To change Google Calendar notification sound, open the Google Calendar app on your device, go to Settings, select the specific calendar, tap Notifications, and pick a new sound from the list.
How to change Google Calendar notification sound on Android
If you're tired of the default alert and want something more distinctive, changing the notification sound in the Android app takes less than a minute. This is especially useful if you rely on calendar alerts while your phone is on silent or in a noisy environment, because a custom tone can cut through more effectively.
- Open the Google Calendar app on your Android device.
- Tap the three-line menu icon in the top-left corner to open the sidebar.
- Scroll down and select "Settings."
- Tap the calendar you want to customize (for example, your primary calendar or a work calendar).
- Tap "Notifications."
- Under the "Sound" section, tap the current notification sound to open the sound picker.
- Select a new sound from the list; you can preview each one by tapping it.
- Tap the back arrow to save your changes.
Repeat these steps for any other calendars you use if you want different sounds for different event types. Note that the available sounds depend on your Android device model and the Google Calendar app version. If the built-in options aren't enough, you can install a third-party sound app from the Play Store and pick a custom tone from there.
How to change Google Calendar notification sound on iPhone
On an iPhone, the process is nearly identical to Android, but the menu layout has slight differences. Changing the sound here is handy if you want to distinguish calendar alerts from other app notifications without checking your phone every time.
- Launch the Google Calendar app on your iPhone.
- Tap the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
- Scroll down and select "Settings."
- Tap the calendar you want to customize.
- Tap "Notifications."
- Under the "Sound" section, tap the current notification sound to open the picker.
- Choose a new sound from the available options, tap any sound to hear a preview.
- Tap the back arrow in the top-left corner to save.
Your new sound applies immediately to that calendar. As with Android, the list of available tones depends on your iPhone model and the app version. If you don't see a sound you like, you can download a sound app from the App Store to expand your choices.
Can you change the notification sound on Google Calendar web?
When you use Google Calendar in a browser, event reminders rely on your operating system's notification system, so the sound you hear is controlled by Windows or macOS, not by Google Calendar itself. To change what you hear on a computer, you need to adjust the system notification sound.
On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions, then click "Notification sound" and pick a different tone from the dropdown. On macOS, open System Settings > Notifications, select the app that delivers the calendar alert (often Google Chrome or your default browser), and choose a sound from the list. This workaround gives you full control over the alert tone, even though the change happens outside Google Calendar.
Troubleshooting notification sound issues
If you've changed the sound but still hear the old one, the problem is usually not with Google Calendar itself but with how your device handles notifications. Here are the most common fixes to try.
First, check your system volume and make sure your device isn't in silent or Do Not Disturb mode. On Android, open your phone's Settings, go to Sound & vibration, and confirm that notification volume is turned up. On iPhone, check the Ring/Silent switch on the side of the device and ensure Do Not Disturb is off.
On Android, a frequent culprit is notification channels. Go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Google Calendar > Notifications, tap the specific channel you're hearing, and verify the sound is set to your new choice. Sometimes the app-level setting doesn't override the channel-level setting, so you need to update both.
If you're using a third-party sound app, confirm the sound file is stored locally on your device and isn't corrupted. Finally, restart the Google Calendar app or your device after making changes, as some Android versions cache notification settings and need a reboot to apply them.
