Start up chime back after macOS Security Update 2020-001 for Catalina

We have two 2018 Mac Minis. By default, the chime was off. Both shipped with Mojave.

When I installed Big Sur to an external drive for testing, it turned the chime on. The check box in Big Sur made it simple to turn back off.

Then the strange part. When we upgraded both Minis to Catalina, there was still no chime. And none through various updates until this latest security update. For some reason, it turned the chime on for one Mini, but not the other. Since there is no check box for it it Catalina, I had to do a quick hunt to find another way to turn it off.

Found the Terminal command and that was the end of that noise. 🙂

Open Terminal in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder.

To disable the Mac startup chime, copy/paste this command into the Terminal window:

sudo nvram StartupMute=%01

Press enter and provide your admin password if asked.

To re-enable the Mac startup chime, copy/paste this command.

sudo nvram StartupMute=%00

Interesting. While Big Sur has that check box, when I'm in Catalina, it doesn't exist.

The only way for me to kill the startup chime in Catalina is the Terminal command.

It's always been there just in a silent state. You could have always ran a terminal setting to activate it. I imagine since Apple turned it back on in Big Sur it might have done so in Catalina with the update. It's possible it was enabled by accident too since I don't see any access to turn it on or off in Preferences.

twmuse wrote:

Thanks, I knew about those terminal commands, but still trying to figure out if it was something Apple did or not.

Yes, they re-instated the start-up tone by popular demand

twmuse wrote:

If #1 why did apple not include the on/off checkbox in the sound preferences like Big Sur?

>System Preferences>Sound

Update to Big Sur if that makes you more happy.

You will have to ask Apple if you want to know the why...

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

Yes. probably after the last security update that I did but it happened at the same time I was testing Big Sur on external drive and noticed the chime on Big Sur so I was not sure what happened. Either way I do not mind the chime with Mojave.

And there is an option, but requires installed Big Sur to get that simple check box.

I've submitted a fair number of bug reports over the years. All but a couple were fixed, but always in the next OS. Not the one you were reporting it under.

Only major, disastrous bugs get fixed in the same OS. All others (in my experience) get pushed ahead.

I presume you mean a recent update to Mojave turned the chime on?

The Terminal command will turn it back off. I'm sure that's what the check box in Big Sur does, too.

I was suprised hearing the chime again. I kinda like it. I would rather have the choice to turn it off without the terminal command tho,

I am so happy that the chime is back with the Mac OS security update for Catalina and also for Big Sur! I love the chime it makes me really happy to hear it again. Its part of the soul of Macintosh!