Google has quietly rolled out a refresh to its Pixel-only Sounds app, adding a collection of nature recordings from Hokkaido alongside a Material You visual refresh — a small but notable update for Pixel owners who like to personalize how their phones sound and look.
What’s new
The update, identified in user reports as version 3.3, introduces new ringtones, notification alerts and alarm sounds that use field recordings of birds, frogs, cicadas and even deer from Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. The app’s collection tiles have also been redesigned: colorful gradient covers have been replaced with abstract vector artwork that adapts to the device’s dynamic color theme under Material You.
New sounds added (grouped by use):
- Ringtones - Cicadas Scree in Wild Hokkaido - Cuckoos Whistle in Wild Hokkaido - Frog Chorus in Wild Hokkaido - Japanese Bush Warbler in Wild Hokkaido - Japanese Thrush in Wild Hokkaido - Sakhalin Leaf Warbler in Wild Hokkaido
- Notification alerts - Black-Faced Bunting in Wild Hokkaido - Frog Croak in Wild Hokkaido - Japanese Bush Warbler in Wild Hokkaido - White-Backed Woodpecker in Wild Hokkaido - Woodpecker Drum in Wild Hokkaido - Yezo Deer in Wild Hokkaido
- Alarms
Files are small, typically distributed in .ogg format, and the new artwork follows the system color theme for a more cohesive look across Pixel UI elements.
How to get the update and where to find the sounds
On Pixel phones the Sounds picker lives in Settings > Sound & vibration. From there users can choose Phone Ringtone, Notification Sound or Alarm and browse the collections.
Because Sounds is a system app, its Play Store entry can be used to confirm updates; open the Play Store listing directly at Google Play — Sounds. Some users and reporters have noted a Play Store bug that can hide available updates for system apps, so if you don’t see the new assets yet check Settings > Apps > See all apps > Sounds to verify the app version.
The rollout appears staged: several outlets and early reports show the updated build appearing first on Pixel 10 devices, while older Pixels still report previous versions.
Why this matters (and a few cautions)
The change is modest but meaningful for fans of personalization. Google has steadily used Material You and dynamic color to make system surfaces feel more unified; replacing gradient tiles with bold vector art improves scannability in a long list of audio collections.
The choice to ship ambient, organic recordings reflects a broader design trend toward less intrusive notification audio — “ambient-by-default” sounds meant to reduce notification fatigue. That said, quieter natural recordings can be easy to miss in noisy environments. Advice from reporters and early users: test any new ringtone or alarm at your typical volume, and consider pairing subtle tones with vibration for essential alerts.
Context: Pixel ecosystem nudges
This Sounds refresh is one of several small Pixel-focused tweaks rolling out recently. Wear OS apps such as YouTube Music have shown partial Material 3 Expressive redesigns on Pixel Watch, and carriers/retailers have continued promotions tied to the Pixel 10 lineup. None of those items directly changes Sounds, but they signal Google’s continuing attention to visual and experiential consistency across the Pixel ecosystem.
Bottom line
If you own a Pixel and enjoy customizing your phone, check Settings > Sound & vibration to see if the Hokkaido collection and new artwork have arrived. If you don’t see the update, verify the Sounds app version in Settings or check the app’s Play Store page. The additions are a tasteful, nature-oriented option for ringtones, notifications and alarms — convenient for personalization, but remember to test audibility for important alerts.