How do I make my Android notifications louder?

Notifications are an essential part of the Android user experience, allowing users to stay informed about new messages, app updates, calendar events and more. However, a common complaint from Android users is that notification sounds can often be too quiet or soft, causing users to miss important alerts.

According to a 2021 report, the average Android user receives around 46 app notifications per day. With such a high volume of notifications, having them be loud and clear is crucial for not missing anything important. However, factors like phone settings, app settings, media volume, phone hardware, accessories used and ambient noise can all affect notification volume and cause alerts to be less audible.

The good news is there are a number of ways Android users can amplify notification sounds or switch to more effective alert options. This guide will provide tips on maximizing notification volume through phone settings, apps, accessories and troubleshooting techniques.

Check Notification Settings

The first step in making Android notifications louder is to check your notification settings. The sound volume for notifications is separate from your device’s media volume, which means you can customize the volume for notifications specifically. To adjust notification settings:

Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Advanced. Or from your home screen, swipe down to access quick settings and tap the settings cog. This will open the main Settings menu.

In Sound & vibration settings, tap ‘Default notification sound’ and choose a loud ringtone or alert sound you want to use for notifications. You can also tap ‘Vibration intensity’ to increase the strength of vibration.

Additionally, tap ‘Do Not Disturb’ to specify hours when you don’t want to receive any notifications or alerts. And if there are specific apps you want to control notifications for, tap ‘App notifications’ to customize those settings.

Checking these core notification settings will help boost the sound for all alerts on your Android device.

Adjust Media Volume

One easy way to make your Android notifications louder is by adjusting the media volume. The media volume controls the volume level for music, videos, games, and notification sounds.

To adjust media volume:

1. Press the volume buttons on the side of your Android phone.
2. This will show the volume slider on screen.
3. Drag the slider to increase the media volume to your desired level.

Setting media volume to maximum will make notification sounds as loud as possible. Just keep in mind that increasing media volume also affects music and video playback volume.

You can toggle the media volume buttons between controlling ringtone or media volume in your Android settings. Make sure they are set to control media volume if you want to use them to make notifications louder.

Install a Volume Booster App

One way to make notifications and other audio louder on your Android phone is to install a volume booster app. These types of apps can amplify the overall volume output beyond the max volume level set within your phone’s settings.

Some popular volume booster apps for Android include Volume Booster GOODEV, Volume Booster – Sound Booster, and others. These apps can boost volume anywhere from 20-100% louder than your device’s max volume level.

The way volume booster apps work is by modifying the audio stream before it’s output to the speakers or headphones. They amplify the gain to make everything louder. This allows you to increase notification volume higher than what is normally possible through the system settings.

Just be aware that using these apps to blast audio at very high volumes can damage your hearing over time. It’s best to find a reasonable volume boost that works for your needs. Also note that volume booster apps may not work with certain audio streams from some apps.

Customize App Notifications

Each app’s notifications can be customized individually in your Android device’s Settings. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Tap “Notifications”.
3. This will bring up a list of all the apps installed on your device. Tap on the app you want to customize notifications for.
4. From here, you can customize various notification settings for that particular app, such as the notification sound, vibrate on/off, popup on/off, etc.
5. To change the notification sound for that app, tap “Sound” and select the desired sound you want that app’s notifications to use.
6. Make sure to tap “Back” after customizing each app to save your changes.
7. Repeat this process for any other apps you want to customize notification sounds for.

Doing this allows you to set a unique notification sound for important apps so you can easily identify notifications just by the sound. You can choose from default system sounds or use your own custom audio files.

According to this MakeUseOf article, some launchers like Nova Launcher also allow changing notification sounds without going into Settings.

Use a Loud Ringtone

One easy way to make your Android notifications louder is to set a loud ringtone sound for your notifications. The default notification sounds on many Android phones can be quiet, especially for alarms or reminders. Setting a loud, high quality ringtone as your default notification sound can help ensure you never miss an alert.

To change your default notification sound, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Default notification sound. Browse the built-in ringtones to find one that is loud enough for your needs. You can also install a third-party ringtone app like Zedge to access a wider selection of loud ringtones to use.

Some good loud ringtone options to try include alarm siren sounds, loud bell rings, or emergency alert tones. Just make sure to pick one that is loud enough to grab your attention, but not so disruptive that it annoys people around you in public.

Testing out a few different loud ringtones first before settling on a default is recommended. Check that you can hear the ringtone at a reasonable volume even when your phone is on silent/vibrate mode. This ensures it will break through and be noticeable even if your phone is set to mute. Setting a loud ringtone can make a big difference in not missing important notifications.

Turn on Vibrate

One way to make notifications louder on Android is to enable vibrate to accompany the notification sounds. When vibrate is turned on, your phone will vibrate along with playing the notification sound. This can help make notifications more noticeable, especially if you often miss hearing the audio alone.

To enable vibrate for notifications on Android:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Sound & vibration > Vibrate for calls and notifications.
• Toggle the switch on for “Also vibrate for calls” and “Also vibrate for notifications.”

Now when you receive a notification, your phone will vibrate in addition to playing a sound. The vibration feedback can help make notifications more perceptible. This is useful if you have difficulty hearing the audio from notifications.

You can customize the vibration intensity and pattern for different apps as well. Under Sound & vibration settings, tap Vibration intensity or Vibration pattern to customize vibrations.

Enabling vibrate is a simple way to make notifications more noticeable on Android phones. The vibration pairing with notification sounds can help you never miss an alert.

Get a Hearing Aid

If you have hearing loss, getting a hearing aid compatible with Android devices can help amplify notification sounds. Many modern hearing aids connect via Bluetooth and can pair directly with Android phones.

Some top options for Android-compatible hearing aids include the Orka Two, TruHearing Flyte, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Beltone, Starkey, and Widex. These devices allow you to not only amplify notification alerts, but also stream audio from your Android device for calls, music, and more.

Made for Android hearing aids like the LiNX Quattro and Starkey Livio AI directly connect to Android phones without needing an extra device. This allows for easy control and streaming.

Getting hearing aids fitted for your level of hearing loss can significantly boost notification volume. Consult an audiologist to find the best Android-compatible hearing aids tailored to your needs.

Troubleshoot Issues

If your Android notification sounds are quieter than expected even after adjusting volume settings, there may be an underlying issue. Some things to check include:

Check for hardware problems: Your phone’s speaker or microphone may be dusty or damaged, preventing full volume. Inspect your mobile device for cracks or openings, then clean it with compressed air and see if volume improves.

Restart the device: Software bugs may result in muted notifications. Restart your Android to refresh all settings and ensure the operating system is working properly (source).

Update apps and system software: Outdated versions can cause compatibility issues leading to notification sound problems. Make sure you’re running the latest Android OS and your apps are updated (source).

Disable battery optimization: Android’s battery saving features will sometimes restrict an app’s background activities like sending notifications. Turn off these optimizations to restore notification noise.

Factory reset device: As a last resort, backing up your data and wiping your phone can resolve persistent problems with notification sounds. Reinstall your must-have apps afterward and check if volume works normally.

Summary

There are a few key steps you can take to make your Android notifications louder:

• Adjust the media volume in your phone’s sound settings – this controls notification volumes.
• Install a third party volume booster app from the Play Store for even louder volumes.
• Customize the notification volumes for individual apps in the app settings.
• Set a loud ringtone for your notifications.
• Enable vibrate to add physical feedback when notifications come in.

By tweaking these options, you should be able to increase your Android notification volumes to a comfortable level. Just remember that extremely loud volumes can damage your hearing over time, so find a volume that works for you while still protecting your ears.