How to change the alert sound and its volume on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Short answer

Open System Settings and click Sound. Under Sound Effects, choose a sound from the Alert sound menu. It plays when you select it, so you hear what it sounds like. Drag the Alert volume slider to make alerts quieter or louder than the rest.

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26
App: System Settings
Path: System Settings › Sound › Alert sound and Alert volume
Real screenshots: 5 of 5 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

The alert sound is the short tone a Mac plays when something needs your attention or cannot be done. You can pick another tone and give it its own volume. Apple explains that the alert volume is relative to the output volume: if you lower the Mac volume, alerts get quieter too.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Step by step

Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Click Sound in the sidebar
Sound is in the group with Notifications and Focus. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Done
Choose the alert sound
Click the menu in the Alert sound row. In the picture it is set to Boop. The play button at the right plays it again.
Done
Set the alert volume
Drag the Alert volume slider.
Done
Choose where alerts play
Play sound effects through decides which output device plays them. In the picture it is Selected Sound Output Device.
Done