How do I change my Mac alert sound for Messages?

March 16, 2022 8:36 AM

I know how to change the alert sounds in Messages. But I would like to use my own sounds, not Apple's. Is there a way to do this?

My Google-fu is failing me today. I know how to change the alert sound in Messaages (I used this web page for instructions).

I have it set up where I get new texts using Messages on my Mac. But I don't want to use the sounds that Apple includes with the OS. I'd like to use one of my own for new text message notifications. I created a few alert tones, converted them into AIFF, and then dropped them into the Sounds folder.

But I don't see the new sounds when I try to select one in Messages. (See screenshots for the Messages Preferences drop-down and System Preferences > Sound).

Make sense? Am I missing something obvious?

For context, I'm using an M1 MacBook Pro and running macOS Monterey 12.2.1.

posted by zooropa to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

This article tells how to do what you want. I have no idea whether the ongoing train wreck that is MacOS still supports the method they describe, so good luck. (After nearly thirty years buying Macs my last computer purchase was a Dell laptop which is running Linux).
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 9:51 AM on March 16, 2022

IIRC this is no longer possible, they changed some of the System sounds with Big Sur and I badly wanted to change them back to the ones I preferred and there was no way to do this. I will be reading this thread with interest because I would like to be wrong.
posted by jessamyn at 8:31 PM on March 16, 2022

Response by poster: Gilgamesh's Chauffeur > Unfortunately, no dice. The article was from 2011, and the instructions don't work any longer.

Jessamyn > I wish I could say you were wrong. Unfortunately, you're right.
posted by zooropa at 7:20 AM on March 17, 2022

I'm guessing this functionality broke when Apple replaced Messages with the Catalyst version of the app in Big Sur in late 2020.

You should report it as a bug with Feedback Assistant!
posted by tomierna at 7:51 AM on March 18, 2022