Sometimes, the simplest problems on your smartphone can be the most confusing ones to fix. Users often report that their smartphone does not alert them with a ringing sound upon receiving a text message. An issue as basic as this can arise due to a number of reasons, making it incredibly confusing to fix. In this article, we bring you 14 simple methods to fix the ‘Text message notification sound not working’ issue on an Android smartphone.
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In This Article
Here’s why your phone isn’t pinging for texts
There are several reasons why the text message notification sound may not be working on your Android smartphone. Here are some of the common causes.
- Silent mode is enabled
- Certain conversations are muted
- Notifications from the Messages app are disabled
- The native Messages app is not set as the default app for texting
- The cache of the Messages app is corrupted
- A third-party app is interfering with the Messages app
- You’re using an older Android version
Allow sound and vibration for text messages
You may not be receiving notification sounds for text messages because you disabled ringing alerts for the Messaging app. Here’s how you can allow sound and notifications for text messages.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Apps.
Step 3: Select the default Messages app.
Step 4: Tap on Notifications.
Step 5: Select Allow sound and vibration.
Your text messages will not be delivered quietly anymore.
Unmute conversations from the Messages app
Muted conversations do not deliver notifications every time the sender sends you a text. Here’s how you can unmute a conversation.
Step 1: Open the Messages app.
Step 2: Long-press on the muted conversation.
Step 3: Tap Notifications.
The conversation will be unmuted.
Check your phone’s notification volume
It is possible your smartphone is on the ‘loud’ sound profile, but the notification and alert sounds are muted. Here’s how you can check if the notification sound is enabled.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Select Sounds and vibration.
Step 3: Tap on Volume.
Step 4: Turn the volume bar up for Notifications.
Use the volume slider
Instead of accessing the settings (as mentioned in the previous method), you can also simply press the volume key and tap on the ellipses on the volume bar. This will show you the volume status of music, notifications, ringtones, and system sounds. Simply press and hold the volume bar for notifications and turn it up.
Check the Alert Slider
Certain smartphones have an Alert Slider to toggle different sound profiles. It is quite easy to move the slider and put your phone in silent mode. Make sure that the slider is in the correct position to rectify this error. If your smartphone has a Plus key or Action button, long-press it to go back to a loud sound profile.
Turn off ‘Do Not Disturb’
Your Android smartphone’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature hides all the notifications and alerts when it is turned on. When your phone is on DND, you will neither receive any notification popups nor the notification sounds for text messages. To disable DND, simply drag the drop-down menu and tap on DND.
Make the native Messages app the default messaging app
If you use a third-party app for messaging, it may cause a conflict with the native messaging app and start malfunctioning. This may result in undelivered notifications or no sound alerts for incoming messages. To fix this, make the native Messages app your default messaging app. Here’s how.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Apps.
Step 3: Select the default ‘Messages’ app.
Step 4: Tap on ‘Messaging app’ under the defaults section.
Step 5: Select the native Messages app.
Clear cache
Clearing the cache will get rid of any corrupted temporary files that may be causing the Messages app to act up. Here’s how you can clear the cache.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Apps.
Step 3: Select the default ‘Messages’ app.
Step 4: Tap on Storage.
Step 5: Select Clear Cache.
Force Quit the Messages app
Force-quitting and restarting the Messages app can fix the background issues that may be causing it to deliver notifications quietly. Here’s how you can go about it.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select Apps.
Step 2: Tap on Messages.
Step 3: Select Force Quit.
Disconnect all Bluetooth devices
With TWS and wireless neckbands replacing wired headphones as the primary audio gear for your smartphone, it is all too common to forget that they are paired to the device. Some wireless earbuds may not automatically disconnect from your phone even after they are placed in the charging case with the lid shut off. Since they are still connected to the device, the notification sounds will not be audible to you. Make sure you disconnect all Bluetooth-driven headphones and earbuds once you encounter this issue.
Restart your smartphone
Oftentimes, some temporary glitches get in the way of the most basic functions in your smartphone. These glitches can be fixed by a simple reboot. To restart your smartphone, simply press and hold the power button and select ‘Restart’.
Reset App Preferences
Resetting the app preferences on your device is the quickest way to restore all apps to their default settings without performing a factory reset. Carrying out this step will ensure that any app-related malfunction doesn’t get in the way of the smooth functioning of your device. To reset app settings, go to Settings>Apps and tap on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen. Select ‘Reset app preferences’.
Update your smartphone
Step 1: Connect your phone to a WiFi network and plug in its charger.
Step 2: Go to Settings and select Software update.
Step 3: Tap on Download and Install. Your smartphone will check for any new updates.
Step 4: If an update is available, tap on Install Now. You can also schedule the update for a later time.
Factory reset your smartphone
As a last-ditch measure to fix the ‘text message notification sounds not working’ issue, you can factory reset your smartphone. Make sure you create a backup of your data before this step.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select About Phone.
Step 2: Select Backup & reset and tap on Erase all data (factory reset).
Step 3: In the following window, select Delete all data from the bottom of the screen.
Step 4: Enter your smartphone’s PIN, pattern, or password.
Step 5: Tap OK on all backup warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the text message notification sound not working on my Android phone?
Your phone kills text message notification sounds when it is put into DND mode. You also may not be able to hear text message notifications when the Messages app isn’t the default messaging app or when its notifications are put on mute.
Why is my phone not notifying me when I get text messages?
If the notifications for the Messages app on your phone are disabled, it will not ping you for any incoming texts. The same applies to muted conversations.
How do I change my text message notification sound on Android?
To change your phone’s text message notification tone, go to Settings>Sounds and Vibration> Notification sound.
How do I turn on text message notifications?
To turn on text message notifications on your Android phone, go to Settings>Apps>Messages> Notifications and switch on the toggle bar for Allow Notifications.
How do I unmute a conversation in the Messages app?
Launch the Messages app, long-press the muted conversation, and hit the loudspeaker icon at the top of the screen.
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Conclusion
These are the 14 best and simplest methods to fix the ‘Text message notification sound not working’ issue on an Android smartphone. Got any other ways of fixing this problem? Let us know in the comments!
