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Custom notification sound for incoming text messages?

(Topic created: 07-08-2025 10:56 AM)
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terpsucka
Asteroid
Options
Galaxy S21

I recently had to switch from Textra to the Google stock messaging app in order to receive RCS messages.  I have a custom notification sound that I've always used for incoming texts, but I now cannot get it to work with the messaging app.  When I go through Settings->Notifications->App Notifications->Messages, there isn't a "notification sound" option. On this screen there's "notification categories", where it's chosen 4 contacts at random to let me choose sounds for, but there's no option to add categories, or for a default category.  If I click on "Configure in Messages" the "Notifications" options just takes me back to that same screen, and none of the other options apply to notifications.  Any ideas?

1 Solution


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Solution
realaud
Galactic Samsung Care Ambassador
Options
Galaxy S21

You  have to turn on notification categories first.  Settings/notifications/advanced settings/manage categories for all apps.  Turn this on.  Return to the messaging app, tap on notifications, tap on categories.  In the category list, select incoming messages and choose the sound. To set a sound for a specific chat, open the chat, go to details, select notifications and then choose the sound for that chat.  Chat sounds are not assigned per contact per se, but rather the chat itself as long as it's ongoing.  If you delete the chat, the sound goes with it, and you will have to configure it again if/when a new chat with the contact is initiated. 

If you want to delete the "random" chats that show up as categories, you have to delete the app data.  This will reset the app and you will have to do all your settings for the app over, including setting up RCS again.  Your messages will be untouched.  You are better off doing this before you set your custom sounds for the incoming messages and any other chats.  You can also just try deleting those particular chats.  However, if you want to keep those chat threads, deleting the data would be the way to go.

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4 Replies
Solution
realaud
Galactic Samsung Care Ambassador
Options
Galaxy S21

You  have to turn on notification categories first.  Settings/notifications/advanced settings/manage categories for all apps.  Turn this on.  Return to the messaging app, tap on notifications, tap on categories.  In the category list, select incoming messages and choose the sound. To set a sound for a specific chat, open the chat, go to details, select notifications and then choose the sound for that chat.  Chat sounds are not assigned per contact per se, but rather the chat itself as long as it's ongoing.  If you delete the chat, the sound goes with it, and you will have to configure it again if/when a new chat with the contact is initiated. 

If you want to delete the "random" chats that show up as categories, you have to delete the app data.  This will reset the app and you will have to do all your settings for the app over, including setting up RCS again.  Your messages will be untouched.  You are better off doing this before you set your custom sounds for the incoming messages and any other chats.  You can also just try deleting those particular chats.  However, if you want to keep those chat threads, deleting the data would be the way to go.

terpsucka
Asteroid
Options
Galaxy S21

Awesome, this did the trick.  Thank you so much!!

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Loislane1
Constellation
Options
Galaxy S21
Customize
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userLauf2RbGcV
Constellation
Options
Galaxy S21
Delete
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