Signal-android: Notification sound issue

[soulstenance]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

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Bug description

Notifications sometimes come in silently (vibration only) while the app is not in focus. The issue occurs with no other apps and all sound settings are fully enabled with Do not Disturb off.

Steps to reproduce

Note that I can't reliably reproduce it every single time but rather it happens once in a while with no apparent explanation.

• Leave app (with or without killing seems to make no difference)
• Receive a message

Actual result: Message notification comes through only with a vibration (if vibration is enabled).
Expected result: Message notification comes through with sound and vibration.

Screenshots

N/A

Device info

Device: Samsung Galaxy S9+
Android version: 8.0
Signal version: 4.17.5

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/c4be0d1266d9c93471f89a998efb812c829605273101469bcef199540b38b93e

[deutrino]

When this happens to me, I often get a truncated notification sound that lasts a couple tenths of a second.

Possibly related issue closed by auto-cleanup: #6600.

[soulstenance]

@deutrino Yes, that has occurred too, although more often than not, it's completely silent for me when this issue occurs.

[deutrino]

Are you running Signal Desktop at the same time?

See also signalapp/Signal-Desktop#768

[soulstenance]

@deutrino I do have it linked, but I have reproduced the issue while the Windows app was not running.

[freed00m]

I also have this problem, but I actually never hear the sound. Only vibrations. Despite what sound I select.

I used to have Signal desktop but not anymore ( no device linked ).
Android 7.1 Xiaomi redmi 4a

Ok I managed to workaround it, the problem in my case was I attempted to select a custom sound via the settings inside the Signal app. After reinstalling the app (uninstall -> install again) I managed to get the default system notification sound for sms. :)

Edit: There should be a way to reset the Signal app's notification setting and reimplement a mock notification to test it right away to avoid confusion. It uses the default system's notification sound.

Edit2: Disregard this entire comment as I was able to fix it by using different file manager, the one I used was "Simple file manager" and it perhaps parsed the paths differently.

[mborod]

I have the same issue reported at the top.

I just want to add that I have repeatedly restarted my phone, and toggled the audible notification setting on and off, exiting the app each time, all with no effect.

I too have it installed on desktop but don't have it running on desktop.

[arjenlentz]

Same here on Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 under Nougat (Android 7.2)

[nathanaelhoyle]

I also frequently experience an issue with no sound played at all when a message is received. The display will light briefly to show the notification for the message, but no sound is played. I can usually temporarily resolve this with a restart of the phone (a Pixel XL running Android 8.1.0), but this never seems to last more than a couple of days (I don't intentionally ever have my phone off). This is true even though the volume is turned as high as it will go on every volume slider in the phone, it's not been set to vibrate mode, Do Not Disturb, etc.

[SingerGuy]

This is a constant irritant for me. I have a dozen or more contacts that I use customized sounds so I can triage an incoming message based on which sound I hear. Very frequently I'll hear a custom notification sound for a contact, respond to the message, and then set the app out of focus or turn off the display and I would expect the sound to play when they reply. I'll look at my phone some minutes later and see that they replied but I heard no sound and neither heard nor felt a vibration. I have even had it where as I was opening the app, but before getting into the contact, they sent me another message and the sound played as it should. This happens when my laptop computer is shut down and I am not running Signal Desktop. I am aware that with SD running and in focus that I shouldn't receive a sound (which is a great feature, thank you very much). I have found no pattern to this lack of sound and restarting it doesn't seem to make any difference. It is not isolated to any one contact or sound. It happens randomly on all incoming messages, whether they are Signal encrypted or SMS/MMS, with or without custom notification sounds.

[EOSfoto]

Having the same issue on a S8 (SM-G950F) on Android 8.0 (G950FXXU3CRGH).

[peterjanes]

I'm seeing similar behaviour as @SingerGuy but with a twist: I'll also miss the first notification after my phone (Nexus 6P, fully-patched Android 8.1.0) goes into or out of "Do Not Disturb" mode, customized to allow messages from starred contacts.

[jonaskew]

I have had the same issue for a long time now, at least a year, on a Samsung S7 (SM-G930F) over various Android versions (currently on 8.0.0).

Reinstalling seems to briefly help, but soon reverts to intermittent sounds, and quite often the 'clipped' playback mentioned above.

I'm not running Signal Desktop.

[stonecipherBeadsman]

Experiencing similar variations of this issue as @peterjanes and @SingerGuy with Huawei Nexus 6P running Android 8.1.0.

Update
I am now seeing notifications outside of the app itself.

• Uninstalled Signal
• Updated Google Play Services
• Reinstalled Signal
• Said yes to all permissions requests

[greyson-signal]

Since this issue was reported, we've switched to notification channels, so hopefully issues with custom sounds playing have been resolved.

[Baconandstraws]

I am having the issue that the default sound is not working. The only special sound contact I have does come through. I am also not seeing badges for messages.