diff --git a/components/dashboard/ChatDetail.tsx b/components/dashboard/ChatDetail.tsx
index 1eb2637..34d3452 100644
--- a/components/dashboard/ChatDetail.tsx
+++ b/components/dashboard/ChatDetail.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,88 @@ export default function ChatDetail({ chatId }: { chatId: string }) {
   const [message, setMessage] = useState("");
   const [sending, setSending] = useState(false);
   const messagesEndRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const [previousMessageCount, setPreviousMessageCount] = useState<number>(0);
+  const audioRef = useRef<HTMLAudioElement | null>(null);
+  const markReadTimeoutRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
+  
+  // Initialize audio element
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Create audio element for notification sound
+    audioRef.current = new Audio('/notification.mp3');
+    
+    // Fallback if notification.mp3 doesn't exist - use browser API for a simple beep
+    audioRef.current.addEventListener('error', () => {
+      audioRef.current = null;
+    });
+    
+    return () => {
+      if (audioRef.current) {
+        audioRef.current = null;
+      }
+      
+      // Clear any pending timeouts when component unmounts
+      if (markReadTimeoutRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(markReadTimeoutRef.current);
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+  
+  // Function to play notification sound
+  const playNotificationSound = () => {
+    if (audioRef.current) {
+      audioRef.current.currentTime = 0;
+      audioRef.current.play().catch(err => {
+        console.log('Error playing sound:', err);
+        // Fallback to simple beep if audio file fails
+        try {
+          const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+          const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+          oscillator.type = 'sine';
+          oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+          oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+          oscillator.start();
+          oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      // Fallback to simple beep if audio element is not available
+      try {
+        const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+        const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+        oscillator.type = 'sine';
+        oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+        oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+        oscillator.start();
+        oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+      }
+    }
+  };
+  
+  // Function to mark messages as read
+  const markMessagesAsRead = async () => {
+    try {
+      const authToken = getCookie("Authorization");
+      
+      if (!authToken) return;
+      
+      const authAxios = axios.create({
+        baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
+        headers: {
+          Authorization: `Bearer ${authToken}`
+        }
+      });
+      
+      // Use dedicated endpoint to mark messages as read
+      await authAxios.post(`/chats/${chatId}/mark-read`);
+      console.log("Marked messages as read");
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error marking messages as read:", error);
+    }
+  };
   
   // Fetch chat data
   const fetchChat = async () => {
@@ -62,9 +144,44 @@ export default function ChatDetail({ chatId }: { chatId: string }) {
         }
       });
       
-      const response = await authAxios.get(`/chats/${chatId}`);
+      // Always fetch messages without marking as read
+      const response = await authAxios.get(`/chats/${chatId}?markAsRead=false`);
+      
+      // Check if there are new messages
+      const hasNewMessages = chat && response.data.messages.length > chat.messages.length;
+      const unreadBuyerMessages = response.data.messages.some(
+        (msg: Message) => msg.sender === 'buyer' && !msg.read
+      );
+      
+      if (hasNewMessages) {
+        // Don't play sound for messages we sent (vendor)
+        const lastMessage = response.data.messages[response.data.messages.length - 1];
+        if (lastMessage.sender === 'buyer') {
+          playNotificationSound();
+        }
+      }
+      
       setChat(response.data);
+      
+      // Update the previous message count
+      if (response.data.messages) {
+        setPreviousMessageCount(response.data.messages.length);
+      }
+      
       setLoading(false);
+      
+      // Clear any existing timeout
+      if (markReadTimeoutRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(markReadTimeoutRef.current);
+      }
+      
+      // Only mark as read with a delay if there are unread buyer messages
+      if (unreadBuyerMessages) {
+        // Add a 3-second delay before marking messages as read to allow notification to appear
+        markReadTimeoutRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
+          markMessagesAsRead();
+        }, 3000);
+      }
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error fetching chat:", error);
       toast.error("Failed to load conversation");
diff --git a/components/dashboard/ChatList.tsx b/components/dashboard/ChatList.tsx
index 20deca0..051b27f 100644
--- a/components/dashboard/ChatList.tsx
+++ b/components/dashboard/ChatList.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client"
 
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
@@ -30,8 +30,62 @@ export default function ChatList() {
   const [chats, setChats] = useState<Chat[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [unreadCounts, setUnreadCounts] = useState<UnreadCounts>({ totalUnread: 0, chatCounts: {} });
+  const [previousTotalUnread, setPreviousTotalUnread] = useState<number>(0);
   const [selectedStore, setSelectedStore] = useState<string>("");
   const [vendorStores, setVendorStores] = useState<{ _id: string, name: string }[]>([]);
+  const audioRef = useRef<HTMLAudioElement | null>(null);
+  
+  // Initialize audio element
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Create audio element for notification sound
+    audioRef.current = new Audio('/notification.mp3');
+    
+    // Fallback if notification.mp3 doesn't exist - use browser API for a simple beep
+    audioRef.current.addEventListener('error', () => {
+      audioRef.current = null;
+    });
+    
+    return () => {
+      if (audioRef.current) {
+        audioRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+  
+  // Function to play notification sound
+  const playNotificationSound = () => {
+    if (audioRef.current) {
+      audioRef.current.currentTime = 0;
+      audioRef.current.play().catch(err => {
+        console.log('Error playing sound:', err);
+        // Fallback to simple beep if audio file fails
+        try {
+          const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+          const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+          oscillator.type = 'sine';
+          oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+          oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+          oscillator.start();
+          oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      // Fallback to simple beep if audio element is not available
+      try {
+        const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+        const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+        oscillator.type = 'sine';
+        oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+        oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+        oscillator.start();
+        oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+      }
+    }
+  };
   
   // Fetch vendor ID and stores
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -160,14 +214,22 @@ export default function ChatList() {
         // Fetch unread counts
         const unreadResponse = await authAxios.get(`/chats/vendor/${vendorId}/unread`);
         console.log("Unread counts:", unreadResponse.data);
+        
+        // Check if there are new unread messages and play sound
+        if (!loading && unreadResponse.data.totalUnread > previousTotalUnread) {
+          playNotificationSound();
+        }
+        
+        // Update states
         setUnreadCounts(unreadResponse.data);
+        setPreviousTotalUnread(unreadResponse.data.totalUnread);
+        setLoading(false);
         
         console.log("Chat loading complete");
       } catch (error) {
         console.error("Error fetching chats:", error);
         toast.error("Failed to load chats");
       } finally {
-        setLoading(false);
         console.log("Loading state set to false");
       }
     };
@@ -175,7 +237,7 @@ export default function ChatList() {
     fetchChats();
     
     // Set up polling for updates every 30 seconds
-    const intervalId = setInterval(fetchChats, 5000);
+    const intervalId = setInterval(fetchChats, 10000);
     
     return () => clearInterval(intervalId);
   }, [selectedStore]);
diff --git a/components/dashboard/ChatNotifications.tsx b/components/dashboard/ChatNotifications.tsx
index 753b48c..9dacb16 100644
--- a/components/dashboard/ChatNotifications.tsx
+++ b/components/dashboard/ChatNotifications.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client"
 
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
@@ -22,9 +22,63 @@ interface UnreadCounts {
 export default function ChatNotifications() {
   const router = useRouter();
   const [unreadCounts, setUnreadCounts] = useState<UnreadCounts>({ totalUnread: 0, chatCounts: {} });
+  const [previousUnreadTotal, setPreviousUnreadTotal] = useState<number>(0);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [chatMetadata, setChatMetadata] = useState<Record<string, { buyerId: string }>>({});
+  const audioRef = useRef<HTMLAudioElement | null>(null);
   
+  // Initialize audio element
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Create audio element for notification sound
+    audioRef.current = new Audio('/notification.mp3');
+    
+    // Fallback if notification.mp3 doesn't exist - use browser API for a simple beep
+    audioRef.current.addEventListener('error', () => {
+      audioRef.current = null;
+    });
+    
+    return () => {
+      if (audioRef.current) {
+        audioRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+  
+  // Function to play notification sound
+  const playNotificationSound = () => {
+    if (audioRef.current) {
+      audioRef.current.currentTime = 0;
+      audioRef.current.play().catch(err => {
+        console.log('Error playing sound:', err);
+        // Fallback to simple beep if audio file fails
+        try {
+          const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+          const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+          oscillator.type = 'sine';
+          oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+          oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+          oscillator.start();
+          oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      // Fallback to simple beep if audio element is not available
+      try {
+        const context = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
+        const oscillator = context.createOscillator();
+        oscillator.type = 'sine';
+        oscillator.frequency.setValueAtTime(800, context.currentTime);
+        oscillator.connect(context.destination);
+        oscillator.start();
+        oscillator.stop(context.currentTime + 0.2);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error('Could not play fallback audio', e);
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
   // Fetch unread counts
   useEffect(() => {
     const fetchUnreadCounts = async () => {
@@ -52,7 +106,15 @@ export default function ChatNotifications() {
         }
         
         const response = await authAxios.get(`/chats/vendor/${vendorId}/unread`);
+        
+        // Check if there are new notifications and play sound if needed
+        if (!loading && response.data.totalUnread > previousUnreadTotal) {
+          playNotificationSound();
+        }
+        
+        // Update state
         setUnreadCounts(response.data);
+        setPreviousUnreadTotal(response.data.totalUnread);
         
         if (response.data.totalUnread > 0) {
           const chatIds = Object.keys(response.data.chatCounts);
@@ -65,7 +127,8 @@ export default function ChatNotifications() {
             await Promise.all(
               chatIds.map(async (chatId) => {
                 try {
-                  const chatResponse = await authAxios.get(`/chats/${chatId}`);
+                  // Use markAsRead=false to ensure we don't mark messages as read
+                  const chatResponse = await authAxios.get(`/chats/${chatId}?markAsRead=false`);
                   metadata[chatId] = {
                     buyerId: chatResponse.data.buyerId,
                   };
@@ -91,7 +154,7 @@ export default function ChatNotifications() {
     const intervalId = setInterval(fetchUnreadCounts, 30000);
     
     return () => clearInterval(intervalId);
-  }, []);
+  }, [loading, previousUnreadTotal]);
   
   const handleChatClick = (chatId: string) => {
     router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${chatId}`);
diff --git a/public/notification.mp3 b/public/notification.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de51d68
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/notification.mp3 differ