Open Settings and find Sounds & Haptics

To change a notification sound on your iPhone, start by opening the Settings app — the gray icon with gears on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics. This is where all your notification and alert sounds live.

The exact name varies slightly by iPhone model and iOS version. On older iPhones you may see Sounds instead of Sounds & Haptics. Either way, it's the same section.

Choose which app's notification sound to change

Once you're in Sounds & Haptics, you'll see a list of notification types: Text Tone, New Mail, Sent Mail, Calendar Alerts, and others. Each one controls the sound for a different kind of notification. Tap the one you want to change.

If you want to change the sound for a specific app like Instagram or Slack, you won't find it here. Those apps have their own notification settings inside the app itself — you'll need to open the app, go to its settings, and look for notification or sound options there.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then tap Sounds & Haptics to access all notification sound controls in one place.
  • Different notification types (text messages, emails, calendar alerts) each have their own sound setting.
  • Third-party apps like Instagram or Slack control their own notification sounds inside the app, not in iPhone Settings.
  • You can set a sound to None if you want silent notifications, or choose Vibration Only for a haptic alert instead.
  • Custom ringtones you've created or downloaded will appear in the sound list alongside Apple's built-in options.

Select a new sound from the list

After you tap a notification type, you'll see a list of available sounds. Tap any sound to hear a preview of it. The list includes Apple's standard tones like Chime, Bells, and Radar, plus any custom ringtones you've added to your iPhone.

At the top of the list you'll see None — choose this if you want that notification type to be completely silent. Below that is usually Vibration or Haptic, which gives you a vibration alert instead of a sound.

Confirm your choice and test it

Once you tap a sound, it plays automatically so you can hear what it sounds like. If you like it, just tap the back arrow or swipe back to return to the Sounds & Haptics menu. Your choice is saved immediately — there's no separate Save button.

To test your new notification sound in real use, send yourself a test message or email. The sound will play when the notification arrives, as long as your phone is not in Silent mode (check the mute switch on the side of your iPhone).

Change notification sounds for specific apps

If you want a different sound for notifications from a particular app — like a unique alert for messages from your boss or a specific group chat — you'll need to go into that app's settings, not iPhone Settings. Open the app, look for Settings or Notifications in its menu, and find the sound option there.

Some apps let you set different sounds for different types of alerts within the app. For example, Messages might let you set one sound for individual texts and another for group chats. Check the app's notification settings to see what options it offers.

Adjust volume and vibration separately

In the Sounds & Haptics menu, you'll also see a Volume slider near the top. This controls how loud notification sounds play. Move it left to make them quieter or right to make them louder. This volume is separate from your ringtone volume and media volume.

Below the volume slider, you can toggle Vibration on or off. When it's on, your iPhone vibrates along with the sound. You can have vibration without sound (by choosing None for the sound), sound without vibration (by turning off the vibration toggle), or both together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I hear my notification sound?

Check the mute switch on the left side of your iPhone — if it's flipped down toward the back, your phone is in Silent mode and won't play notification sounds. Also check the volume slider in Sounds & Haptics to make sure it's not all the way down. If you chose None as the sound, notifications will be silent by design.

Can I use a song from my music library as a notification sound?

Not directly through Settings. You can only use Apple's built-in tones or custom ringtones you've created. To make a custom ringtone from a song, you'll need to use a computer with iTunes or GarageBand, or use a third-party app designed for creating ringtones. Once created, it will appear in your notification sound list.

How do I change notification sounds for text messages from one person?

Open the Messages app, find the conversation with that person, swipe left on their name, tap More (the three dots), then tap Edit. Look for a Notifications or Sound option in that conversation's settings. Not all iPhone versions support per-contact notification sounds in Messages, so this option may not appear.

Will changing my notification sound affect my ringtone?

No. Your ringtone (the sound when someone calls you) is separate from notification sounds. To change your ringtone, go to Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Ringtone at the top of the list. Notification sounds and ringtones are controlled independently.

What if an app's notification sound won't change?

Some apps override iPhone's notification settings and control their own sounds completely. Open the app itself, find its Settings or Preferences, and look for Notifications or Sound options there. If the app doesn't have its own sound settings, you may only be able to turn notifications off or on, not change the sound.