From System Preferences > Sound Effects > Play sound on startup, I uncheck the box. When I uncheck this box the setting does not save, it persists on. If I uncheck it then go back, then forward, it's on again. If I uncheck, close System Preferences, then re-open, it's on again. I can't get this to save unchecked. What could be causing this to not save in the off position?
yes, disabling the startup chime in the system preferences SHOULD work. the terminal command i suggested should also work. before posting it, i tried on my machine to ensure it still worked in 11.3.1. i don't understand why those options are not working for you.
i'm thinking you should download and run the free version of EtreCheck so we can see if you have some software that is causing your issue. make sure you give "full disk access" to etrecheck. read how to use it by reading Using EtreCheck. you can see how to post the report here by reading How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report. and it automatically obscures sensitive things (like serial numbers) so you don't have to worry about sharing the report here.
yes, disabling the startup chime in the system preferences SHOULD work. the terminal command i suggested should also work. before posting it, i tried on my machine to ensure it still worked in 11.3.1. i don't understand why those options are not working for you.
i'm thinking you should download and run the free version of EtreCheck so we can see if you have some software that is causing your issue. make sure you give "full disk access" to etrecheck. read how to use it by reading Using EtreCheck. you can see how to post the report here by reading How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report. and it automatically obscures sensitive things (like serial numbers) so you don't have to worry about sharing the report here.
there are two things that may be an issue.
com.piriform.ccleaner.CCleanerAgent.plist (Piriform Ltd - installed 2021-05-07)
cleaner apps are not needed on macOS, and are known to cause issues.
and,
com.ipvanish.osx.vpnhelper.plist (Mudhook Marketing, Inc. - installed 2021-05-07)
vpn are not recommended.
i would first uninstall CCleaner per the developer's instructions, then test. if the issue persists, i would then remove the vpn, again per developer's instructions.
and there are a couple of other things i don't recognize. that doesn't indicate an issue. it just means you'll want to wait and see if someone else sees problem software that i'm not sure is an issue.
since the startup chime won't stay turned off through the system preferences panel, you can open terminal and copy and paste this command into it:
sudo nvram StartupMute=%01
then press "return". once you press return, you will be asked for your password. enter your admin password. restart your mac and the chime will be disabled.
If the system is muted before reboot it will not play, but will otherwise still play and the checkbox still won’t become deselected.
I'm thinking I might just need to reinstall macOS. I've had this laptop for like 2 days and am new to all this. Seems excessive to get a checkbox to work...
I was afraid I would only get useless answers like why do you install anything other than macOS... I'll likely have to reimage just to illustrate my point. This has never worked. And these are paid-for apps, not some junk you dont recognize and they both serve purposes and should operate in conjunction with a stupid mute button...
first, i didn't say anything like "only install macOS" if i did that would be like me saying "do as i say, not as i do".
second, cleaner apps ARE KNOWN to cause issues with macOS. there are many cases every day here where removing that stuff fixes the issue encountered. be they paid or free apps.
and as far as "some junk i don't recognize" as i said, just because you have things i don't recognize, it doesn't mean those things are issues.
so, have fun.
A bit jaded after just purchasing my first Mac; My apologies. Anyway, I sure "Had fun" erasing my drive and doing a fresh install to only macOS to determine it's nothing I added. So just a fresh install of 11.3.1 still exhibited the concern. All I can hope for is an update to resolve this bug I guess? I'm otherwise proud of not bricking it on my first ever attempt. Lol
Why won't this box stay unchecked?
Additionally; I have tried this command as well as sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=%00 and %80 and there's still a startup sound.
See the related article indicates you can disable the sound by unchecking the box, but the box will not remained unchecked and there's nothing I can do to disable this sound.
I attached the report.
That command and the other that turns sound on never worked for me either.
no apology necessary. i get it. when we encounter problems with our macs, it can be very stressful, no matter how small the issue. no hard feelings here. :)
Can't shut off system startup sound
