Custom App Notification Tones

OMG !!   This was a YEAR ago, and still no updated App?     I just installed a system this week, and this was the very first thing I noticed as deficient with the iPhone App.

Hi @rathbunshop,

The iPhone version of the SimpliSafe app does not support the ability to set a custom notification sound, as the iPhone doesn't support custom notification sounds for third-party apps. The Android version of the app does, but that is because it's a feature of the operating system. 

I agree with this post - I was astounded when I discovered that I couldn’t set a sound alert specifically for this App, if my house is being burgled I want my phone to alert me with a siren, not the same default notification that Apple assign to all the Apps that haven’t bothered to allow custom notification. 

Come on Simplisafe, you need to get a hold of this and update the App. 

TOTALLY AGREE!! I just spent 30 minutes on the phone with support that I'll never get back, only to be told " we can't do that". SERIOUSLY ?!?! I left RING for continuous technical issues, only to be told SimpliSafe has even more rudimentary technical issues? C'mon SimpliSafe, you gotta step up your game. I never know wether I'm getting a text message, email, or someone is on the front porch trying to get in. Kinda defeats the purpose, ya know!?! Join the 21st century already! I guess it really IS rocket science! 

@emily_s​ That is incorrect. Apple/iPhone DOES support third party app developers to set a custom ringtone. It has to be built into the app functionality by YOU all. But up until this point you have chosen not to do so. Please do!!!! The default third party app notification on the iPhone is so mild-mannered and easily missed. 

@emily_s​ Hi, Emily!  Your answer is not accurate. iPhones do in fact support custom notification sounds for third party apps, but the third party app developer must include this functionality in their app. A major competitor has this functionality in their iPhone app.  That’s the purpose of this thread, to request SimpliSafe to add some long and loud notification sounds to their iPhone app. The default sound even the critical one can be easily missed during an alarm event. 

@dmk​ I noticed this as well after updating to iOS 17. Alarm triggered push notifications now use the critical alerts sound instead of the default tri-tone sound. Not sure if SimpliSafe changed this in the app or if the iOS update is responsible. Regardless, neither sound is loud enough and long enough to wake me up or even be heard in an environment other than a quiet one with the phone right next to me. It’s a shame that such an established company in the home security space would not have this important feature after all this time. 

@dmk​ thanks for bringing this up. I can tell you that we have not made a change to Critical Notifications on the SimpliSafe app, so if you’re hearing something different, that would have happened on the iOS side. Currently we use whatever is the OS default for that type of alert, and there is no way to change it.

We’ll keep you updated if development is picked up for this request.

How does my Eufy and Reolink change the notification tone?  They are unique very audible tones that will wake a person from sleep.  Those are camera motion notifications.  Simplisafe alarm tone is unique but not the camera notification.  We need you to update the camera notification to a unique tone as well if we cannot have access to change it within the app. 

The latest iPhone iOS update changed the tritone default tone to a bubble like tone that is about 1/2 volume and one simple little chirp.  This is not sufficient for a security system notification.  This needs to be addressed asap for the safety of your community.

@davey_d​ There is a way to change this if SimpliSafe would make the effort. It’s not like you guys don’t know this is a huge problem for users!!

I just got rid of my SimpliSafe doorbell because the only place it makes noise is on my phone (not always in my pocket) and at the base station. 

Ring does have the ability to add chimes at additional locations and allows users to set custom notification sounds that they can actually hear.

Unbelievably stupid that SimpliSafe doesn’t understand these problems with their system and refuses to listen to users and FIX IT! 

They had time to send me a survey to see how much more I’d pay for live outdoor monitoring but can’t fix what they already have.

I’LL BE SWITCHING MY ENTIRE SYSTEM OVER TO RING NOW!!!

Ya, note when changing to Ring and you are in an area of high people density like a casino or restaurant and you hear the same exact Ring tone thinking that it is yours, but its not yours, it is some on else's. That is annoying.

I spent several minutes on the phone with apple support and they tell me the 3rd party apps must fix this. My SimpliSafe is simply no good to me with this default sound. There needs to be a way to change the notification sound to something louder than rebound! I have the same issue with another app. Neither sound do me any good. Please look into this further. 

Agree

First of all I love my simpli safe system and continue to add on sensors for more security! Even the water sensors after an undetected leak. The apple third party notification sound is barely audible so I use Siri to notify me of driveway traffic and doorbell notifications. It works great and will now alert me with a voice rather than a notification sound. 

Sal...

PLEASE let me know how to use SIRI for notifications as you described above. I'm less than hopeful the IT Dept at SimpliSafe has any fix in the works...thx!

Dave

[edited]

Hi @roksolidvideo1​, 

I do just want to let you know that I edited your comment to remove your email address. The Community is a public forum, so we want to protect your privacy! 

@roksolidvideo1​ The request to have custom notification tones for iOS devices has been sent to our devs for their consideration. Once we hear more from them, we'll provide an update here.

@emily_s​ with all due respect, but this issue should not be just considered, it should be addressed and fixed at the earliest possible time.  Simplisafe is a paid service to provide safety and security for their customers.  The customers should be listened to wholeheartedly not just be considered and nothing done about it.  Our issue with the alert needs to be validated and resolved, we demand it!  I truly hope that the upper management realizes that without the customers the company will go under before we all leave for another security system.  Especially over an issue that should be a simple to fix.  Do the right thing, that is all.

We need this notification sound/blip changed immediately! It is horribly underwhelming and does not properly notify the user as it should! This should be addressed with haste. 

I just tried this, and I only received texts for arming and disarming the system. No texts for entry sensors or doorbell cameras, which is so disappointing.

shrevem

Sorry I miswrote!  I get text notifications for arming, disarming, lost/regained connection and secret alerts.  NOT outdoor camera motion. It would be nice if all this was well laid out/documented/available to read.  Just a push alert for camera motion.   

YES, it would be good to have the option to select any alerts we would like to get by SMS/text!  SS please add that to the use cases/requirements needed.                                                    

Maybe a new system alert SMS Recipient togglable category or a specific individual camera setting to text with motion detection or a motion "secret alert".  Currently motion notifications "on" only provides a push notification.

@drss​ it would be nice if Simplisafe came with it's own alert sounds like the ring does.  Ones that are distinguishable, loud enough to hear, and would make me think my alarm is truly going off... maybe even wake me up.

My google pixel doesn't come with a sound that is loud enough to wake me up or make me think my alarm is going off.

@dmk​ While this is good news and long overdue on Apple’s side, this iOS feature update would only allow changing the default sound for all push notification alerts for all apps that don’t have their own custom sound.  It doesn’t address the need to have especially loud and distinguishable sounds for SimpliSafe push notifications specifically.  The SimpliSafe app, being a home security app, really needs its own user selectable, loud and distinguishable push notification sounds so that when users hear them, they know it’s important and that can be heard in loud environments or when sleeping. So, unfortunately, this change in iOS will not solve the issue of SimpliSafe push notifications sounds not standing out from other push notifications from other apps. SimpliSafe would still have to include some user-selectable, loud and distinguishable push notification sounds in their app. 

I ended up setting Siri to give notifications in my camera! Works well and I can hear it when I even sleeping.