How to set custom message sounds for your contacts on Android

Customizing your message sounds may seem like a trivial feature, but it can be incredibly useful. A custom message sound can signal that you need to respond to an important notification, among other things. One sound you set yourself could mean that your boss is texting you after hours and you can ignore it, while another sound could mean that your wife is texting you and you should definitely check them right away. Whether you're using Google Messages — the default SMS app on most phones — a manufacturer version like the Samsung Messages app, or one of the third-party SMS texting apps like Textra or Pulse, setting a custom sound for a contact or conversation is easy, though you may find the setting in different places depending on the app or your phone.

How to set custom sounds in Google Messages

Google Messages is the standard messaging app for many Android phones these days, and it's available for free on Google Playif your phone doesn't have it pre-installed. Google Messages uses the "common" method for custom chat notifications, using the newer notification protocols implemented with Android Oreo.

1. Select the conversation for which you want to set a custom notification.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Click Details.
4. Tap Notifications.
5. Press Sound.
6. Select the desired sound.
7. Press OK or Saveif these options appear with the sound selection menu.

How to set custom sounds in Samsung Messages

Samsung Messages is getting a new look with the One UI update that brings Android Pie to Samsung devices, but the basic layout will be the same across all Oreo and Pie Samsung devices.

1. Select the conversation for which you want to set a custom notification.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Tap the toggle next to Custom notifications.
4. Tap the Custom notifications text .
5. Press Sound.
6. Select the desired sound.
7. Press the back arrow in the upper left corner of the screen.

If you can't find message sounds for specific conversations using these menus on a Samsung phone running Android Nougat or an older version, check the desired contact entry in the Samsung Contacts app.

How to set custom sounds in Pulse SMS

1. Select the desired conversation.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Go to Conversation settings.
4. Select Conversation Notification Customization.
5. Press Sound.
6. Select the desired sound.
7. Press the back arrow or OK or Save, if those options appear.

How to set custom sounds in Textra SMS

1. Select the desired conversation.
2. tap the downward-pointing arrow in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Select Customize this conversation.
4. Go to Notifications.
5. Select Notification Sound.
6. Select the desired sound.
7. Press OK.

How to set custom sounds in Mood Messenger

1. Select the desired conversation.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Press Options.
4. In the Notifications & Sounds section , select current tone .
5. At the top of the sound selection menu are three icons. Tap the bell icon to use the system notification selector to select a sound. You can also tap the microphone icon to record a phrase as a text sound, or the folder icon to select a ringtone via your file manager.
6. Select the desired sound.
7. Press OK.