If you want to change the startup sound in Windows 11 or Windows 10 computers, here is how you can do that. In short, you can customize the startup sound of Windows 11 by enabling the Fast startup and using the Sounds panel that is already included and available on Windows 11/10 PC.
Windows 11/10 goes down arguably as the easiest-to-use computer operating system around. Among many great features it offers, its auditory signals notify you of when your attention is needed or when a task has been completed. Windows offers audio notifications for battery alerts, errors, disconnection of peripherals, a complete Startup, and much more.
The Startup sound is the most common many users are used to. To show how serious it meant to them, Microsoft contacted Brian Eno, a significant pioneer of ambient music, to play the Startup sound for Windows 95. As you know, each sound is a notification of some sort; the Startup sound indicates that the system has been booted successfully.
When you select the shutdown option, Fast Boot puts your PC in Hibernate mode, and when you restart it, it quickly turns your PC on, skipping the Start sound and restoring it to where you left off. So to change the sound, you have first to disable Fast Boot.
How to change the Windows 11 Startup sound
You can change the Windows 11/10 startup sound by following the steps below:
- Disable Fast startup.
- Enable the Startup sound.
- Enable the Logon sound from the Windows Registry.
- Customize the startup sound from Windows Settings.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the above steps to show you how to go about them.
1] Disable Fast startup
Microsoft gave up the startup sound to make way for the Fast startup feature in Windows 11/10. Fast startup works by keeping all your programs and applications running even after you shut down your PC.
You need to open your Power Options by right-clicking on the battery icon on your taskbar. Next, click on Choose what the power buttons do.
On the next screen, go to Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck the box labeled Turn on fast start (recommended) and finally, click on the Save changes button.
2] Enable Windows 11/10 startup sound
Take these steps to enable the Startup Sound on Windows 11.
Press the Windows key + I combination to open Windows Settings.
Go to Personalization and select Themes from the left-hand panel.
Locate and click the Sound button then mark the Play Windows Startup sound checkbox, which is under the Sounds tab.
Click on OK to confirm the settings.
3] Enable the logon sound from the Windows Registry
Please, follow the steps below carefully as they may seem a bit complicated. You will be working with the Registry Editor to change your PC’s Startup sound.
Type in Regedit in the Run dialogue box and click OK.
Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/AppEvents/EventLabels
Locate:
WindowsLogon
Click ExcludeFromCPL on WindowsLogon.
Next, change the Value data from 1 to 0.
Hit OK.
4] Customize the Startup sound from Windows Settings
Open Windows Settings and select Personalization > Themes. Click on Sounds and then scroll down to the Program Events list. Find and click on the Windows Logon option then select Browse. Locate your customized .WAV Start sound from File Explorer, Apply the changes, and click on OK.
Read: Nine Nostalgic Tech Sounds you probably haven’t heard in years.
Change the startup sound using free tool
The complexity involved in the method above is a path not everyone is willing to take. However, with a third-party tool like Startup Sound Changer, you can go about this easily. If you decide to use Startup Sound Changer, follow the steps below.
Go to its official site and download and install the application. Launch the app and select the Replace button from the options presented. Find your desired sound with the Windows Explorer and select it.
Note: Windows Startup sound can only be in the .WAV audio format.
Read: How to fix continuous beeping sound at startup in Windows PC
How to customize startup Sound in Windows 11?
Although you can enable or disable the startup sound in Windows 11 without any app, you need to use a third-party app to customize the same on your computer. First, you need to enable the Fast startup and open the Sounds panel to enable the Play Windows Startup sound checkbox. Then, you can use the Startup Sound Changer app to get the job done.
Can I change my PC startup Sound?
Yes, you can change your PC startup sound in Windows 11/10 PC. For that, you need to enable the Play Windows Startup sound setting first. Then, you can use the Startup Sound Changer app that is a freeware available for Windows 11 as well as Windows 10. However, you need to change the value data of ExcludeFromCPL from 1 to 0 too.
