For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, noticing important sounds like a knock at the door can be a challenge. Android phones can make this hurdle easier to manage thanks to a feature called Sound Notifications. It turns real-world sounds into visual notifications on your phone. Let’s take a closer look.
What Is the Sound Notifications App?
Sound Notifications is an Android feature that displays notifications about specific sounds around you. It comes already pre-installed on Pixel phones and you’re able to install it on all other Android phones. To activate it, openSettings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications.
If you can’t find it, you’ll need to install Google’s Live Transcribe & Notification app from Google Play. Do that now if the app isn’t currently installed.
Download:Live Transcribe & Notification(Free)
What Can Sound Notifications Do?
Sound Notifications allows you to be notified when your Android phone detects a certain sound. It’s useful for hearing a specific sound that’s at a pitch that may be out of range for some folk, like smoke and fire alarms.
It’s also handy for Android owners who may have a total loss of hearing, as Sound Notifications can make their day-to-day activities easier to manage, such as getting an alert when water is running. It’s yet another useful accessibility option likeRTT calling for persons with hearing difficulties.
How to Set Up Sound Notifications
To start using Sound Notifications, go to its settings via the Settings app as you did above. If you want a shortcut to always be visible to the app, tapSound Notifications shortcutto have a small icon placed on the edge of your screen.
When tapped, it will show you a history of sounds detected. If that weirds you out, consider routinelydeleting your Google history.
Now, tap theSettingsicon and toggle on theUse Sound Notificationsslider. Going forward, Sound Notifications will listen for sounds specified by you. Optionally, you can also selectShow icon in the app listto make Sound Notifications show up as any other app.
Choose Specific Sounds to Be Notified About in Sound Notifications
Now choose which sounds you want Sound Notifications to make you aware of. To do that, first, selectSound types. You’ll see the default sound notifications the app can alert you to, including a baby and even a landline ringing. Activate or deactivate each notification sound per your preference.
Choose How to Be Notified of Detected Sounds in Sound Notifications
Sound Notifications also allows you to choose how you’ll be alerted once a sound is detected. In Sound Notifications’Settingspage, selectWays to be notified.
You have several options for each type of sound notification, including a camera flash that’ll ensure a sound is never missed again. While you’re here, select how you want to be alerted to custom noises recorded by you inCustom sounds. Like the other options, choose if you prefer Sound Notifications to vibrate your phone or flash the camera when a custom sound is detected.
How to Add Your Own Custom Notifications in Sound Notifications
Sound Notifications notifies you of a myriad of different sounds. But it doesn’t cover everything, such as the different tones for your appliances. If there is a specific appliance sound you want Sound Notifications to alert you to, head back over to theSettingsoption and selectCustom sounds.
Tap+ Add soundthenRecord. Place the phone up to the appliance making the noise and tapRecord. The app will listen for up to 20 seconds until it fails to detect the sound. Once the sound is detected (usually much faster than 20 seconds), you’ll see a notification alerting you what Sounds Notifications thinks it is.
Be sure the area is free of background before recording a Custom Notification. If Sound Notifications detects too much background noise, the recording will not save.
TapSavethen name the sound. Now, any time a custom sound is detected, your phone will tell you!
Visual Notifications for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Accessibility options are so vital to ensuring everyone can use their phones on a level playing field. If you or someone you care about uses an Android phone and is hard of hearing or has total hearing loss, set up Sound Notifications to take a bit of the mystery out of unheard, important sounds. It could just save a life.
