How to Change or Disable the Windows 11 Startup Sound

Windows 11 plays a short chime when you sign in, which can be pleasant or annoying depending on your mood. This guide shows you how to turn that sound off entirely or replace it with a custom sound file you prefer. You’ll need a Windows 11 PC with administrator rights, and if you want a custom sound, a .wav file (the only format Windows accepts for system sounds).

What You’ll Need

• Windows 11 PC with administrator account
• A .wav file (if you want to set a custom startup sound) – keep it short, under a few seconds

Step-by-Step

Option 1: Disable the Startup Sound Entirely

1. Open the Start menu and type Settings, then press Enter.
2. Go to Personalization (left sidebar).
3. Click Themes.
4. In the Themes page, look for the Sounds option (usually near the top right) and click it. This opens the classic Sound dialog.
5. In the Sound dialog, switch to the Sounds tab if it isn’t already selected.
6. In the Program Events list, scroll down and find Windows Logon (or Startup on some builds).
7. Click Windows Logon to select it.
8. In the Sounds drop-down menu at the bottom, select (None).
9. Click Apply, then OK to save the change.
10. Restart your PC to test – the startup chime should be gone.

Option 2: Change the Startup Sound to a Custom Sound

1. Prepare a .wav file (e.g., mysound.wav) and place it somewhere easy to find, like your Downloads folder.
2. Open Settings → Personalization → Themes → Sounds (same as above).
3. On the Sounds tab, select Windows Logon in the Program Events list.
4. Click the Browse button (next to the Sounds drop-down).
5. Navigate to your .wav file, select it, and click Open.
6. Click Test to preview the sound (optional).
7. Click Apply, then OK.
8. Restart your PC to hear the new startup sound.

Option 3: Turn Off All System Sounds (Alternative)

1. Open Settings → System → Sound.
2. Scroll down and click More sound settings (under Advanced).
3. In the Sound dialog, go to the Sounds tab.
4. In the Sound Scheme drop-down, select No Sounds.
5. Click Apply and OK. This disables all system sounds, including startup.

Common Mistakes

• Selecting the wrong event: Some users pick “Windows Logon” but the actual startup sound is under “Startup” (especially on older Windows versions). Check both if the sound persists.
• Using the wrong file format: Windows only accepts .wav for system sounds. MP3 or M4A files won’t appear in the browse dialog.
• Not applying changes: Forgetting to click “Apply” before “OK” can leave the old sound active.
• Editing the wrong scheme: If you change the sound under a custom scheme, it may not affect the default scheme used at startup. Stick to the default scheme (Windows Default).

Tips

• Keep your custom .wav file short (1–3 seconds) to avoid a long delay before the desktop appears.
• Make a backup of the original sound file if you plan to replace it manually (via file replacement), though the Settings method is safer.
• If you want to disable the sound only for a specific user, note that the startup sound is system-wide – it plays for all users. You can’t disable it per user via Settings.
• Test the sound immediately after applying by signing out and back in, rather than a full restart, to save time.

Troubleshooting

Sound still plays after setting to (None): Make sure you selected the correct event (Windows Logon) and clicked Apply. Also check if Fast Startup is enabled – it can sometimes cause the sound to play from a cached state. Disable Fast Startup via Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → Change settings that are currently unavailable → uncheck Turn on fast startup.

Custom sound doesn’t play: Verify the file is a valid .wav (try playing it in Windows Media Player). Also ensure the file isn’t too long or corrupted. Re-download or convert the file using a free converter if needed.

No Sound tab in Themes: If you don’t see the Sounds option, you might be on a version of Windows 11 that moved it. Search for “Change system sounds” in the Start menu and open it directly.

Changes revert after update: Windows updates can reset sound settings. After a major update, re-apply your changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find “Windows Logon” in the sound list?

On some Windows 11 builds, the event is named “Startup” instead. Check both names; if neither appears, the sound might be controlled by a different setting – try the “No Sounds” scheme option.

Can I use an MP3 file as my startup sound?

No. Windows system sounds only accept .wav files. You’ll need to convert your MP3 to .wav using a free converter or online tool.

Will disabling the startup sound speed up boot time?

Barely. The sound plays after the desktop loads, so it doesn’t affect boot speed. But it can reduce the time before you can interact with the desktop if the sound is long.

Does this affect the shutdown sound?

No. The shutdown sound is a separate event (“Windows Logoff” or “Windows Shutdown”). You can disable it the same way in the Sound dialog.

Can I set a different startup sound for each user?

No. The startup sound is system-wide and applies to all users. Each user can change other system sounds, but the logon sound is global.

Is there a registry hack to disable the startup sound?

Yes, but it’s not recommended for most users. You can modify the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\WindowsLogon\.Current to set an empty string, but it’s safer to use the Settings method to avoid system instability.

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