[Zenfone 9] What is this strange alert noise?

[briancham1994]

Starting on Tuesday 20 September, my Asus Zenfone 9 keeps making a mysterious alert sound that I have never heard before. Every time this happens, no notification appears in the tray, so I don't know what is causing it. The sound is very frequent and totally unpredictable.

I have already tried closing all apps, restarting the phone and adjusting the sound settings. Even when the volume is set to zero, the alert sound still plays through the speakers.

I have attached a recording of the alert sound playing twice.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Details:

• Model name: Asus Zenfone 9
• Firmware version: Android 14, build WW_34.0304.2004.145
• Rooted or not: No
• Frequency of occurrence: Ranges from once every day to once every three seconds
• APP Name & APP Version (If your issue relates to the app): N/A

[darrin5698]

1. Check Notification Settings for All Apps:

• Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > See All Apps.
• Check each app's notification settings to ensure there isn’t any app with custom or hidden notifications that might be causing the sound.

2. Disable Notification Reminders:

• Some Android phones have a feature called Notification Reminder that repeats notifications until acknowledged. Check if this is enabled:
  • Go to Settings > Accessibility > Notification Reminders (or similar depending on your phone).
  • Disable this option if it's on.

3. Check for System Alerts:

• Ensure there aren’t any specific system alerts such as battery notifications, Wi-Fi connectivity, or NFC notifications triggering the sound.
• Go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Advanced > Default Notification Sound and review the settings here.

4. Safe Mode:

• Try rebooting your phone in Safe Mode to see if the sound still occurs. Safe Mode temporarily disables third-party apps, which can help identify if an app is causing the issue.
  • To enter Safe Mode:
    1. Press and hold the power button.
    2. Touch and hold "Power off" until the "Reboot to Safe Mode" prompt appears.
    3. Tap OK.
• If the sound stops in Safe Mode, it's likely caused by a third-party app.

5. Reset App Preferences:

• Sometimes, app settings can be altered accidentally, causing issues like this. Try resetting app preferences:
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Reset App Preferences.

6. Check for Recent Updates:

• Ensure that your phone's software and all apps are up-to-date. Sometimes, a bug in the firmware or an app can cause unexpected behavior.

7. Check System Logs:

• If you're comfortable with it, you can use an app like Logcat Reader to capture logs when the sound occurs. This can help identify the source of the alert by showing which process is running at the time.

8. Factory Reset (Last Resort):

• If none of the above works, consider doing a factory reset after backing up your data. This will reset the device to its original settings and may resolve any persistent software issues.

If the issue persists even after these steps, it might be worth contacting Asus support, especially since you mentioned that even lowering the volume doesn't stop the sound. There could be a deeper issue with the firmware. Official Login Link

[JulieC]

Hello,

This is also happening to me. 2 weeks ago, the exact same sound /alert starting to occurs really often and unpredictable. No notification appears. Battery is fully charged.

This appears also during safe mode....

I installed log at reader and got some logs with 1 error (see screenshot).

I can silent the alert by putting the phone to silent (see 2nd screenshot) but then, my phone does not ring....

Please help.

Thank you.

[SMTichy]

This is the sound made when the NFC reader discovers an NFC tag, for example when the phone is placed on top of a touchless bank card.   I had the same, it was really annoying, and then I noticed it happened only when my screen was unlocked,  and the flip cover on my mobile case was folded back ... and realized the problem started when I had put a new touchless credit card inside a pocket of the flip cover. The solution is to either disable the NFC reader, or to not carry an NFC tag item in the case (or put in a pocket that doesn't line up with the NFC reader).

[briancham1994]

So it was the Oyster Card in my phone case the whole time? Strangely, the sound has disappeared, but thanks for the insight.