If you wish to change or disable the text message ringtone on your Android device, you can do so with these steps.
Set Ringtone for All Text Messages
Note: Some Android devices may have different apps included by the carrier for text messaging. These instructions are for the default Android Messaging app.
- From the Home screen, tap the app slider, then open the “Messaging“ app.
- From the main list of message threads, tap “Menu”
then choose “Settings“. - Select “Notifications“.
- Select “Sound“, then choose the tone for text messages or choose “None“. You may also select “Vibrate” to turn vibration on or off.
Set Ringtone for Specific Contact
- Open the “Contacts” app.
- Tap “Menu” .
- Choose “Select ringtone“, then choose the tone for text messages or choose “None“. You may also select “Vibrate” to turn vibration on or off.
FAQ
My Android doesn’t have these options. What can I do?
If you want to have more features, like the ability to set a sound to a specific contact, you will need to seek an app in the Google Play app store. I recommend Handcent. It’s loaded with tons of features and is easier to use than the default text messaging app. If you don’t like Handcent, another great app called ChompSMS allows the same functionality.
I want to set me own custom ringtones. How do I do that?
Use an app like Audacity to edit the custom sound and save it in a supported format like MP3 or WAV. You can then copy the sound file over to your device. Usually, there is a directory called “Ringtones” somewhere on the phone you can move the file to.
Most newer devices have an option to “Add Ringtone” at the bottom of the ringtone selections where you can browse to the location of the sound file.
Drat says
Welcome to Android Hell !!! You guys didn’t realize that we are Google’s Beta testers? This is the way software is developed these days.
John VH says
The work-around for Android v11 also works with Android v12.
Brian says
What is an “app slider”??
B says
I just want to lower the volume for incoming text messages. Notification column is fine just the text message is so loud it scares me to death.
ee says
i have a samsung A10e currently using Android vers. 11. i also do not have the “sound” option, but i seem to have found where this can be changed (at least on my phone). here are the steps that i have done:
1. go to Settings/Apps/and go to your message program (mine is the default = “Messages” that comes with this phone)
2. go to “NOTIFICATIONS”
3. go to “NEW MESSAGES” in here, you can make these changes (as well as others):
a. turn the sound on/off
b. “show as a pop-up”
c. change the “Sound”
here is what most of you are asking for. click on this option, and choose
the new sound that you want. on my phone, there is a selection of
default sounds. at this point, i do not know how to insert you own
custom or downloaded sounds, but i’m sure that this can be done.
d. in this screen, there are other settings that you can explore with.
note, if you have a different brand of phone or a different version of Android, these steps may be different as we’ve seen with the steps that Mr. Bartlett lists in his article.
also note, that, in my “Messages” program, the screen you see in step 2 also has a “general notifications” setting. in there, you can change the default sound (and other settings) for all your “general notifications”.
Moonshiner62 says
Same issue with my Android phone, no “sound” option.
Debra Coliron says
I dont know how to find the app slider
Tom says
For Karl:….
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your solution worked PERFECTLY!
Tom
Liz says
My old LG Android phone let me know I had a text message by repeating a tone until I looked at it. My new Moto g power only tones 1 time. Can I adjust to let it tone more than once.
Rez says
When i follow you instructions and come to Step 4 there is no “Sound” choice on my screen, so this did not help. Before the phone is out of warranty I would love to know if this is a fault with my particular phone.
Beth says
Try turning off the bluetooth
Lisa says
I just purchased a stylo6 i love the phone but it will not let me change the texted message ringtone and i hate the ringtone they have
Malk Boy says
I dont understand why changing a sound is this complicated. None of these solutions work.
Heidi says
I’m just trying to figure out how can I set a different ringtone for my text messaging than have the same ringtone for all of my notifications! Please help@! I have an Android Galaxy 9.. Thanks in advance!!
Sara says
i used to be able to have a tone for each of my contacts so i knew who was texting me. after the new update i no longer have that option,,, its so frustrating and very unhandy. i like knowing who the text was from by the tone i had set. why change somthing that clearly was working well for so many people??!!
F Dube says
This android thing is getting on my nerves now. Can’t make cellphone banking cause can’t send messages. I tried all the tips still can’t send messages. Even MTN failed to help. I miss my Microsoft phone
Carole Galante says
In response to people with no sound on text – had the same problem and tried everything I could find on line – all my sounds were on etc – here’s what worked – ho to individual on text – not the list of all texts – hitbthe 3 dots on the individual – at the bottom is a bell outline – tap it and it will turn blue – you will now have sound with incoming text – may have to do it or at least check who you get texts from – halleluyah!
Karl says
To get Message sound to work
Go to Messages
Click the 3 dots in top right hand corner
Click Setting
Click Notifications
Click Other Notifications (not the trick box)
Click Behaviour
In there you get options to turn on sound
Mr.Logic says
How do I download the infinix note 4 notification tone “morning ” on my new phone.
I so much love that tone and wish to have it on my new phone.
Thanks
Sammy says
Hello. I tried to do what you said but for some reason my “SOUND” is grayed out. I can’t put a ringtone. What do I do? Is there a way to fix it
John says
I definitely would not have chosen this phone had I known I cannot have individual text message sounds anymore. I would have chosen another operating system
And phone.
Karen L Zachary says
I just got the.pixel 4 xl
I cannot figure out how to set a sound for incoming rexts
Arianna says
Hello. I tried to do what you said but for some reason my “SOUND” is grayed out. I can’t put a ringtone. What do I do? Is there a way to fix it?
Morey Soffo says
It’s been years but I still miss my Windows phone. It was comprable to an iPhone very easy to use. but since more people chose Android or iPhone than Windows phones they stop making apps to support it and stop supporting the apps that were there. It was a better product but people are sheep & follow the herd no matter how stupid. Android is complicated but I’m not going to stump up hundreds of dollars for a phone I can get for free with my contract nor do I want to constantly change phones every few years. I am trying to set an individual tone for one particular person’s texts. Evidently there is no option to add from library. How lazy or stupid are the techs?
JANN BRIGHT says
You absolutely helped me and in a way that someone who is electronically “disabled” (ME) can decipher. Thanks so much!!
Penny Long says
I agree with above comments. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I loved having individual ringtone & text notifications for each person. It added much needed organization to my life. This one notification for all is a headache, adds stress & needless interruptions every day. No personality – it’s like one robot says all. Inefficient. Android is supposed to fix & improve not go backward in time. This is a downgrade, NOT an upgrade. Next time I’m getting an iPhone.
Nicole King says
No, everyone wants the old way back. It seems like a very easy thing to do and am not sure why it hasn’t been fixed yet.
Loretta Williams says
I hate the update!! I liked having a different tone for each contact when receiving a text.
Change it back……. PLEASE!!!!
Dave Radtke says
Just amazing. So many things like setting text tones for individuals that could easily be done on an iPhone require installing special apps or following some arcane instructions for an Android.. My wife convinced me that Androids were so wonderful that I’d be crazy to get another iPhone.
So untrue
Jac Viers says
Morons… text message tones is no longer in contacts for individual contact settings… Oreo sucks!!!
hhj says
no i have verizon as my default message app on my android so these aren’t very helpful, i updated the device and not sure if that is what changed the ringtone to what it currently is, just want it changed back to what i had before the update.
Beth says
I was able to change the ringtones for message notifications, or so it says. But the phone still uses the default tone even though it shows something different (my newly changed ringtone) in my Notifications settings and in the Message+ app settings. Did I miss a setting somewhere else? Because it’s definitely not using the notification ringtone that it shows as being set for messages.
LAL says
SAMSUNG S4- TO CHANGE ONLY SMS TUNE go settings> my device > sound and notification > Other sounds >Messaging > Notification sound
Mitch Bartlett says
Tap right on Notifications, not the check-box and it will take you to additional settings.
Dave says
This does not work. Under notification there is ONLY a box that can be checked or unchecked.