Guide to Xperia Notifications
How to set the volume and mute your Xperia device
To set the volume for calls, notifications, media, and alarm
- Find and tap Settings → Sound.
- Use the sliders to set the volume for:
- Media (music, video, games, and other media)
- In-call
- Ring and notifications
- Alarm
Tip: You can also raise or lower the volume for a specific category by pressing the volume keys at the side of your Xperia device up or down when a sound is played - e.g., when your device is ringing or you listen to a music track or play a movie. The device will save the setting.
To mute the device
- Find and tap Settings → Sound.
- Drag the slider below Ring and notification volume to the left.
To activate or deactivate specific sounds and vibrations
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Advanced.
- Tap the different switches to turn the following features on or off:
- Dialpad tones
- Screen-locking sounds
- Charging sounds
- Touch sounds
- Touch vibration
Increasing the ringtone or media volume above the maximum
There is no way to raise the volume for the ringtone, notifications, alarms, games, or media above the set maximum. Some Xperia devices, however, feature different sound-enhancing technologies, which can increase the volume. The volume of sounds using a headset is not affected.
To activate ClearAudio+
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Audio settings.
- Tap the switch beside ClearAudio+ to turn the feature on.
To activate DSEE HX
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Audio settings.
- Tap the switch beside DSEE HX to turn the feature on.
- Xperia L4 does not support ClearAudio+ and DSEE HX
- Xperia 10 II does not support ClearAudio+
- Xperia 1 II, Xperia 5 II, Xperia PRO, Xperia 1 III, Xperia 10 III, Xperia 5 III, Xperia PRO-I, Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 5 IV & Xperia 10 IV do not support ClearAudio+ and DSEE HX. Xperia 1 II, Xperia 5 II, Xperia PRO, Xperia 1 III, Xperia 10 III, Xperia 5 III, Xperia PRO-I, Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 5 IV & Xperia 10 IV support DSEE Ultimate.
How to set ringtones for calls, messages, and emails
To set a ringtone
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Phone ringtone.
- Select a ringtone, then tap OK.
To set a music file (e.g. an mp3) as a ringtone
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Phone ringtone.
- Scroll down the list of ringtones, then tap + Add ringtone.
- Find and mark the music file you want to use, then tap OPEN.
- In the list of ringtones, select the music file you opened, then tap OK.
To delete a music file from the list of ringtones
- Find and tap Files → the menu icon (three horizontal lines) > your device's commercial name (for example, H8416).
- Tap Ringtones.
- Find and mark the music file you want to delete.
- Tap the wastepaper basket icon, then tap OK.
Note! If the device name is not shown in the Files menu, tap (three vertical dots) → Show internal storage.
To set a ringtone for an individual caller
- Find and tap Contacts.
- Find and tap the contact that you want to set a ringtone for.
- Tap the menu icon
(three vertical dots) → Set ringtone.
- Select a ringtone, then tap OK.
To set a general notification sound
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Notification sound.
- Select a sound, then tap OK.
How to enable notifications for email messages in the Gmail app
Android 10 or higher
To enable notifications for email messages in the Gmail app
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications / Apps → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Find and tap Gmail → Notifications.
- Tap the switch beside Show notifications/ All [Gmail account] notifications to turn the feature on.
To set up notifications for a specific email account in the Gmail app
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications / Apps → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Find and tap Gmail → Notifications.
- Under the relevant email account, tap the switch beside Show notifications/ All [Gmail account] notifications to turn the feature on.
- Tap Email/Mail → Behaviour to set up the notification sound behaviour.
- Tap Advanced to further set up the notifications for this email account.
Android 9
To enable notifications for email messages in the Gmail app
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Find and tap Gmail → Notifications.
- Tap the switch beside Show notifications to turn the feature on.
To set up notifications for a specific email account in the Gmail app
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Find and tap Gmail → Notifications.
- Under the relevant email account, tap the switch beside Show notifications to turn the feature on.
- Tap Email → Behaviour to set up the notification sound behaviour.
- Tap Advanced to further set up the notifications for this email account.
How to remove the notification icon for system software updates
The software update notification icon is designed to appear whenever there is new system software available.
In Android version 5.0 or higher, it is not possible to permanently deactivate the system software update notification. You can, however, deactivate it temporarily. The update notification will reappear after a restart of your Xperia device or if you search for an update manually.
Android 10 or higher
To temporarily remove the system software update notification icon
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications / Apps → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Tap the menu icon
- Find and tap Software update.
- Tap Storage & cache → CLEAR STORAGE.
Android 9
To temporarily remove the system software update notification icon
- Find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications → See all [number of apps] apps.
- Tap the menu icon
- Find and tap Software update.
- Tap Storage → CLEAR DATA.
How to turn off the sound for software update notifications
Android 10 or higher
To configure the notification settings for a software update
- On your home screen, find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications / Apps → App info → See all apps
- Tap the menu icon
- Find and tap Software update → App notifications
- If the notification sound is turned on, you can see the bell mark beside any of the notifications.
- Tap the Notifications, then tap Silent.
Android 9
To configure the notification settings for a software update
- On your home screen, find and tap Settings → Apps & notifications → App info/See all apps
- Tap the menu icon
- Find and tap Software update → App notifications
- Tap a notification category → Importance
- Choose a configuration for the notification category.
- Repeat steps 4–5 to configure all notification categories.
How to turn off the sound notification for connecting a charger to my Xperia device
Android 12 / 13 / 14
To turn off charging sounds
- Find and tap Settings → Sound.
- Scroll down, Tap the slider next to Charging sounds and Vibration to disable charger-related notification sounds.
Android 9 / 10 / 11
To turn off charging sounds
- Find and tap Settings → Sound → Advanced.
- Tap the slider next to Charging sounds to disable charger-related notification sounds.
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