What file type is Android custom notification sound?

Notification sounds are short audio clips that play when you receive a notification on your Android device. The default notification sounds on Android include tones like “Pixie Dust”, “Spring Blossoms”, and “Crystal” among others. While these default sounds work, many users prefer to customize the notification sounds to their liking or set different sounds for notifications from specific apps. There are a few reasons why customizing notification sounds can be beneficial:

Custom sounds help you identify notifications from different apps or contacts.
You can choose sounds that fit your style or mood.

Custom sounds reduce notification fatigue by using a wider variety of audio clips.
Unique sounds make your device feel more personal.

Android supports custom notification sounds in MP3, WAV, OGG, and M4A audio formats. These common formats allow flexibility in selecting audio clips or recordings to use. The sounds need to meet certain requirements around length and file size which we’ll cover shortly. With some quick settings adjustments, you can start using custom notification tones for many popular Android apps.

Default Notification Sounds

Android devices come with a selection of default notification sounds that can be assigned to apps. The default sounds may vary by device brand and Android version, but common options include notifications like “Pixie Dust”, “Crystal”, and “Bumblebee”.

To preview or change the default notification sound on your Android device:

Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound

You will see a list of the default notification sounds available
Tap on a sound to hear a preview
Select a sound to set it as the default for notifications

The selected notification sound will be used for any apps that have notifications enabled but do not have a custom sound assigned.

Some Android launchers and manufacturers also include additional default notification sounds that can be accessed in the sound settings for that specific app.

How to Add Custom Sounds

There are a couple different ways to add custom sounds for notifications on Android devices.

One option is to use a file manager app to copy a sound file into the notification sounds folder. The path for this folder is usually something like: Internal Storage/Notifications.

Once the sound file is copied here, it will show up as a selectable option in your sound settings. Make sure the file is a supported audio format like MP3 or WAV (more on formats below).

The other way is to use your Android device’s built-in sound settings. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound > My Sounds. Tap the plus icon to select a sound file from your device storage. Again, make sure it’s a supported format before selecting it.

The file manager method gives you a bit more flexibility since you can connect your device to a computer and easily copy over sound files. The sound settings method is simpler if you already have sounds stored locally on your device.

Supported Audio Formats

Android supports audio in a variety of common formats like MP3, AAC, AMR, FLAC, MID, WAV, and OGG Vorbis. Here are some of the key audio codecs and formats supported:

MP3 – The most popular digital audio format. Supported on all Android versions. [1]

AAC – Advanced Audio Coding format used by iTunes. Supported on Android 3.1 and higher. [1]
AMR – Adaptive Multi-Rate audio format often used for speech. Supported on Android 2.3 and higher. [2]
WAV – Waveform Audio File Format, an uncompressed format. Supported on Android 1.0 and higher. [3]

OGG – Free open container format often used with the Vorbis audio codec. Supported on Android 2.3 and higher. [2]

Sound File Requirements

Notification sound files in Android do have some specific technical requirements in order for them to play properly as notification sounds:

File Format: The sound must be saved as an audio format that Android supports, most commonly .mp3, .wav, .ogg, or .m4a.

File Size: The sound file should be small, ideally under 500kb. Very large sounds may not play properly.
Bit Rate: 192kbps is recommended. Lower bitrates may decrease audio quality.
Channels: Notification sounds should be saved in mono or single channel format. Stereo sounds may not play properly.

Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz sampling rate is recommended. Higher or lower rates may cause playback issues.
Length: The sound should be under 30 seconds long, and trimmed of excess silence at the start/end. Excessively long sounds likely won’t play properly.

Following these requirements will produce notification sounds tailored for Android that play reliably when triggered. If your custom sound isn’t playing properly, checking that it meets these criteria can help troubleshoot issues.

Where to Get Custom Sounds

There are a few options for getting custom notification sounds for your Android device:

Downloading from apps

Many apps like Zedge offer free notification sounds you can download. These apps provide curated collections of notification tones, ringtones, alarm sounds and more. They make it easy to browse and preview options before downloading the audio files you want.

Finding free sounds online

You can also search for free notification sound effects and audio files on websites like Freesound. These sites often allow users to upload and share creative commons licensed audio that you can legally download and use. Just be careful of any copyrighted material.

Creating your own audio files

If you want something totally unique, you can create your own custom notification sounds. You can record audio clips using your phone or audio editing software on your computer. When creating notification sounds, aim for short audio clips under 30 seconds. You’ll also want to save or export the audio in a compatible format like MP3 or WAV before transferring it to your Android device.

How to Set Custom Sounds

You can set custom notification sounds for all notifications or for alerts from individual apps on your Android phone. Here are the steps to customize notification sounds:

To change the notification sound for all apps:

Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound.
Tap on the current notification sound to see the full list of options.
Browse the available sounds or tap “Add ringtone” to select a custom audio file from your device storage.

Preview the sound and select “OK” to set it as the default.

To set a custom notification sound for a specific app like WhatsApp:

Open the app’s settings.

Look for notification settings and tap “Notification tone.”
Choose a sound from the list or add a custom audio file.
Tap “OK” to save the custom sound for this app’s alerts.

Now when you get notifications from that app, your chosen custom sound will play instead of the default notification sound.

Troubleshooting Issues

If your custom notification sounds are not working properly, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

First, check that the sound file is a supported format like MP3 or WAV, and that it meets Android’s requirements for notification sounds. The file should be under 1MB in size, and not too long in duration. If the sound file is not compatible, it simply won’t work as a notification tone.

Next, confirm that the notification and media volumes are turned up on your device – the sound won’t play if your phone is muted or set to vibrate only. Go to Settings > Sound to check your volume levels.

If the sound used to work but suddenly stopped, try restarting your phone to clear any glitches. Android issues sometimes resolve after a reboot.

Check that the sound file is actually set properly for the app’s notifications. Go to the app’s settings and confirm the custom sound is selected as the notification tone. If it reverted to the default, you’ll need to re-set it.

Finally, if you’ve followed all troubleshooting steps but the sound still won’t play, it could be an issue with your particular phone model or Android version. Look online for solutions specific to your device, or contact the manufacturer for further support.

Custom Vibration Patterns

In addition to custom notification sounds, Android also allows users to set custom vibration patterns for haptic feedback.

Vibration patterns can be customized on supported Android devices to provide subtle variations in vibration intensity and duration when receiving notifications. This allows users to assign distinct vibration patterns to specific contacts or apps.

For example, a custom vibration could be created with a long intense initial buzz followed by two quick light pulses. These personalized vibration patterns then play whenever receiving a notification from the associated app or contact.

To create custom vibration patterns, you need to navigate to your device’s Settings > Sound/Vibration and select an option like “Vibration intensity and pattern” or “Vibration pattern.” From here you can customize and save new vibration patterns to assign to alerts.

Some Android skins like Samsung One UI also have advanced options to apply custom vibrations based on different triggers like specific contacts, apps, or events. This allows tailoring vibration feedback for important alerts.

Overall, custom notification vibration patterns make it easier to identify alerts just by feel. Used judiciously, it can cut down on constantly pulling out your phone.

Conclusion

Setting custom notification sounds on your Android device can greatly improve your experience when receiving notifications. This guide has provided step-by-step instructions for adding custom sounds and covered key details like supported formats, file requirements, and troubleshooting tips.

The main benefits of using custom notification sounds include:

Hearing a unique sound you prefer for new notifications instead of the default Android sound.
Customizing sounds for apps to distinguish notifications (for example, a bird chirp for text messages or a cash register for payment apps).
Creating sound themes for different contacts by assigning them unique custom sounds.

With the ability to choose from MP3, WAV, and other audio files, the possibilities for custom notification sounds are endless. Just remember your files need to be under 1-2 MB in size and transformed into an OGG file if adding directly on your Android.By taking a few minutes to add a custom sound, you can personalize your notification experience.