The Iconic Apple Chime
One of the most recognizable features of an Apple computer is the iconic startup chime—a loud, resonant C-major chord that plays the moment you press the power button or restart the machine. This sound is deeply ingrained in the macOS experience, signifying that the computer has successfully passed its initial hardware diagnostic checks and is beginning to boot the operating system.
However, while nostalgic, this loud sound can be highly disruptive in modern environments. If you are starting up your MacBook during a quiet lecture, in a library, or late at night while your partner is sleeping, the sudden boom of the startup chime is embarrassing and intrusive. If you prefer your Mac to power on completely silently, allowing you to boot up discreetly in any environment, you must explicitly disable this startup sound.
How to Silence the Startup Chime
You can prevent the startup sound from playing via your System Settings.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings… (or System Preferences).
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Sound.
- In the right-hand pane, look at the very top section (usually under the Sound Effects tab).
- Locate the toggle switch or checkbox labelled Play sound on startup.
- Click the toggle switch to turn it Off (or uncheck the box).
From now on, when you press the power button or restart your Mac, it will boot up in total silence. You can test this immediately by clicking the Apple Logo and selecting Restart.