Google Hangouts sound setting?

[optimizt]

I'm using a Galaxy S4 on Verizon. The last update forced an "upgrade" from Talk to Hangouts. We use chat/Talk/Hangouts for work, so I can't change services.

While I'm in the app, I don't get notifications of new messages. So, for example, if I'm typing and so my keyboard is blocking most of the feed, I don't hear that the other person has typed/sent something. I have to close the keyboard down and look to see if, maybe, they said something while I was typing. This is contrary to any other messaging service.

I'm wondering if there's a setting to make it give me notification while I'm in the app?

Also, totally annoyed about the state of emoticons in Hangouts. But that's another thread...

 

[Haalcyon]

If you go into Hangouts and hit the menu and select settings there is a checkbox for notifications as well as the option to change the notification ringtone.

 

[optimizt]

I've experimented with that setting. It only changes whether I get a notification/what the notification sounds like if I am out of the app (like my phone's screen is turned off or I have a different app on the screen at the time). If I'm in the Hangouts app, I don't get a notification sound.