# Can I set different alert/notification sounds for different contacts on an Android phone? If so, how **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419 "2018-04-14T17:12:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/1 "2018-04-14T17:12:32Z")
My phone: [Huawei Mate SE](https://consumer.huawei.com/us/phones/mate-se/specs/) Android 7.0 + EMUI 5.1(I see no difference from the EMUI contribution) I am using the default Android messaging app for texts. Is there a way to make different sounds chime for different users? I would like to hear a certain noise when texts are from my wife, for example. If not available in the default app., are there better texting apps that allow it? Note: I use Whatsapp as well, but that isn’t quite the same(??), I think. Unless I’m not understanding it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/2 "2018-04-14T17:37:23Z")
Yes you can. I have a Google Pixel phone but being Android I assume this process is the same for all Android phones. Go to Contacts and find the person whose ringtone you would like to change. Click on them. In the screen that appears (should be their name and number and whatever other details you have on them showing) click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner (… but like |). In there is a “Set ringtone” selection. Choose that, pick a ringtone and that’s it. For texts: Open your texting app. Type in a name as if you were going to text that person. Instead of entering text choose the three vertical dots in the upper right corner again (same as above). Click on “People & options”. On the screen that appears select “Notifications”. On the screen that appears choose “Sound”. Pick a sound. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/3 "2018-04-14T18:42:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Yes you can. > > I have a Google Pixel phone but being Android I assume this process is the same for all Android phones. > > Go to Contacts and find the person whose ringtone you would like to change. > > Click on them. > > In the screen that appears (should be their name and number and whatever other details you have on them showing) click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner (… but like |). > > In there is a “Set ringtone” selection. Choose that, pick a ringtone and that’s it. > For texts: > > Open your texting app. Type in a name as if you were going to text that person. Instead of entering text choose the three vertical dots in the upper right corner again (same as above). Click on “People & options”. On the screen that appears select “Notifications”. On the screen that appears choose “Sound”. Pick a sound. Ringtone definitely worked, but I don’t see the ability for my texts. When I click those three dots, I see: View Contact Edit before call Blacklist When I choose “view contact”, I can edit the default ringtone so my wife’s calls are different, but I don’t seen an option for texts to have a different chime. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/4 "2018-04-14T18:59:47Z")
> [@](#): > > In there is a “Set ringtone” selection. Sadly, no such option (Samsung Galaxy 5, standard software). ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/5 "2018-04-14T19:28:45Z")
Not available in the default messaging app, LG G3 Android 7.0. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/6 "2018-04-14T20:12:09Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Sadly, no such option (Samsung Galaxy 5, standard software). > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Not available in the default messaging app, LG G3 Android 7.0. Looks to be the case for some reason. I wouldn’t mind if I had a VIP listing of a handful of people that had a special chime. Anyone know of a better SMS app that would do this? I’m willing to pay a buck or two for a really nice one that has these kinds of features. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/7 "2018-04-15T03:38:06Z")
For a Samsung S5, you need to edit the contact and set the ringtone field to the desired tone and likewise for the message tone. If either of these field are not shown, you can touch “add another fleld”, select the desired field and then set them to the desired option. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/8 "2018-04-15T04:07:35Z")
I see it–thanks. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/9 "2018-04-15T04:09:28Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/10 "2018-04-15T14:43:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ringtone definitely worked, but I don’t see the ability for my texts. Does this have the answer? [https://devicehelp.singtel.com/huawei/mate-8-android-6-0/basic-functions/choose-message-tone/](https://devicehelp.singtel.com/huawei/mate-8-android-6-0/basic-functions/choose-message-tone/) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/11 "2018-04-15T15:33:08Z")
When I **Edit** a **Contact** (using the pencil icon), I get a screen where I can enter or change a whole bunch of things, including “Notification Sound.” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/12 "2018-04-15T22:24:41Z")
> [@J-P\_L](#): > > For a Samsung S5, you need to edit the contact and set the ringtone field to the desired tone and likewise for the message tone. > > If either of these field are not shown, you can touch “add another fleld”, select the desired field and then set them to the desired option. I did click add another filed and none seem to indicate message tone. > [@susan](#): > > I see it–thanks. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Does this have the answer? > > [https://devicehelp.singtel.com/huawei/mate-8-android-6-0/basic-functions/choose-message-tone/](https://devicehelp.singtel.com/huawei/mate-8-android-6-0/basic-functions/choose-message-tone/) No, that’s just how to change all texts to a different sound. I want one contact(my wife) to have a tone just for her. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > When I **Edit** a **Contact** (using the pencil icon), I get a screen where I can enter or change a whole bunch of things, including “Notification Sound.” Again, I get ringtone, but not text or notification sound. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-set-different-alert-notification-sounds-for-different-contacts-on-an-android-phone-if-so-how/812419/13 "2018-04-15T22:48:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Anyone know of a better SMS app that would do this? I’m willing to pay a buck or two for a really nice one that has these kinds of features. Doing a little Googling turned up [this article](https://www.theandroidsoul.com/custom-different-sms-notification-sound-for-contacts-on-galaxy-s8-s9-and-note-8/), which seems to apply to Samsung Galxy models, but which recommends a couple of SMS apps that might work for you.