Sound Notifications
Better Messages plays audio cues when a user receives a new message or an incoming call. Each event type (incoming message, sent confirmation, incoming call, outgoing dial tone) has independent volume controls and an optional MP3 upload, so you can match the audio personality of your site or community.
What it adds#
- Distinct sounds for incoming messages, sent messages, incoming calls, and outgoing dial tone
- Per-event volume control (0–100 %) — keep gentle pings for messages and louder rings for calls
- Custom MP3 upload per event from the WordPress Media Library
- Optional Sound Notification Control toggle that lets each user mute incoming and sent sounds separately from their own settings
- Sounds trigger on any tab where the messenger is mounted, so users hear them while browsing other parts of the site
How it works#
Better Messages includes four default sounds bundled with the plugin:
| Event | When it plays |
|---|---|
| Notification sound | A new message arrives and the user is on the site |
| Sent sound | The user successfully sends a message (confirmation cue) |
| Call sound | An incoming voice or video call rings — plays in a loop until answered or dismissed |
| Dialing sound | The user places an outgoing call — plays in a loop until the recipient answers |
When the admin uploads a custom MP3 via WP Admin → Better Messages → Settings → Notifications, the plugin stores the attachment ID and serves that file in place of the default. Volume is multiplicative — if the admin sets the call sound to 60 % and the user further lowers their browser/system volume, both apply.
Sound playback respects modern browser autoplay policies. The first interaction (any click on the page) unlocks audio. From that point on, all sounds play without further prompting until the page reloads.
When to customize#
| Use case | Recommended customization |
|---|---|
| LMS / serious-study site | Lower message sound volume to ~30 %, keep call volume default — students stay focused |
| Marketplace customer support | Bump message volume to 80 % so vendors notice replies fast |
| Public chat rooms | Upload a gentler MP3 and set volume below 40 % — frequent messages shouldn't be jarring |
| Telemedicine / urgent comms | Loud incoming-call MP3 at 90 %, distinct from message tone |
How to enable#
Navigate to WP Admin → Better Messages → Settings → Notifications.
- Notification Sound — Volume (0–100 %) and optional custom MP3 for new incoming messages
- Sent Sound — Volume and optional custom MP3 for the sent-message confirmation tone
- Call Sound — Volume and optional custom MP3 for the incoming-call ringtone
- Dialing Sound — Volume and optional custom MP3 for the outgoing-call dial tone
Sound Notification Control — which lets users mute sounds from their own settings — is under Settings → Messaging → Miscellaneous.
That same section also holds Send on Enter and its per-user control.
Frequently asked questions#
Can users opt out of sound notifications?#
Yes — when Sound Notification Control is enabled, two options appear in each user's messenger settings, under Notifications: Disable new message sound notification and Disable sound when sending a message. They are independent, so a user can silence incoming messages and keep the send confirmation, or the other way round. Both preferences persist across devices.
Each option only appears when its own volume is above 0 — at 0 the sound never plays for anyone, so there would be nothing to mute.
Do sound notifications play on the mobile app?#
The native iOS/Android app uses the operating system's native notification sounds, not the web-uploaded MP3. To customize those, configure your push provider (OneSignal / FCM / APNs) or the iOS/Android app build.
Why doesn't the sound play immediately when the page loads?#
Browsers require a user interaction before allowing audio. After any click on the page, sounds will play normally for the rest of the session.
Can I upload a different sound per chat room?#
No — sounds are configured site-wide. The four sound settings (notification, sent, call, dialing) apply to every conversation and chat room. If you need per-room variation, the maintained path is to override the audio asset via your child theme or a custom plugin.
What file formats are supported?#
MP3 is the recommended format. M4A and OGG also work in modern browsers. Keep files small (under 100 KB) so they cache quickly.
See also#
- Email notifications — for users not currently on the site
- Web push notifications — desktop push when the tab is closed (WebSocket version)
- OneSignal integration — for mobile + browser push
- Email notifications guide — when to use email vs sound vs push