How to change the notification sound on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Sound and vibration › Notification

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Sound and vibration

   Open Settings and tap Sound and vibration: Volume and haptics.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Notification

   Scroll to Sound and vibration patterns, below Ringtone. Notification said Kernel / Classic short vibration on ours. Tap it.

   Done

3. 

   Open Pixel Sounds

   The top shows Currently set: Kernel, with Classic short vibration. Under Sound collections, tap one, such as Pixel Sounds, between My Sounds and Sound Matters.

   Done

4. 

   Pick a sound and tap Save

   Pixel Sounds said 25 available, with a Notification volume slider and Kernel ticked on ours. Tap a sound, then Save at the top right. There is no Cancel button: Back leaves without saving, which is what we did.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Called Default notification sound? Google's Pixel help names it Default notification sound under Sound & vibration. On our Pixel 10a with Android 17 it was the Notification row under Sound and vibration patterns. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet
• A different sound for one app? Google says you can choose different notification sounds for different apps, in the settings menu inside each app. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet

If this does not work

• New sound didn't stick? You probably went Back without tapping Save. Pick the sound again and tap Save at the top right. Source: Change volume, sound & vibrate settings on your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet
• Too quiet? Drag the Notification volume slider on the sound list to the right.
• No sound at all? Check Do Not Disturb and modes, then Pixel not getting notifications.

About this guide

The notification sound plays when an app alerts you. The Pixel has several collections of sounds to choose from.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. Ours was Kernel. We opened Pixel Sounds and backed out without tapping Save, so it is still Kernel.

Good to know

Vibrations, on the Notification page, changes the vibration; ours was Classic short vibration. See how to change vibration and haptics.

The ringtone works the same way: how to change the ringtone. Missed something? See notification history.

In short: Settings, Sound and vibration, Notification, pick a collection and a sound, tap Save.