thread Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound in Orders, Menu Items, Catalog & Fulfilment

Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

vladslavskii — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:14:41 GMT

Greetings everyone,

Our business just switched from Toast POS to Square for Restaurants, and despite everything being great, we have just one big issue - nobody can hear Android KDS notification sounds when the new order comes in. The tablet volume is at maximum, but it's a very soft, quiet sound. Especially when people are washing dishes or using food processors, they just do not hear it.

Before we go ahead and make some kind of custom implementation that uses Square API and runs in the background, do you have any ideas if there would be an easier way to replace the new order sound on the KDS Screens? Maybe it will be in the next Beta release at least?

Since Toast just used default Android notification sound, it was easy -- we just set Android OS notification sound to a very loud hotel bell sound, which everyone recognized and heard. With Square KDS, our kitchen staff has been missing orders until customer arrives several times.

Thank you!

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

TheRealChipA — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 13:14:16 GMT

Hi @vladslavskii. I remember when I was part of the beta team for Square KDS that this issue was identified as a problem that needed to be addressed. It wasn’t addressed then for some reason, but I was sure that it had been. In my shop, the reasons for needing it to be louder went away so honestly I just forgot about it. I’m sorry I didn’t follow up.

I’m going to tag a few administrators of that now-closed beta. Maybe they can provide some more information, but from my quick check yesterday it looks like this is still an unaddressed issue with Square KDS.

@emusumano @danitza @issara_p @MichelleSQ

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

Sam_400º — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:37:07 GMT

@vladslavskii - Is it possible to connect a cheap BT speaker to the KDS?

I'm in a very small place and have had to turn my KDS down so not having the same issue.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

vladslavskii — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 19:15:36 GMT

Although that's a possible option, and we are likely going to attempt it in the meantime, it's still a rather inflexible solution, as the sound used as a new order notification is not so great either. I'd say we certainly want to see a more reasonable solution for this issue, so we can be more in control of which sound is played on the KDS when new order comes in.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

MichelleSQ — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:58:23 GMT

Hi @vladslavskii - I have not heard anything from the Product team in regard to the notification sound - we hear you though! I will pass your feedback along to them for visibility.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

dportillo88 — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:19:02 GMT

I've seen this issue been posted many times and for over 2 years now.. How is a soft and silent alarm useful for a kitchen... We need to hear when the orders come in ...Is there anyone actually working on this.?

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

jjsmeatshak1 — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:21 GMT

I am interested in the Square API you mentioned. Can you elaborate?

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

_Violet — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:37:04 GMT

Hi there @dportillo88 @jjsmeatshak1 - Thanks for following up on this thread.

I reached out to our engineers and they've let me know that this should now be working, with sound 🔊

Could you please confirm either you're hearing the notification sound on your end? I'll keep an eye out for your reply.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

TheRealChipA — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:44:02 GMT

@_Violet the issue isn’t the sound — there IS a sound. The problem is that in a busy, noisy kitchen the sound is too subtle, and too quiet, even when the devices are on max volume. What we need is the ability to choose from a list of sounds, or upload our own and use it. And we need a list of sounds that are much more obnoxious than the wimpy one that Square KDS currently uses. I identified this shortcoming during the KDS beta tests years ago, but it hasn’t been addressed, to my knowledge.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

dportillo88 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 22:50:38 GMT

Hello as previously stated by others, there is a soft, whimpy, sound. Its almost like you guys are messing around. In a kitchen specific app with KITCHEN display app, its weird that developers thought this sound is going to do anything, and after years of people speaking up it seems nothing is getting done...

With the screens on full volume ( we can check the notification noise level by messing with the screens settings), We open the square KDS app and the notification "ringtone" is barely heard. We hear something if there is no music, no sounds, and we are standing 1 foot away from the screen waiting for the order to come in.

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

dportillo88 — Fri, 03 May 2024 02:15:36 GMT

Its been a week since we replied, do you have any updates?

Re: Custom Android KDS Notification Sound

dportillo88 — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 02:26:31 GMT

The sound its still very subtle. What is the point of having a sound so soft that we cant even choose hoe loud we need it? This is a very important aspect of a KDS. We need to hear the tickets come in... Is it really that difficult to fic this issue that engineers have been at this for years?