However it’s really easy to replace notifications with longer ones. This guide explains how to download new tones to your Android phone and then change the message notification sound in the settings for the app.
Step 1. Download a Notification Sound
There are lots of websites where you can download free sounds you can use for notifications. My original Nokia 6300 uses a Morse ringtone (Morse Code for the letters “S” “M” “S”), so I used that. OK, I know it’s boring, but I instantly recognise it as being the notification for a text message rather than trying to differentiate it from all the other notification sounds on the phone. To start, Google “notification sounds” in your browser to find websites where you can download sounds. One such site is NotificationsSounds.com. Once you find a sound you like, download the Android version to your phone (or MP3 file if Android isn’t mentioned). Once download is complete, it’s put in the “Downloads” folder on your phone and you get a notification that you’ve downloaded a file.
Step 2. Access the Settings Menu for the Message App
There’s two ways of doing it—either launch the Settings app on your phone, choose the message app in Apps & notifications and then go to its settings, or alternatively, as I do below, launch the message app and then access its settings directly.
Step 3. Access the Notifications Section in the Settings Menu
Step 4. Add the Ringtone From the “Downloads” Folder
Once you tap on “Add Ringtone”, the default Android file manager app “Files” is launched (or whatever app you may have replaced it with). Files will default to displaying recent files; however, if it doesn’t, navigate to the “Downloads” folder by tapping on the three bar “hamburger” menu button at the top left of screen. Select the MP3 file you downloaded earlier. This makes a copy of the file in the “Notifications” folder and you can delete it from Downloads if you want. Once you select the ringtone, it’s added to the list in the sound menu in the message app. Choose it by tapping the circular checkbox and then tap “Done” Back out of the menus by tapping the “Home” button on your phone.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © Eugene Brennan © 2022 Eugene Brennan
