How to Set Specific Text Tone for a Contact on Android 2023

Android has a plethora of messaging apps if you don’t like the default one. Many users switch to third-party SMS apps so that they can set a custom tone for individual contacts. However, you don’t need to install any third-party app to do this. The setting is built into most Android phones. The only downside is that it is lightly buried and you have to search for it. So that’s why we’re going to help you.

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Assigning a different messaging tone to individual contacts helps identify the person who sent the message without looking or touching your phone. It comes in handy when you use the SMS app to send messages to different kinds of people, such as your friends, acquaintances or coworkers. You know who sent a message just by the message notification tone.

Let’s see how to set custom message notification tone for contacts on Android phones from Google, Samsung and OnePlus.

How to set a custom message tone on the Google Messages app

Android Messages or Google Messages, Google’s messaging app, is installed on most Stock Android phones. It can also be installed on other phones from Play Store.

Here are the steps to assign a message tone to individual contacts:

Step 1: Launch the Android Messages app and open the chat whose text tone you want to change.

2nd step: Tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner and select Details.

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Step 3: Tap Notifications.

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Step 4: Tap on Advanced. Under Advanced, tap Sound. Choose the notification tone you want to use for this particular contact. Repeat the steps for the other contacts and assign a different dial tone to each contact.

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How to set a custom message tone on Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung offers messaging tone adjustment in a better way compared to others. Here’s how to assign different message tone to contacts on Samsung Galaxy phones:

Step 1: Launch the Samsung Messages app. Open the conversation with the contact whose dial tone you want to change.

2nd step: Tap the three-dot icon and select Notification sound. Select the tone you want to use.

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Pro tip: You can set wallpaper, pin a conversation, and do other cool things in Samsung Messages. Check out 6 Samsung text messaging settings to use it like a pro. If you don’t like Samsung messages, find out how Samsung Messages compares to Android Messages and how to forward messages to Android Messages app.

How to set a custom message tone on OnePlus phones

Follow these steps to set a custom message tone on OnePlus.

Step 1: Launch the OnePlus SMS app on your phone. Open the chat of the person you want to set a different tone. If there is no previous chat history, compose a message.

2nd step: Tap the three dots icon at the top. Choose People and Options.

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Step 3: Tap Notifications.

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Step 4: You will be taken to the notification category screen. Tap Sound and assign a dial tone to the selected contact. If you can’t see the sound directly, tap Advanced> Sound.

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Also on Guiding Tech

Bonus Tip 1: How to Customize Other Message Settings for Contacts

In addition to setting a separate notification tone for contacts, you can use the settings above to mute a contact or toggle vibration on / off for messages. You can even customize notification badges for individual contacts and choose whether SMS content should show on the lock screen or not. Check out our guide on how to hide sensitive content on the lock screen on Android.

Bonus Tip 2: How to Change Message Tone for All Contacts on Android

If you want to assign a different text tone to all contacts, you need to change the tone for messages on your phone.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the settings on your phone and go to Apps or Installed apps.

2nd step: Find your messaging app. Tap on it.

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Step 3: Tap Notifications. Now, depending on your handset, things will be slightly different here. If you have a dual SIM phone, you will see SIM 1 and SIM 2. Tap the SIM card you want to dial. On other phones, you will see advanced or incoming messages. Tap on it.

Pro tip: In the app settings, wherever you see a bar standing before the toggle, it indicates that you can access more settings in the option. So tap on it to reveal additional settings.

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Tap Sound. If you see Advanced, tap it, followed by Sound. Choose a tone for your incoming messages under Sound.

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Then:

Is text messaging sound not working on your Android phone? Find out how to fix the message notification tone issue from the following link.

Last updated Oct 1, 2020

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