Windows sure likes to make a lot of noise. You get sound bites every time you connect a new device, receive a new email, or get an error. Most of the times these sounds are pleasing and helpful.
However, there may be occasions when a certain sound may be annoying or unwanted. Or perhaps, you want to change the sound scheme to match the custom theme you have created, replace the default Windows sounds with different ones.
This is exactly what we’ll do today!
Customize sounds in Windows 11
Windows offers a handy little tool that lets you control and customize the sounds you hear throughout the operating system. It allows you to turn sounds on or off for certain events, or replace the default sounds with the ones you have downloaded from the internet.
And although this Sound tool has not changed much from how it first arrived on the scene, it suffices when it comes to managing your Windows sounds.
Access it by following the below steps:
- Open up the Settings.
- Make sure you are under the System tab.
- Here, click on Sound.
- Scroll down to More sound setting, and click on it.
The Sound applet will open up.
You can also get to this panel via the Control Panel route by going to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound. While the initial method works on Windows 11, this way is universal, and works in every version of Windows.
Change sounds in Windows 11
With the panel now open, go to the Sounds tab here to change the various sounds that play when certain events occur in Windows and installed programs. These events are usually actions that you perform or an alert that is performed automatically.
- Use a sound scheme: These are available via the dropdown menu, with two primary options being no sounds and Windows default. Any new scheme you customize can be saved and accessed here.
- Change sounds: This can be done in the Program Events list. Simply click the event that you want to assign a new sound for, and then choose the sound you want to associate with it. You can also click on Browse and locate your custom sound file.
- Test sounds: To get a sense of what your chosen sound is like, you can click Test to hear the various sounds in your scheme.
Click on Apply, and then the OK button once you are done.
Download more sounds for Windows
Now that you know how to change sounds on Windows 11 systemwide, it is time to find some new sounds that are up your alley. There are a number of quality sound resources that offer free files that you can download and use.
If you are fan of Windows Phone, and want to relive those notifications, then this post has a link to a folder that contains both Windows Phone 7 and Windows 10 Mobile sounds.
Another invaluable sound resource is the BBC Sound Effects library. Here you will find thousands upon thousands of files that can be used to customize the auditory experience on Windows 11. At last count, a total of 33,066 sounds are available across 23 categories.
Fans and longtime users of the Windows operating system will also appreciate the Windows Sounds website. It offers sounds and sound schemes, including the ones that shipped by default with the various versions of the OS.
Everything from Windows 3.11 to Windows 98 and even Windows 10X are available here.
