WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, with over 2 billion users. One of the great things about WhatsApp is that you can customize various settings, including the notification sound when you get a new message.
The default notification sound for WhatsApp on Android and iOS is quite distinct and recognizable. While some people like keeping the original sound, others prefer setting a custom ringtone so they can identify WhatsApp messages easily.
Changing the WhatsApp notification sound is easy and can be done right from the app’s Settings. In this guide, we will show you step-by-step instructions on how to change the WhatsApp notification ringtone on both Android and iOS devices.
Prerequisites
Before you can change the notification sound, there are a couple of prerequisites:
- Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your Android or iOS device.
- Have a custom ringtone file saved on your device that you want to use. WhatsApp supports common audio formats like MP3, WAV, ACC for ringtones.
Steps to Change WhatsApp Notification Sound on Android
Here are the steps to change the default WhatsApp notification sound and set a custom ringtone on Android:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Tap on the 3-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Tap on the option for Sound.
- You will see a list of ringtones along with the Default notification sound.
- Tap on the Add icon to choose your custom ringtone file.
- Browse and select the audio file you want as custom ringtone.
- Tap OK to confirm.
- You will now see your custom ringtone added to the list.
- Select your custom ringtone.
That’s it! WhatsApp will now use your custom ringtone for new message notifications. You can follow the same steps if you want to change the ringtone again in the future.
Steps to Change WhatsApp Notification Sound on iPhone
Here are the steps to change the default WhatsApp notification sound and set a custom ringtone on iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Tap on the Settings tab.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Tap on Sound.
- You will see the Default tone option.
- Tap on Default Tone.
- This will open the Sounds menu in your iPhone Settings.
- Tap on Ringtone or Alert Tone to browse ringtones.
- Tap on a ringtone to play it.
- Once you find the ringtone you want, tap on it.
- This sets the new ringtone which will now show under Sound in WhatsApp.
That’s it! WhatsApp will now use the new ringtone for all incoming message notifications. Follow the same steps if you want to choose a different custom ringtone later.
Some Important Points
Here are some important points to note about customizing WhatsApp notification sound:
- You can set different notification sounds for regular messages and WhatsApp Calls if you prefer.
- The ringtone needs to be an audio file saved on your device storage. WhatsApp does not allow selecting online ringtones.
- Make sure the ringtone file is in a compatible format like MP3, ACC, M4A, and not too big in size.
- You can use existing sound files on your device or download new ones from the internet.
- If you cannot hear the new ringtone, check WhatsApp notifications are enabled for your device settings.
- Repeat the steps if you want to revert to the original default WhatsApp notification sound.
Customize Notification Tone for Contacts
Apart from the main notification tone, WhatsApp also allows you to set custom ringtones for individual chats and contacts. This allows you to identify incoming messages from specific people easily. Here is how to do it:
- Open the chat window for a contact in WhatsApp.
- Tap on the contact name at the top.
- Tap Custom notifications.
- Select a unique ringtone for this contact.
Now whenever you get a new message from that contact, WhatsApp will play the custom ringtone you selected. This makes it easy to identify messages from important contacts like family and friends even when your phone is on silent mode.
Change Vibration Pattern
Along with the sound, you can also change the vibration pattern for WhatsApp notifications. Here is how it is done:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Notifications.
- Tap on Vibrate.
- Select your preferred vibration pattern.
This will change the vibration pattern when you get new WhatsApp messages on your device. Some phones may have options to set longer vibration or a unique pattern.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are unable to hear the custom WhatsApp notification sound on your device, here are some tips to troubleshoot:
- Check if media volume is enabled in your device settings. Tap the volume buttons on the side to adjust volume.
- Make sure Do Not Disturb mode is disabled on your device during the time you want to receive notifications.
- For iPhones, confirm that the ringtone you selected is assigned under Settings > Sounds as well.
- Reboot your phone and check if you can hear the custom WhatsApp tone after restarting.
- Try assigning a different ringtone and check if it works.
- Double check that notifications for WhatsApp are enabled in your device settings.
If you still cannot get custom ringtones to work, contact WhatsApp support for help.
Conclusion
Changing the default WhatsApp notification sound is easy and allows you to customize your notification experience. Using custom ringtones and contact-specific tones can be very useful to identify messages easily. Make sure to pick ringtones that are distinct and not too jarring for the best experience. With our step-by-step guide, you can start using custom WhatsApp ringtones in just a few taps.