To give different apps—or different alert types within an app—their own sounds on a recent Samsung Galaxy, enable Manage notification categories for each app if needed, then change the sound for the relevant category in that app’s notification settings.
Turn on notification categories if the setting is missing
- Open Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings.
- Turn on Manage notification categories for each app if the switch is available and off.
On newer software, this setting may need to be enabled before category-level controls appear. Menu names and availability can vary by model and software version; Samsung notes that “Device screenshots and menus may vary depending on the device model and software version.” Samsung’s instructions for setting app notification sounds show the official workflow.
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Choose a sound for an app
- Open Settings > Apps, then select the app you want to customize.
- Tap Notifications, then Notification categories.
- Select the category whose alert sound you want to change.
- Tap Sound and choose a tone.
Repeat these steps for other categories or apps. Category names and options depend on the app; changing one category does not necessarily change every alert from that app. A Samsung Community walkthrough demonstrates the category-level workflow on a UK Galaxy Z Flip6 running One UI 6.1.1, but its screenshots and examples are not a guarantee that every Galaxy has identical menus.
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- Check that notifications are enabled for the app in its Settings > Apps > [app] > Notifications screen.
- Return to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings and check whether Manage notification categories for each app is available and switched on.
- Look for category controls within the app’s notification settings. The app may not expose the category you want, and some apps manage particular alerts in their own settings.
Samsung Community moderator guidance also describes enabling category management before selecting a category and choosing its sound: Samsung Community notification-sound guidance. The available controls still depend on the app and device software.
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Use a custom sound file
If you prefer a sound that is not in the built-in list, Samsung’s support guide describes copying an audio file into the device’s Notifications folder using My Files. Then return to the category’s Sound menu and select the file. Samsung’s guide does not establish a complete list of supported audio formats, so format compatibility may vary.
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- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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Built-in tone or custom audio?
| Choice | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Built-in tone | Choose from the available tones in the category’s Sound menu; no file management is needed. |
| Custom audio | Copy a chosen file into the Notifications folder with My Files, then select it from the sound list. The supported format range is not fully specified in Samsung’s guide. |
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