the Default Message Sound

1. Open WhatsApp on your Samsung Galaxy.
2. Tap the three vertical dots (menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap Notifications.
5. Under the Messages section, tap Message notifications.
6. Tap Sound (or Notification sound).
7. A list of built-in sounds appears. Tap a sound to preview it. If you want to use a custom sound, tap Add ringtone (or the plus icon) and browse to your audio file.
8. Once you’ve selected a sound, tap Save (or the back arrow) to apply it.

Change the Default Call Ringtone

1. In WhatsApp, go to Settings → Notifications.
2. Under the Calls section, tap Call ringtone.
3. Pick a sound from the list, or add a custom one using the same method as above.
4. Tap Save to confirm.

Change Sounds for a Specific Contact

1. Open the chat with the contact you want to customize.
2. Tap the contact’s name at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap Custom notifications.
4. Toggle the switch to On.
5. Tap Sound and choose a different tone for messages from this contact.
6. If you also want a different call ringtone for this contact, tap Call ringtone and select one.
7. Tap Save.

Change Sounds for a Group Chat

1. Open the group chat.
2. Tap the group name at the top.
3. Scroll down to Custom notifications and toggle it on.
4. Select a sound for messages and optionally a separate call ringtone.
5. Tap Save.

Using a Custom Sound File

1. Transfer the audio file you want to use to your phone (e.g., via USB, email, or download).
2. Make sure the file is in a supported format: MP3, M4A, WAV, or OGG.
3. When selecting a sound in WhatsApp, tap the plus icon or Add ringtone.
4. Navigate to the file’s location (often in Downloads or Music) and select it.

Common Mistakes

• Not saving after selecting a sound: On some Samsung models, you must tap “Save” or the back arrow twice to apply the change. If you just tap the sound and exit, it won’t stick.
• Changing the wrong setting: There are separate settings for “Message notifications” and “Groups”. If you change only the default message sound, group chats will still use the group sound.
• Phone-level sounds interfering: If your Samsung Galaxy is set to “Silent” or “Vibrate” mode, WhatsApp sounds won’t play even if they’re correctly set. Check your phone’s volume and sound mode.
• Custom file too large or unsupported: WhatsApp may not accept very large audio files or certain formats like FLAC. Convert the file to MP3 or M4A first.

Tips

• Use different sounds for individual contacts so you know who messaged you without looking at your phone.
• If you want the same sound for all WhatsApp notifications, set both the message and call sounds to the same tone.
• On Samsung Galaxy, you can also set a separate notification badge style in the same menu—this doesn’t affect sound but helps with visual cues.
• To quickly test a sound, send yourself a message from another device or ask a friend to message you.
• If you use Do Not Disturb on your Samsung, WhatsApp sounds will be muted unless you allow exceptions for WhatsApp in the DND settings.

Troubleshooting

Sounds still not changing

• Restart WhatsApp: Close the app completely and reopen it. Sometimes the settings need a fresh start.
• Restart your phone: A simple reboot can clear any temporary glitches with the notification system.
• Check app permissions: Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions. Make sure “Notifications” is allowed.
• Clear WhatsApp cache: Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Storage → Clear Cache. This won’t delete your chats, but it can fix sound issues.

Custom sound not appearing in the list

• Make sure the file is stored in a location WhatsApp can access. Move it to the Notifications folder in your phone’s internal storage if possible.
• Rename the file to something simple, without special characters or spaces (e.g., “chime.mp3”).
• Try converting the file to M4A format using a free converter app, as this format is most compatible with Android.

Sounds play but are too quiet

• Increase the Media volume on your phone, not just the ringtone volume. WhatsApp uses the media volume for some notification sounds.
• In WhatsApp, go to Settings → Notifications and check if there’s a Vibrate option that might be overriding the sound. Set it to “Default” or “Off”.

Changes revert after restart

• This can happen if you’re using a Samsung “Battery Optimization” feature that kills WhatsApp in the background. Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Battery and set it to Unrestricted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t I see the “Sound” option in WhatsApp notifications?

This usually means your phone’s system notification settings are overriding WhatsApp’s. Go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Notifications and make sure “Sound” is set to “Default” or a specific tone, not “Silent”.

Can I set a different sound for each contact?

Yes. Open the individual chat, tap the contact’s name, enable “Custom notifications”, and choose a unique sound for that contact. This works for both messages and calls.

Will changing my phone’s default notification sound affect WhatsApp?

No. WhatsApp has its own sound settings that are independent of your phone’s default notification sound. However, if your phone is in Silent or Do Not Disturb mode, WhatsApp sounds will be muted.

How do I make a custom sound from a song I have?

You need to trim the song to a short clip (under 30 seconds) and save it as an MP3 or M4A file. You can use a free audio editor app like “Ringtone Maker” or do it on a computer and transfer the file to your phone.

Why does my WhatsApp only vibrate and not play a sound?

Check that your phone’s sound mode is set to “Sound” (not Vibrate or Silent). Also, in WhatsApp, go to Settings → Notifications and ensure the “Vibrate” option is set to “Off” or “Default”, and that a sound is selected.

Can I set a separate sound for WhatsApp calls vs. messages?

Yes. In Settings → Notifications, there are separate sections for “Calls” and “Messages”. You can assign a different ringtone for calls and a different tone for messages.

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