A constant stream of messages from friends, comments and likes on the social network VK can turn a smartphone into a source of constant irritation. This is especially true for users who value silence or are in noisy environments where a sudden beep may be inappropriate. Standard settings often offer only a global disabling of all notifications, which deprives the user of important messages, but does not solve the problem of the sound.
In this article we will look in detail at how to turn off the notification sound on an Android phone in contact, while maintaining a visual indication of incoming events. We will consider not only standard methods through system settings, but also specific parameters within the application itself, which are often overlooked. A deep understanding of these settings will allow you to fully control the acoustic background of your device. Android, but also specific parameters within the application itself VKthat are often overlooked. A thorough understanding of these settings will allow you to fully control the acoustic background of your device.
It is worth noting that the interface of the messenger and operating system may differ slightly depending on the shell version of your smartphone manufacturer. However, the basic principles of working with notifications remain the same for the entire ecosystem. Flexibility of settings allows you to customize the behavior of the application to any, even the most specific, user requirements.
Before making changes, it is important to understand the difference between completely disabling notifications and their silent mode. In the first case, you stop seeing messages until you open the application; in the second, the phone vibrates or the screen simply lights up without making a sound. We will focus on the second option, since it is the most comfortable for everyday use.
Setting up sound profiles inside the VK application
The first step that needs to be taken to control sound is to check the internal settings of the application itself. VK. The developers have provided quite a wide range of functionality for fine-tuning exactly how the application informs you about new events. Often, users look for a solution in the system, forgetting that it is the internal parameters of the software that have priority.
First, open the application and go to the main menu by touching the icon with three stripes or your avatar in the corner of the screen. Find the Settingssection, which is usually located at the bottom of the list or in the “General” subsection. This is where the key switch responsible for the sound of actions is located.
⚠️ Attention: In some versions of the application, sound settings can be divided into different subsections, for example, separately for private messages and separately for comments. Check each menu item carefully.
Inside the settings menu, find the item related to notifications. It may simply be called "Notifications" or have a more specific name like "Sound and Vibration." Here you will see a Sound toggle. If you move it to the inactive position, the application will stop emitting standard signals when receiving new data.
- 🔇 Global shutdown: Completely removes all sound signals from the application, leaving only vibration or light indication.
- 💬 Message sound: A separate setting that allows you to leave sounds for calls, but remove them for text messages messages.
- 🔔 Event sound: Controls audio notifications about likes, reposts and joining groups.
It is important to understand that settings within the application may overlap with system settings Android. If you muted the sound in the application, but the phone continues to sound, it means that priority is given to the system profile. Therefore, the next setup step is critical to achieve the desired result.
☑️ Checking the application settings
Managing notification channels in Android 8.0 and later
Starting with version Android 8.0 Oreo, Google has implemented a notification channel system that gives the user unprecedented control over the behavior of each application. This means that you can set the sound, vibration and severity of notifications for different types of events within one application VK separately from each other.
To access these settings, go to the system menu Settings of your smartphone. Find the "Applications" or "Applications and Notifications" section. In the list of installed apps, find VK (or “VKontakte”) and tap its name. Here you are interested in the “Notifications” item.
In the list that opens, you will see many categories, such as “Private messages”, “Comments”, “Calls” and others. By clicking on the name of each category (not on the switch on the right, but on the text), you will be taken to a detailed menu. Here you can select the “Silent” option or completely turn off the sound for a specific category of events.
This allows you to implement a flexible strategy: for example, leave a sound alert only for incoming calls through VK, and make all text messages silent. Such granularity is not possible in older versions of the operating system, where only a global rule worked.
What to do if there is no “Notifications” item?
If you don’t see the “Notifications” section in the application menu, try clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and selecting “Show system”. In some shells this item is hidden by default. Also make sure that the application has the necessary permissions to display notifications.
Particular attention should be paid to the "Importance" or "Behavior" setting. By setting the importance level for certain channels to low, you can ensure that notifications arrive but don't wake up the screen or make sounds when your phone is in Do Not Disturb mode.
App-specific system audio settings
Beyond notification channels, there is a deeper level of audio control - system app-specific audio settings. This method is often more effective, since it works at the operating system level, ignoring some internal bugs of the application itself. Scroll down the list and find Notification Sounds or Additional Sounds. In some shells, such as Android There is a deeper level of sound control - system sound settings for applications. This method is often more effective, since it works at the operating system level, ignoring some internal bugs of the application itself VK.
Go to Settings -> Sound and vibration. Scroll down the list and find Notification Sounds or Additional Sounds. In some shells such as MIUI or OneUI, there is a separate subsection “Application Sound”, where you can individually adjust the volume of notifications for each app.
If in your phone There is no separate mixer for applications; you can use the Do Not Disturb mode. By setting exceptions in this mode, you can allow only selected contacts or completely prohibit interruptions from social networks, including sound signals.
| Setting type | Where to find | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Internal VK settings | Profile menu -> Settings -> Notifications | Disables standard application sounds |
| Android notification channels | Settings -> Applications -> VK -> Notifications | Allows you to select “Silent” for categories |
| Do Not Disturb Mode | Settings -> Sound -> Do Not Disturb | Blocks all sounds except exceptions |
| Volume Mixer | Settings -> Sound -> Volume applications | Reduces notification volume to zero |
The use of system restrictions ensures that even if an application VK attempts to play sound through an alternative audio channel, the system will block this request. This is especially useful for versions of the application that have problems complying with user settings.
Setting notifications for conversations and groups
It often happens that the general sound is muted, but a specific chat or group continues to emit signals. This happens because individual dialog settings take precedence over general application settings. To remove sound from a specific interlocutor or community, you need to act specifically.
Open the list of dialogues in the application VK. Find the desired chat or group, click on the conversation name or avatar to go to information about the dialogue. In the upper right corner or in the menu (three dots), find the bell icon or the “Notifications” item.
In the menu that opens, you can select the “Mute” or “Mute” option. This action will turn off audio and possibly vibration for that specific conversation only, leaving other settings unchanged. This is ideal for noisy group chats.
- 🔕 Silence timer: You can select the mute period (1 hour, 8 hours or forever).
- 👥 Group chats: Often require separate settings, since activity in them is high.
- 📢 Channels and publics: Individual settings for notifications are also available for them through the community profile menu.
Don't forget that if you are a group administrator, notification settings may reset or behave differently when new posts are published on behalf of the administration. In such cases, it is recommended to completely turn off notifications from the group through system channels, as described in the previous section.
⚠️ Attention: When you leave a conversation or group, the sound notification settings for them are reset. If you return to the chat, the sound may be turned back on by default.
Using Do Not Disturb mode for VK
Do Not Disturb mode in Android is a powerful tool that allows you to create schedules and rules for blocking sounds. You can configure it so that it turns on automatically at a certain time or when you launch certain applications, completely silencing VK.
To configure, go to Settings -> Sound -> Do Not Disturb On some smartphones, you can configure the scenario: “If the VK application is running, then turn on the Do Not Disturb mode.” However, most often it is enough to simply activate this mode manually through the notification shade when silence is required.. Here you can create a schedule, for example, for sleep or work. In the Allow Notifications section, select Selected Only or None to block sounds from all apps, including Settings VK.
A more advanced method is to use automation. On some smartphones, you can configure the scenario: “If the VK application is running, then turn on the Do Not Disturb mode.” However, most often it is enough to simply activate this mode manually through the notification curtain when silence is required.
Use quick settings: Add the Do Not Disturb tile to the notification shade to instantly turn on silence with one touch, without delving into deep phone menus.
It is important to check whether it has been added VK to the exclusion list. Sometimes users accidentally allow the social network to interrupt the silence, and then Do Not Disturb mode does not work for it. Check the list of “Applications that can interrupt the mode” and make sure that VK is not there.
Solving problems with sound in the VKontakte application
There are situations when the settings are set correctly, the sound is turned off wherever possible, but the phone continues to make strange sounds or a standard squeak when receiving a message. This may indicate a software glitch or version conflict.
The first thing to do is clear the application cache. Go to Settings -> Applications -> VK -> Memory and click “Clear cache”. This will not delete your correspondence, but it will reset temporary files that may have become corrupted.
If clearing the cache did not help, try updating the application to the latest version via Google Play or the official website. Old versions may not work correctly with new versions Android, ignoring system restrictions on sound.
As a last resort, if the problem persists, you can try uninstalling and installing the application again. Before doing this, make sure that you remember your username and password to log in. Reinstallation often resets all internal settings to factory settings, which can eliminate the configuration error.
The most reliable way to turn off sound is the combined use of internal application settings and Android system notification channels.
Why does the phone vibrate even if the sound is turned off?
Vibration and sound are two separate notification channels. Mute does not automatically turn off vibration. To remove it, you need to uncheck the “Vibrate signal” item in the same notification channel settings (the “Notifications” section in the application properties).
Is it possible to make the notification sound quieter, but not turn it off completely?
It is difficult to make the notification sound of a specific application quieter than the general system level using standard Android tools. However, if your phone has an “App Volume Mixer” (often found in Xiaomi, Samsung), you can reduce the notification volume slider specifically for VK, leaving the overall volume level high.
Are the audio settings reset when updating the VK app?
Usually the internal settings of the application are preserved when updating. However, Android system notification channels can be reset during a major update to the operating system itself, or in rare cases during a major update to an app where the structure of its manifest has changed. Therefore, after major updates, it is worth rechecking the settings.
How to mute the sound of an incoming call in VK, but leave messages?
In the Android notification settings, find the “Calls” (or) channel for the VK application and set it to “Mute” or disable it completely. At the same time, leave the “Messages” channel active, but also without sound if you need complete silence, or with sound if you only need messages.