How to enable and change the Startup sound in Windows 10

Windows 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 booted successfully.

When you select the shutdown option, Fast Boot puts your PC in a 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 10 Startup sound

You can change the Windows 10 startup sound by following the steps below:

1. Disable Fast startup.
2. Enable the Startup sound.
3. Enable the Logon sound from the Windows Registry.
4. 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 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 10 startup sound

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.

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.

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.

Date: September 17, 2020 Tags: Sound

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Keshi Ile is a Windows enthusiast who loves to write How-to’s, Gadget & software reviews, and tech tutorials. He has also managed SEO teams that grew businesses from zero traffic to authority status.

Winhistory.de

Windows starting-sounds

The visitcard of windows is the music, which will played when windows is starting.

All single files can be found here:

Windows 3.1x & Windows NT 3.xx

Tada.wav called this start-up sound, which is just a second.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

The Shutdown Sound: Xylophon.wav

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows 3.1(1) for Workgroups

Interestingly, the other way around WfW uses the sounds for starting and ending as the normal 3.1 versions and NT. It is the shortest sound with less than a second. Original name Xylophon.wav

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Shutdown Sound tada.wav.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows 95 (all)

The Windows 95 startup sound is something special. The first time it was not just a simple signal, but a jingle. The story behind it is something with Brian Eno, on a separate page . Duration: about 6 seconds.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Nothing per default, but when installing all audio files in setup and load the default sound scheme you hear the shutdown sound tada.wav.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows NT 4.0

Actually, the login sound. Duration 10 seconds.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

The log off Sound.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows 98 (SE)

The modern interpretation of the Windows 95 Sound. Duration of approximately 7 seconds.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Nothing per default, but when installing all audio files in setup and load the default sound scheme you hear the logoff sound.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

NT 5.0 (Win 2000 Beta)

Probably the strangest sound. Created for a beta version, not used in the final product. Matthew A Felton was an composer. Duration 13 seconds.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows Me & Windows 2000

The Windows 2000 Sound is just 5 seconds.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

No sound per default. With ME you have to load the non-default `Windows-defaultВґ sound scheme. In Win 2000 the file is present, but not used in the default scheme.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows XP

Lasts 4 seconds. Unfortunately there is no information about the artist.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

The Logoff sound.

Streaming	MP3	Wave
	🎧	💾

Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10

Length: 4 second. Watch a Making of Video on Channel 9.

Windows 10 Startup Sound does not play

This Is not a new issue with Windows 10, BUT it is still a problem that I have and, it seems from all of the posts I have seen, many others have as well.

Since it was released, the Windows 10 Startup sound will no t play after the initial load/update — build be darned!

Is this something that is being addressed by Microsoft or is it an item that will never work?

Is there something that I or anyone else can do to apply a little pressure somewhere to get this fixed?

How do others who are experiencing this problem cope with this obvious lack of concern from Microsoft?

I appreciate your response and your opinion.

Replies (8) 

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are facing issues with Windows 10. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

The issue could occur if there is change in sound settings.

To assist you better, please provide us the below information:

• Have you made any change to the computer prior to the issue?

I suggest you to perform the below steps and check if it helps.

1. Click on Search bar.

2. Then type «Sound» without the quotes in the search bar and click on it.

3. Click on Sound tab.

4. Then check mark on Play Windows Startup sound.

5. Click on Apply and click on Ok.

Reply to us with the information, so that we can assist you better.

Let us know if you need any further assistance on Windows related issues and we will be glad to help.

22 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thank you for your reply. However, the very issue that I am complaining about is the issue that is contained in your answer.

No matter how or who reports this problem with the Win10 startup sound not playing, the answer is always that same—— check the box that says ‘Play Windows Sounds On Start-up.’

I am sorry, that does not solve the problem; it has never solved the problem, and Microsoft continues to offer it as the ‘fix’ for the no sound issue.

I have applied every update of Windows 10; the problem persisted, I upgraded to Windows 10.1 and applied every update; the problem persisted. And, each and every time I or anyone else reports the problem or questions the status of the problem, the answer given is always ‘check the box to play the startup sound!’

I am sorry, but there must be a solution that works.

I can make the Windows 10 Startup Sound play by going into the Power Options (under Control Panel) and turning ‘OFF’ the fast start option. If I turn that option ‘ON’ there is no sound. I do not want to use the No fast start option because (in my case) it takes five times as long to start up the system. It should not take five times longer to initialize a system just to here a startup sound.

Anyone have a solution?

14 people found this reply helpful

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thank you for your response with the current status of the issue.

I suggest you to create a new power plan and check if the issue occurring or not.

1. Type «Power Options» without the quotes in Search box next to Start Menu and click on it.

2. Click on create a power plan.

Let us know if you need any further assistance on Windows related issues and we will be glad to help.

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

I want to thank you for your two responses to my problem. Neither of your suggestions corrected the issue.

Let me re-state the problem again: Windows startup Sound does not play!

I can make it play by turning ‘OFF’ Windows Fast start on the Power Options selections, but that really, really slows down the startup process. If I turn ‘ON’ the Windows Fast Start Option, there is no startup sound. All I want is Windows Startup Sound and Fast Start to work together as they are supposed to work together.

THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM — IT GOES BACK TO WINDOWS 10 PRE-RELEASE. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TIME AND AGAIN, AND IS STILL A PROBLEM RIGHT UP TO THE LATEST UPDATE TO WINDOWS 10.1. EACH TIME IT IS REPORTED THE ANSWER IS THE SAME ONE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME. THAT ANSWER DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

8 people found this reply helpful

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Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thank you for your response with the current status of the issue. Sorry to know that you are still facing the issue.

To assist you better, please provide us the below information:

• Is the issue occurring with different computer?

Refer to the below methods and check if it helps.

Refer to the below methods and check if it helps.

Method 1: I suggest you to update all the pending Windows updates and also update all the Device drivers. Check if it helps. If the issues still persist, refer to the below method.

Method 2: I suggest you to create a new Local User Account and check if you are facing the same issues in it or not.

Reply to us with the information, so that we can assist you better.

Let us know if you need any further assistance on Windows related issues and we will be glad to help.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

6 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thank you for your reply. However, the very issue that I am complaining about is the issue that is contained in your answer.

No matter how or who reports this problem with the Win10 startup sound not playing, the answer is always that same—— check the box that says ‘Play Windows Sounds On Start-up.’

I am sorry, that does not solve the problem; it has never solved the problem, and Microsoft continues to offer it as the ‘fix’ for the no sound issue.

I have applied every update of Windows 10; the problem persisted, I upgraded to Windows 10.1 and applied every update; the problem persisted. And, each and every time I or anyone else reports the problem or questions the status of the problem, the answer given is always ‘check the box to play the startup sound!’

I am sorry, but there must be a solution that works.

I can make the Windows 10 Startup Sound play by going into the Power Options (under Control Panel) and turning ‘OFF’ the fast start option. If I turn that option ‘ON’ there is no sound. I do not want to use the No fast start option because (in my case) it takes five times as long to start up the system. It should not take five times longer to initialize a system just to here a startup sound.

Anyone have a solution?

The Fast Startup option is a hybrid hibernate power state that when enabled does not actually exit Windows, so there is no Windows «startup» to play the Startup Sound. The article linked (may have to cut and paste) below will help to answer your questions and provides some solutions. The comments after the article may be helpful too. It was written for Windows 8 but will work for 10 also.