**Introduction**
Video Tutorial:
How to Change Gmail Notification Sound on Android
Gmail has over 1.5 billion monthly active users, which makes it one of the most popular email services in the world. On Android devices, Gmail comes pre-installed and its notification sound is set to the default sound of the device. If you’re someone who receives a lot of emails on a daily basis, this default notification sound can quickly become monotonous. Moreover, it may be hard to differentiate between important work emails and not-so-important personal emails if the same sound notification is set for all. In such cases, you might want to change the Gmail notification sound on your Android phone to something that stands out and is easily distinguishable.
**The Challenge of Changing Gmail Notification Sound on Android**
Unfortunately, changing Gmail notification sound isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Unlike other third-party email apps, Gmail doesn’t offer an option to change the notification tone from within the app settings. In fact, even Android’s system settings don’t provide a direct option to change the notification sound for Gmail.
However, fret not! In this article, we will explore different methods that will help you change Gmail notification sound on Android. We’ll also address some common issues that might prevent you from changing the notification sound and provide solutions for each.
**Things You Should Prepare for**
Before we move to the methods, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare:
1. A phone running Android OS
2. Gmail app installed on the phone
3. A sound file that you want to set as the new notification tone
**Method 1: Using Gmail Settings**
One way to change Gmail notification sound on Android is to use the Gmail app settings. The steps to do this are:
1. Open Gmail app on your Android phone
2. Tap on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner
3. Scroll down and select ‘Settings’
4. Tap on the Gmail account for which you want to change the notification sound
5. Under the ‘Notifications’ section, tap on ‘Sound’
6. Select the sound file you want to set as the new notification tone from the list
Pros:
– Easy to use
– Can be done directly within the app
Cons:
– Limited to built-in notification sounds within the Gmail app
– Inconsistent results across different Android devices
**Method 2: Using Custom Notification Sounds**
If you couldn’t find the sound you want to set as the Gmail notification sound in the built-in sound list in the Gmail app, you can still change the notification sound using your device’s system settings. Here’s how:
1. Download and save the sound file you want to use as the notification tone to your device’s internal storage. Alternatively, you can record your own custom sound using a voice recorder app
2. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your Android phone
3. Scroll down and select ‘Apps & notifications’
4. Select ‘Gmail’ from the list of apps
5. Tap on ‘App notifications’
6. Under the ‘Categories’ section, select ‘Incoming email’
7. Tap on ‘Sound’
8. Choose ‘Add new’ if the desired sound isn’t in the list of sounds
9. Select the sound file from your device’s internal storage
Pros:
– Allows you to use any sound file on your device
– Applies to all incoming Gmail notifications on your device
Cons:
– A bit more complicated than using the Gmail app settings
– The sound file selected can’t be directly previewed within the Gmail app interface
**Method 3: Using Third-Party Apps**
If the above two methods aren’t working for you, you can use third-party apps to set custom sound notification for Gmail. Here’s how:
1. Download and install a third-party notification manager app from the Google Play Store. Some popular apps include ‘Zedge’, ‘Notification Sounds’, and ‘New Notification Sounds’
2. Open the notification manager app and browse through the list of available notification sounds
3. Once you’ve found the sound you’d like to set as the Gmail notification sound, tap on it and select ‘Set as notification tone’
4. Open the Gmail app and go to ‘Settings’
5. Under the ‘Notifications’ section, select ‘Sound’
6. Tap on ‘Default notification sound’
7. Select the notification manager app you just installed from the list of apps
8. Choose the sound you’d like to set as the Gmail notification sound from the list of available notification sounds in the app
Pros:
– Allows you to browse a wide range of notification sounds across different categories
– Works for other apps as well, in case you want to set custom notification tones for multiple apps
Cons:
– Requires an additional app to be installed
– Some third-party apps may contain ads/commercials
**Why Can’t I Change Gmail Notification Sound on Android?**
1. Device-specific issue: Some Android devices may have restrictions that prevent users from changing notification sounds for certain system apps like Gmail. In such cases, users may require root access to bypass these restrictions.
2. Gmail app update: Sometimes, updating the Gmail app can cause the notifications settings to reset to default. To verify this, check if the settings have been reset after an app update.
3. Incorrect Gmail account selection: Make sure that you’re selecting the correct Gmail account that you want to change notification sound for and not the other linked accounts.
**Additional Tips**
1. Always make sure that the sound file you’re selecting is in the proper format (i.e mp3, wav, ogg, etc.) and not corrupted.
2. Consider using a sound file that is easily distinguishable from other system sounds to ensure you don’t confuse it with other app notifications.
3. In-app notifications may completely override the Android system settings, so changing the notification sound within the Gmail app may be the only way to affect in-app notifications.
4. If you’re still unable to configure the notification sound, consider reaching out to Google support for further assistance.
**5 FAQs about Changing Gmail Notification Sound on Android**
Q1: Why does my Android phone not have the option to change notification sounds for Gmail?
A: Some Android devices may have restrictions that prevent users from changing notification sounds for certain system apps like Gmail. In such cases, users may require root access to bypass these restrictions.
Q2: Why can I not see the sound file I want to use in the list of available sounds in the Gmail app?
A: The sound file selected may not be in the right format or might be corrupted. Confirm that the file is in the appropriate format and isn’t damaged.
Q3: Why does my notification sound reset to the default sound even after I’ve set it to a custom sound?
A: Sometimes, updating the Gmail app can cause the notifications settings to reset to default.
Q4: Can I set a different notification sound for different Gmail labels?
A: Gmail’s native notification settings don’t permit custom notification sounds for individual labels. However, some third-party notification managers enable you to set unique notification sounds for specific emails.
Q5: Can I use a song from my music library as a custom notification tone for Gmail?
A: Yes, you can use any sound file stored on your device’s internal storage or SD card – this includes songs from your music library.
**In Conclusion**
While setting a custom notification sound for some apps on Android is a breeze, Gmail is a different story. With no direct option in the app settings, users need to find alternative methods to change the notification sound. Fortunately, with the methods outlined in this article, you should be able to modify your notification sound to your liking, even if some are more complicated than others. Remember, the key to mastering any Android task is to have patience and perseverance.