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Android 4.4.2 bug: Ringtones and notifications not showing up

kit kat angry
© Google/nextpit

Normally, adding new files to use as your notification sounds, alarm sounds, or use as your own ringtone is a breeze. Select whatever music file you want to use, move the file to the appropriate folder, and voila, all done. However, if you’re on the Android 4.4.2 bandwagon, you may be having some issues with a new bug that has shown up.

kit kat angry
 © Google/AndroidPIT

The issue

The issues arises if you download a music file, such as a MP3 file, directly to your device and then try to move it over to the appropriate folder using a File Manager. If done this way, it will not show up as being an available selection when choosing your sounds.  As such, anything done this way will not be able to be selected when choosing a new notification, alarm, or ringtone sound.

kitkat 4 4 2 bug benachrichtigungen 01
If done directly on your device, once you move the file over to the appropriate folder, the file won't show up as an available system sound. / © NextPit

Workaround

It may be a little cumbersome, but there is a workaround until a fix is pushed through. You’ll just need to simply use your PC to transfer over the files to the appropriate folders.

  • Connect your device to your computer via USB
  • Move the sound files to the appropriate folder on your device
  • Safely emove your device from USB

Once you’ve done this, you should be able to see sound in the list of system sounds.

While the issue itself doesn’t affect the system in any other way, it’s a small annoyance. We were able to reproduce the problem on a Nexus 5 with Android 4.4.2 when using some different file managers. Has anyone else had this issue so far? 

Source: Android Police

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Sterling Keys

Sterling Keys
Freelance Editor

From all the way over on Vancouver Island, Sterling Keys started off his smartphone adventure with an HTC S710 equipped with Windows Mobile and knew there had to be something better. Over the next few years, and countless different operating systems, he has finally found his home on Android.

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  • iMaC74 5
    iMaC74 Jan 9, 2014 Link to comment

    No! all is good my end on my GPE S4 running 4.4.2 KitKat, my downloaded music/ringtones/notification tone's show up fine 👌


  • 6
    Deactivated Account Jan 2, 2014 Link to comment

    Having same problem but in reverse; pushed directory+files with adb; files visible from shell but music playing software did not see sir nor content for a long while. Reboot synchronized everything. obviously cache invalidation problem.