The Auditory Disruption Vector
Unlike Windows 10, which remained largely silent during the boot process, Microsoft intentionally engineered Windows 11 to play a distinct, melodic chime every single time the operating system reaches the Lock Screen. If you are booting up a laptop in a quiet university lecture hall, a library, or a bedroom late at night, this uncommanded auditory announcement is highly disruptive. If you leave your speakers turned up, the chime can be surprisingly loud.
How to Turn Off Startup Sounds
You must dive into the legacy Sound Control Panel to sever this specific audio trigger without muting your entire computer.
1. Open the Start Menu and click the Settings gear icon (or press the Windows Key + I).
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Personalization.
3. In the main pane, click on Themes.
4. Look near the top of the Themes page for the button labelled Sounds (it usually displays the text “Windows Default” underneath it). Click this button.
5. A small, legacy dialogue box titled “Sound” will appear, resting on the Sounds tab.
6. Look at the very bottom of this specific tab, directly below the scrolling list of “Program Events.”
7. Locate the checkbox labelled Play Windows Startup sound.
8. Uncheck this box.
9. Click Apply, then click OK.
The operating system will instantly save the configuration. The next time you restart your computer, it will boot in absolute silence, respecting your local acoustic environment.