How to Set Custom Notification Sound for Specific Contacts on WhatsApp

Quick Tips

• The steps to set custom notification sound for WhatsApp vary for Android and iOS, but the overall premise is the same.
• To set custom tones for all WhatsApp contacts or groups, open WhatsApp → Settings → Notifications → change the tones as preferred.
• If you want to customize tones for individual contact or group, open the chat → tap the name from top → Notification → change the tone.

Set Specific Tones on WhatsApp iOS

You can set different notification tones on WhatsApp for all contacts or groups and custom tones for individual contacts or groups.

Special Tone for All WhatsApp Contacts or Group 

Step 1: Open WhatsApp. Go to the Settings tab.

Step 2: Select Notifications.

Step 3: Open Sound under Message notifications for contacts and Group notifications for groups. Pick your preferred tone for normal messages.

Step 4: Select a relevant tone.

Specific Notification Tones for Individual Contacts or Group

Step 1: Launch WhatsApp. Open the chat thread for which you want to set a specific tone.

Step 2: Tap the contact/group name at the top. Select Notification from the menu

Step 3: Go to Alert Tone and select the custom tone you prefer.

Set Custom Sound for Contacts and Groups on WhatsApp for Android

Same as iOS, you can choose to change the default tone

Special Tone for All WhatsApp Contacts or Group 

WhatsApp for Android uses the default notification sound settings for individual contacts and groups. Here’s how to change them.

Step 1: Long-tap the WhatsApp icon. Tap the i button to open the app info menu.

Step 2: Open Notifications. It will open all WhatsApp notification channels.

Step 3: Select Message/Group notifications under Chats.

Step 4: Scroll to Sound and pick another tone from the following menu.

Custom Notification Tones for Individual Contacts or Group

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android. Select your preferred contact/group and tap the name to open the info menu.

Step 2: Open Custom notifications. Check the box for Use custom notifications and select the tone.

WhatsApp for Android offers more customization options. You can change the notification tone, vibrate type, and notification LED (if your phone supports it) and mark it as a high priority.

When you set selected notifications as a high priority, the Android shows previews of notifications at the top. The trick ensures you never miss notifications from important contacts on WhatsApp.

Set Custom Notification Sound on WhatsApp for Desktop

The ability to set a custom notification sound for a specific contact is available in WhatsApp for desktops too.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your computer. Select a chat thread and click the contact/group name at the top.

Step 2: Expand the Notification tone menu. Pick a different alert sound.