How do I set a custom text tone on Android?

ByJael Lawler

A custom text tone is a unique sound that plays when you receive a new text message on your Android phone. The default text tone on most Android phones is quite generic. Setting a custom text tone allows you to personalize your device and assign unique sounds to your incoming messages.

There are several benefits to using a custom text tone on your Android device:

With just a few quick settings adjustments, you can start using a custom text tone on your Android. This guide will walk through the steps to get your new tone set up.

Determine if your Android supports custom tones

The ability to set custom notification tones may depend on your Android device model and operating system version. Older Android versions have limited customization options compared to newer releases.

To check your Android version number and model:

  1. Go to Settings > About Phone.
  2. Look for Android Version and Model number.

Android 10 and newer generally support custom notification tones. For older versions, check your device manufacturer’s website for details. For example, Samsung added custom tone support starting with Android 7 on its Galaxy devices1.

So if your device runs Android 10 or newer, you should be able to set custom tones. For older versions, check if your manufacturer has added support.

Download a custom tone app

One of the easiest ways to set a custom text tone on Android is by downloading a dedicated app. Here are some top options:

Once you’ve downloaded an app, you can browse the library and preview tones until you find the perfect custom sound.

Set custom tone with Zedge app

The Zedge app makes it easy to find and set custom ringtones and notification tones on your Android device. Here are the steps to use Zedge to set a custom tone:

  1. Download and install the free Zedge app from the Google Play Store if you don’t already have it.
  2. Open the Zedge app and browse or search for the tone you want to use. Zedge offers a huge library of ringtones, notification tones, alarm sounds, and more to choose from.
  3. When you find the tone you want, tap on it to open the details page. Tap the “Set as” button.
  4. You’ll be prompted to choose whether you want to set it as your default ringtone, a contact ringtone, alarm tone etc. Select ringtone or notification tone.
  5. Zedge will set the tone and confirm it is set. You can go to your phone’s Sounds settings to verify it is now set as the default.

The advantage of using Zedge is it offers an extensive catalog of high-quality tones, many created by professional sound designers. And it makes the process quick and easy to find, preview and set any tone you want. You can set unique tones for calls, messages, notifications, alarms and more using the Zedge app on Android.

Set custom tone with Textone app

Textone is a popular app for setting custom notification tones on Android. Here are the steps to use Textone to set a custom text tone:

1. Install the Textone app

  • Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
  • Search for “Textone” and install the Textone app.
  • Open the Textone app after it finishes installing.

2. Download a custom tone

  • Tap on “Get New Tones” in the Textone app.
  • Browse or search for a tone you want to use.
  • Tap on the download button next to the tone to download it.

3. Set the custom tone

  • Open the messaging app you want to set the tone for.
  • Tap on the conversation or contact to open settings.
  • Tap on notification tone or ringtone.
  • Select “Textone” as the app.
  • Pick the custom tone you downloaded.

The custom tone will now be set for new message notifications from that contact or conversation. You can follow these steps to set different custom tones for different contacts.

Set custom tone from file

You can set a custom text tone by selecting an audio file stored on your Android device. This allows you to use any song, sound effect, or audio clip as your notification tone.

To set a custom tone from a file:

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Sounds and vibration > Notification sounds.
  2. Tap the text tone you want to change.
  3. Tap Add ringtone at the bottom of the list.
  4. Navigate to the audio file on your device you want to use and select it.
  5. Confirm to set the file as the new text tone.

The supported audio formats are MP3, AAC, WAV, OGG, and FLAC. You can copy compatible audio files to your device first if needed.

This method allows you to easily set any audio clip you want as your custom text notification sound. You can use songs, sound effects, voice recordings, or other audio files stored locally on your Android device.

Set contact-specific custom tones

You can set a unique custom tone for individual contacts on your Android device. This allows you to easily identify who is texting you based on the notification sound.

Here are the steps to set a custom text tone for a specific contact:

  1. Open your contacts app and select the contact you want to customize.
  2. Tap “Edit contact” or the three dots icon and select “Edit.”
  3. Scroll down and tap “Ringtone.”
  4. Select “Default notification sound” to change the standard text tone for that contact.
  5. You can also tap “Add ringtone” and select an audio file from your device as a custom tone.
  6. Tap “OK” to save the new ringtone.

Now when that contact texts you, your phone will play the unique tone you’ve assigned just for them. Repeat these steps for other important contacts you want to customize.

On Samsung devices, you may need to enable the “Custom notifications” setting first in your Messaging app’s Settings. Some manufacturers like OnePlus also allow per-contact customization in the Contacts app.

This lets you easily identify who is texting without having to check your phone. Setting custom text tones for key contacts can be really useful!

Sources:
https://www.androidcentral.com/how-get-custom-text-tones-back-your-samsung-after-android-oreo-update

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues setting or hearing custom tones, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Make sure the custom tone file is compatible with your Android version. Try converting it to a different format like MP3 if needed. See this Google Pixel support thread for more details.

Check that the notification volume is turned up in your Android settings. The custom tone won’t be audible if your phone is silenced.

Try restarting your phone if a custom tone stops working. This refreshes the sound settings.

Make sure you assigned the custom tone to the correct notification type. For text tones, choose the custom sound for your messaging app notifications.

If a contact-specific custom tone isn’t working, remove and re-add the custom tone to that contact.

Check that none of your installed apps are blocking the custom tones. Turn off notifications for other apps to test.

Try switching between vibration, sound, and silent modes to reset the sound settings.

As a last resort, try factory resetting your phone to eliminate any software issues.

If you still can’t get a custom tone to work after troubleshooting, your Android version may not fully support custom sounds.

Customize notification tones

You can customize the notification tones for individual apps on your Android device. This allows you to set different notification sounds for each app. To change the notification tone for an app:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Apps & notifications > Notifications.

2. Tap the app you want to customize.

3. Tap Sound.

4. Select your desired notification tone.

You can set custom tones loaded on your device, such as MP3 files, as notification sounds. Just tap My Sounds on the sound selection screen to access these.

Some launchers and Android skins, like Samsung One UI, also let you customize notification tones directly from the app info screen. Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications > Sound to change the tone.

To customize tones based on notification categories, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound. You can set different tones for alarms, media, ringtones, and system notifications here.

Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-customize-notification-sounds-android/

Conclusion

In summary, there are a few different ways to customize notification and text tones on Android devices. The easiest option is to download a custom tone app like Zedge or Textone which provide libraries of unique sounds to choose from. You can also add custom tones directly from files stored on your device. Under Sound & Vibration settings, tap on Default Notification Sound and select My Sounds to add your own audio files.

To set custom tones for specific contacts, edit each contact and tap on the ringtone field to choose a unique sound for calls or messages from that person. You can also customize app-specific notification sounds by editing each app’s notifications in Sound & Vibration settings.

Some final tips: check that your Android OS and apps are up-to-date, grant necessary permissions when prompted, and toggle notification access on/off if troubleshooting issues. With a few simple steps, you can personalize tones and stand out from the default sounds.

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