How do I use Google tones?

What are Google tones?
Google tones are audio signals that allow users to share URLs and other small bits of data between devices using soundwave encoding. They were developed by Google as an experimental feature that extends their Chrome browser. Google tones work by encoding data like a URL into an audio waveform using frequency shifting/encoding. This audio tone is then played through the speaker of one device and picked up by the microphone of another, decoding the data back into its original form.
For example, if you wanted to share a webpage with a friend, you could enable Google tones in Chrome and then click the tone icon on that page. This generates a unique tone that encodes the URL. Your computer plays this tone through its speakers. If your friend has Google tones enabled on their computer and it picks up the tone through its microphone, it will decode it and open the webpage you shared.
Some key examples of Google tones include sharing URLs, text snippets, QR codes, and even short messages. The digital data is encoded into an audio signal in the 18-20kHz range, inaudible to humans but detectable by most computer microphones. This allows data transmission via sound between devices in close proximity.
Enabling Google Tones
To enable Google tones on your Android device, you’ll need to adjust some settings in your phone. Here are the steps to turn on Google tones in your phone’s settings:
1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap on “Sound & vibration” or “Sounds & vibration.”
3. Look for the “Default notification sound” or “Notification sound” setting and tap on it.
4. You should now see a list of available notification sounds and tones. Scroll through and look for the “Google” tones.
5. Tap on the Google tone you want to set as your default. The Google tones have names like “Popcorn” and “Raspberry.”
6. Confirm your selection. This Google tone is now set as your default notification sound.
When you receive notifications going forward, your selected Google tone will play. You may need to go back into Sounds settings to set the Google tone as the default ringtone as well.
For more detailed steps, refer to Google’s guide on enabling Sound Notifications on your Android device.
Setting a Google Tone
Here are the steps to select and set a Google tone as your default ringtone, alarm, or notification sound:
- Open the Google Tones app on your Android device.
- Browse or search for the tone you want to set. Tones are organized into categories like Alerts, Alarms, Notifications, Ringtones, and more.
- Tap on the tone to preview it.
- In the tone details, tap “Set as” to set it as your default sound for either Ringtone, Alarm, or Notification.
- You’ll be prompted to confirm setting the tone. Tap “YES” to confirm.
- The tone will now be set as your default for the selected sound type.
You can repeat these steps to set different Google tones for your ringtone, alarm, and notification sounds if desired. Tones can be easily updated at any time by choosing a new one.
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Types of Google tones
Google offers a wide variety of tones that users can set as ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds on Android devices. The tones are categorized into different groups:
Nature sounds – These tones feature calming noises like ocean waves, rainfall, or bird songs. Setting one of these serene sounds as your ringtone can help create a peaceful environment.
Music tones – Google provides a selection of musical ringtones, from energetic pop songs to soothing classical melodies. Using a favorite tune as your ringtone allows you to add personality and customization.
TV & movie tones – Ringtones from popular TV shows, movies, or video games let you show off your fandom. Having the Star Wars theme or a clip from The Office as your ringtone displays your interests.
Funny/quirky tones – If you prefer a more playful vibe, tones like bird screeches, silly voices, or quirky sound effects add a touch of humor. These unique ringtones help your phone stand out.
Holiday tones – Google releases special holiday-themed tones around events like Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day. Festive ringtones help get you in the spirit.
Language tones – For multilingual users, Google offers ringtones and notifications spoken in different languages. Having your assistant speak in your native tongue makes your device more personalized.
No matter your interests or style, Google’s tone selection helps you customize your device with sounds that resonate with your personality.
Downloading new Google tones
You can find and download additional Google tones beyond the default ones that come pre-installed on your device. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Search for “Google tones” or “Google sounds.” This will display tone and sound packages published by Google.
3. Browse the available tone packages. Some popular ones include:
- Google Pixel Sounds: Contains ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds from Pixel devices (source)
- Google Assistant Sounds: Provides sounds and voices for Google Assistant including dings, pings, and speech voices
- Android System Sounds: Includes interface sounds like taps, clicks, and notifications from stock Android
4. Select a tone package to view details and listen to tone previews.
5. Download any packages you want by tapping “Install.” This will save the new tones to your device.
Downloaded Google tone packages can then be applied as ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds within your device’s sound settings.
Creating custom tones
One of the most popular features of Google tones is the ability to create custom ringtones using your own audio files. This allows you to set any short audio clip, song, or recording as your ringtone. To create a custom tone on your Pixel phone:
1. Open the Files app and locate the audio file you want to use. This can be a song you purchased, an MP3 recording, or any other short audio clip. Make sure the file is saved on your device storage or SD card.
2. Open the Google Tones app. Tap on “Add tone” at the bottom.
3. Select the audio file from your file explorer. Google Tones will automatically convert it into a ringtone file.
4. You can trim the audio clip if needed. Tap “Save” when done.
5. The custom tone will now appear in your list of ringtones and you can select it as your default ringtone or for specific contacts.
The key is making sure you have the audio file ready before starting. Custom tones must be <40 seconds long. For best quality, use MP3 or M4A files. This provides an easy way to personalize ringtones on Pixel devices using your own audio files (source).
Managing tones
You can organize, delete, and back up your Google tones through the Sounds app on your Android device. To access your tones, open the Sounds app and select Notifications. Here you can view all of your current notification tones and sounds.
To delete a tone, press and hold on the tone you want to remove. This will bring up the option to delete. Tap Delete to confirm removing the tone.
To back up your customized tones, connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable. Open the File Manager app on your device and navigate to the Internal Storage/Notifications folder. Here you will find the audio files for any custom tones you have added. Copy these files to your computer to back them up.
You can also organize tones into groups using folders. Press and hold on a tone and select Add to folder. Choose an existing folder or create a new one. This allows you to categorize tones and find them more easily.
Regularly backing up and organizing your Google tones ensures you have them saved in case you get a new device or delete them by accident. The Sounds app makes it simple to manage all of your notification tones and sounds.
Troubleshooting tones
If you are having issues with Google tones not working properly, here are some tips to try:
Make sure your device meets the minimum requirements – your device needs a microphone and internet connection for tones to work.
Check that the microphone on your device is not muted or obstructed. Remove any case or cover that may be blocking the microphone.
Make sure you are in a relatively quiet environment without too much background noise. Google tones may not work well in very noisy or echoey spaces.
Check your internet connection is stable. Tones rely on an internet connection to function, so an unstable connection can cause issues.
Restart your device and try activating tones again. This can reset any temporary glitches.
Ensure your device software and the Google app are up to date. Outdated software can sometimes disrupt tones.
As a last resort, you can try uninstalling updates to the Google app, which will reset tones to default settings.
If issues persist after trying these troubleshooting tips, you may need to contact Google support for further help.
Comparable Tone Services
There are a few comparable services that offer ringtones, notification sounds, and other audio tones for your device.
One popular alternative is iPhone ringtones in the default Apple Sounds app. This comes preloaded on iPhones and offers a variety of ringtones and notification sounds to choose from. While the selection is limited compared to third-party apps, it is simple to use and integrated into iOS.
Another option is Zedge, which is a popular ringtone and wallpaper app. Zedge has a large library of free ringtones, notification sounds, alarm tones, and more to choose from across various categories. You can browse popular tones or search for specific sounds. Zedge also makes it easy to download and set tones on both Android and iOS devices.
There are also apps like GarageBand that allow you to create your own custom ringtones and notification sounds from scratch. This gives you full creative control. Apps like Audacity can also be used to edit and remix audio to make unique tones.
While Google tones may have limited options compared to alternatives, its deep integration with Android and ease of use makes it a convenient choice for many users. The ability to quickly access tones tied to your Google account is a benefit.
Tips for using Google tones
Here are some best practices for picking, setting, and managing Google tones:
When picking a tone, consider your audience and the context where you’ll use the tone. For formal situations, choose a professional or neutral tone. For informal contexts, pick a casual, conversational tone. Match the tone to the setting.
To set a tone in the Google Tones app, tap the “+” icon, select a tone, customize the message if desired, and tap “Set as Default” to make it your current tone. You can quickly switch between tones in the app.
Manage your tones by editing, deleting, or reordering them in the Google Tones app. Keep your list organized so you can easily find the right tone for each situation. Disable tones you no longer need by tapping the toggle next to the tone name.
Check your Google Tone settings periodically to make sure you have the right tone enabled for your current context. Don’t forget to change tones as you move between formal and informal settings.
See Google’s tone guidelines for more tips on writing natural, friendly, and engaging content for your tones.