WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people worldwide. By default, WhatsApp gives an audible notification whenever you receive a new message. This familiar sound lets you know instantly that a new WhatsApp message has arrived.
However, sometimes you may want to change the default notification sound for WhatsApp on your device. Whether you want a quieter sound, or a completely custom sound, WhatsApp makes it easy to customize your notification sounds.
Why would I want to change my WhatsApp notification sound?
There are a few common reasons why you may want to use a different notification sound for WhatsApp:
- The default sound is too loud or annoying – you may want something quieter.
- To easily distinguish WhatsApp notifications from other apps.
- To assign unique sounds to contacts so you recognize who is messaging you.
- To use custom sounds like music clips or sound effects.
- To mute WhatsApp notifications temporarily while keeping alerts for other apps.
The ability to customize notification sounds gives you more control over how you are alerted to new WhatsApp messages. You can pick sounds that fit your preferences and habits.
How to change the WhatsApp notification sound on iPhone
Changing the WhatsApp notification sound on an iPhone is simple to do through the Settings menu:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Scroll down and select WhatsApp.
- Under Sound, tap on the current sound option (likely Default.)
- This will open your available sounds – pick the sound you want to use.
- Tap back to return to the WhatsApp notifications screen and your new sound will be selected.
That’s all there is to it! Now when new WhatsApp messages arrive, your chosen sound will play instead of the default. You can return to the Sound setting at any time to change it to something else.
Other WhatsApp notification settings for iPhone
While you’re in the Notifications settings for WhatsApp on your iPhone, you may want to check some of the other options available:
- Allow Notifications – Turn off to disable WhatsApp notifications entirely.
- Show Previews – Choose to display message previews on the lock screen.
- Badge App Icon – Show a badge on the WhatsApp icon for unread messages.
- Notification Style – Set banners, alerts, or no notifications.
How to customize WhatsApp notification sounds on Android
The process is very similar for changing WhatsApp notification sounds on Android devices:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Apps & Notifications.
- Select WhatsApp.
- Tap Notifications.
- Tap on the Default option under Sound.
- Pick a new sound from the available options.
You will now hear your chosen sound for new WhatsApp notification alerts on your Android phone or tablet. You can return to the Sound setting any time to choose a different custom sound.
Extra WhatsApp notification settings for Android
Under the Notifications section for WhatsApp in your Android device’s Settings, you can also configure:
- Conversations – Disable notifications for specific chats.
- Vibrate – Choose whether to vibrate for alerts.
- Popup notification – Allow notifications to pop up over your screen.
- Priority – Make notifications high priority and override DND.
How to set custom notification sounds for individual WhatsApp contacts
Both iPhone and Android allow you to set custom notification sounds for individual contacts in WhatsApp. This lets you assign unique sounds for your important contacts:
- Open WhatsApp and select the chat for the contact.
- Tap on the contact’s name at the top.
- Tap Custom Notifications.
- Select the sound you want to use for this contact’s notifications.
Now this contact’s messages will play the custom sound instead of your default sound. You can set a custom sound for as many chats as you want this way.
How to add custom notification sounds
The default selection of sounds on iPhone and Android includes alerts, ringtones, and a few sound effects. But you can also add completely custom sounds as notification options:
On iPhone
- Add audio files like MP3s to iTunes on your computer.
- Sync the files to your iPhone using the USB cable.
- Go to Settings > Sounds to access the new synced files as options.
On Android
- Place audio files like MP3s in the Notifications folder using your computer.
- Access these sounds in the notification settings for apps.
Using these steps, you can assign custom sounds like short music clips, sound effects, or recordings as your WhatsApp notifications.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp notification sounds
If you are having issues getting your chosen notification sound to work properly for WhatsApp, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check notification settings for WhatsApp – make sure they are enabled.
- Confirm the sound is selected properly in Settings > Notifications.
- Check if your device’s ringer is silenced which blocks all sounds.
- Try setting the notification sound directly in WhatsApp’s Settings as well.
- Make sure your device volume is turned up enough to hear the sound.
- Check that the sound file is not corrupted or a format your device supports.
- Restart your phone to refresh sound settings.
Testing with the default notification sound can help narrow down any issues. You can also try setting a custom sound for a different app to check if the issue is specific to WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Customizing your notification sounds is an easy way to personalize your WhatsApp alerts on both iPhones and Android devices. With just a few taps in your sound settings, you can choose from default ringtones, assign unique sounds for contacts, or even add your own custom audio files.
Using a distinct WhatsApp notification can help you identify messages without even looking at your phone. And selecting the perfect tone can make your alerts pleasant and non-disruptive. So explore all the options and find sounds that suit your style.