WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows users to communicate easily through text, voice notes, video calls, and more. One fun feature of WhatsApp is the ability to customize notifications and ringtones for incoming messages and calls. However, sometimes users face issues with changing their WhatsApp ringtone and notifications sound.
Common reasons why WhatsApp ringtone is not changing
Here are some of the common reasons why your WhatsApp ringtone may not be changing when you try to set a custom tone:
- Ringtone file format not supported – WhatsApp only supports certain audio formats for ringtones, like MP3, AMR, AAC, etc. If the custom ringtone you are trying to set is in a format like WAV, it will not work.
- Custom ringtone file too large – WhatsApp has a size limit of 300 KB for ringtone files. If your file is larger than that, it will fail to set as the tone.
- Ringtone saved in wrong location – The custom ringtone must be saved in your phone’s internal storage, like in the Ringtones or Notifications folder. If it is saved elsewhere, WhatsApp won’t detect it.
- Outdated WhatsApp version – Sometimes newer WhatsApp updates bring fixes and changes to the notifications system. If your app is outdated, it may cause issues changing the ringtone.
- Restricted by device settings – Some Android devices restrict access to the internal storage for security reasons. This can block WhatsApp from detecting and setting custom ringtones.
- Cache and data issues – Outdated cached data or corrupt app data can also interfere with setting a custom ringtone.
How to fix WhatsApp ringtone not changing issue
If you are facing this annoying issue of your WhatsApp ringtone not changing, don’t worry. Here are some troubleshooting tips you can try to resolve it:
1. Check the ringtone file format
First, check the file format of the ringtone you are trying to set. WhatsApp supports common formats like MP3, AMR, AAC, WAV, etc. Try converting your custom ringtone to MP3 if it is in an unsupported format.
2. Verify ringtone file size
Make sure the ringtone file size is under 300 KB. You can check this easily in your phone’s file manager. If the file is too large, use an audio editor to reduce the bitrate or duration.
3. Save ringtone to internal storage
Make sure your ringtone is saved in the phone’s internal storage, like Ringtones or Notifications folder. WhatsApp cannot detect or access ringtone files saved on the SD card or external storage.
4. Update WhatsApp to latest version
Go to your phone’s app store and check for any WhatsApp updates. Installing the latest version can fix bugs related to notifications and custom ringtones.
5. Grant notification access
On Android, open Settings > Apps & notifications > Special app access > Notification access and ensure WhatsApp has permission to access notifications.
6. Clear WhatsApp cache and data
Open Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage and tap Clear Cache followed by Clear Data. Resetting the app data will wipe out any corrupted files.
7. Restart your phone
Try the simple reboot fix – turn your phone off and on again. This clears out any temporary glitches that may be preventing WhatsApp from changing ringtone.
8. Check OS or WhatsApp restrictions
On some devices, the OS settings or WhatsApp itself may restrict custom ringtones. Look for such options in your device system settings or WhatsApp notification settings.
How to set custom notification tones on WhatsApp
Once you have resolved the issues above, here are the steps to easily set a custom ringtone or notification sound on WhatsApp:
- Make sure the ringtone file is in MP3 or other supported audio format.
- Save the ringtone file to internal storage like Ringtones folder.
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Notifications.
- Tap on Ringtone or Notification tone and select the custom tone to set it.
And you’re done! The custom sound will now apply for WhatsApp calls or message notifications respectively. You can follow the same process to set a custom vibration pattern too.
Best practices for WhatsApp ringtones
Here are some tips to make sure your custom WhatsApp ringtones work well:
- Keep ringtone files under 30 seconds duration for best experience.
- Use MP3 format and 192 kbps bitrate for optimal sound quality.
- Add a fade in/out to avoid abrupt clipping of the sound.
- Pick instrumental tones or subtle sound effects for ringtones.
- Set a unique vibration pattern to identify WhatsApp alerts easily.
Conclusion
Changing your default WhatsApp ringtone or notification sound to a custom tone is easy and adds a nice personal touch. However, sometimes issues can crop up preventing it from changing properly. By following the troubleshooting tips above, you should be able to resolve any problems and successfully set custom ringtones and sounds on WhatsApp.
Some key points to remember are – use supported audio formats like MP3, keep ringtone file size small, save it to internal storage, check for WhatsApp updates, clear cache and data if required, and make sure notification access is enabled. With these steps, you’ll never have to deal with a stuck default ringtone in WhatsApp again!