Add a Custom Alert Sound in Catalina

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shedlock2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Add a Custom Alert Sound in Catalina

Hi All -- I am hoping someone can help me out with a alert sound query.

I have converted some files to .AIFF and would like to add them to the system ~/Library/Sounds folder. However, I cannot do so because of the new read-only security constraints in Catalina (I read that you were once able to turn off SIP but now cant).

I have read the response to a similar question in another post (to which I could not reply or comment upon -- hence this post) which suggested that I should just 'add a folder to ~/Library/Sounds', but I can neither make a folder in ~/Library nor in ~/Library/Sounds.

How do I add a folder such that I can dump in my six .AIFF files? Or how can I add these .AIFF files to the existing folder so that I can get rid of the bland Mac sounds?

Thanks in advance to those much smarter than me!

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jul 13, 2020 12:56 AM

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Answer 1

shedlock2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jul 14, 2020 1:34 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you! That was very helpful.

I have created the folder as you indicated and copied over the files to it and it has worked beautifully! Thank you.

Follow-up question, how can I change the error sound (the sound which plays when you try to do something you can't (perhaps because there is a popup or something you have not responded to)?

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Answer 2

Jul 13, 2020 2:58 AM in response to shedlock2000

"system ~/Library/Sounds folder" is a contradiction in terms.

It looks like you are confusing ~/Library/Sounds with /System/Library/Sounds.

The first one is inside your home folder, belongs to you and you can easily add content to it.

The second one is read-only, and for good reason.

In the Finder, press Command-Shift-G and type or paste

~/Library

If there is a Sounds folder, open it. If not, create it: File->New Folder, and name it.

Drag your files there. You may have to logout and login in order to have those sounds appear in System Preferences.

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Answer 3

shedlock2000 Author

Level 1

39 points

Jul 14, 2020 3:07 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

No, 'message received sounds.' On the iMac there is an option to change the notification sound that iMessage plays when you receive a message. There is a long list of options in Message's Preferences such as Pulse, Popcorn, Tiptoes, and so on -- the options also include some standard ringtones. I'd like to add a sound file to those options, as none of the standard fayre pleases me.

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