This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable playing the Windows startup sound for all users in Windows 11.
The startup sound was disabled by default in Windows 10.
The startup sound for Windows 11 has returned in which you will hear when your PC boots up to the Lock screen and is ready to go for you to sign in.
- Option One: Turn On or Off Play Windows Startup Sound in Sounds Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Play Windows Startup Sound using REG file
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Windows Startup Sound in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Windows Startup Sound using REG file
EXAMPLE: Windows 11 startup sound
Video by Tom Warren.
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on the Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Themes on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Sounds at the top. (see screenshot below)
4 In the Sounds tab, check (on - default) or uncheck (off) the Play Windows Startup sound box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close Settings if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORDs in the registry keys below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\BootAnimation
DisableStartupSound DWORD
0 = On
1 = Off
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\EditionOverrides
UserSetting_DisableStartupSound DWORD
0 = On
1 = Off
1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four to set this same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
3 In the right pane of Logon in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Turn off Windows Startup sound policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable), step 6 (disable), or step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.
This will override Option One and Option Two.
This will check and gray out the Play Windows Startup sound check box in Option One.
This will override Option One and Option Two.
This will uncheck and gray out the Play Windows Startup sound check box in Option One.
This will allow using Option One and Option Two.
8 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
DisableStartupSound DWORD
<delete> = Default user choice
0 = Always enable
1 = Always disable
1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.
This will override Option One and Option Two.
This will check and gray out the Play Windows Startup sound check box in Option One.
This will override Option One and Option Two.
This will uncheck and gray out the Play Windows Startup sound check box in Option One.
This will allow using Option One and Option Two.
5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
