imicanada

Q: How do I turn off startup sound?

Every computer I ever had, the first thing I do is to turn off the startup sound because it is very annoying in a public place and sometimes in a quiet place. I have not been able to find out how to trun it off on my Air. I asked the guys at the stores and they just say you can't. That is really dumb. I turned off my speaker but that is not a practical way because I may not remember to turn it off when I shut down.

The question is how do I turn it off permenantly.

Love to know.

Thanks.

Glenn

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 4, 2012 12:50 AM

Close

Q: How do I turn off startup sound?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 of 7 last Next
  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Jun 4, 2012 1:27 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 1:27 AM in response to imicanada

    There are third party utilities like Psst that can control the boot chime volume.  But I recommend you  really don't want to turn it off.  It's not just there to say "hey, I'm booting successfully".  It's also there to say "hey, I can't boot, there's something wrong, and I'll send you a special beep code to tell you what my problem is".

     

    Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2

     

    It's also there to tell you "hey, you can push your special key sequence to to a pram reset, smc reset, boot into lion recovery partition, and a bunch of other special boot sequences.

     

    Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs

     

    So if you use these utilities, I recommend you turn the volume down if you want, but not completely off.  Check out Psst and look at the Similar Software section lower in that page I linked to.

  • by imicanada,

    imicanada imicanada Jun 4, 2012 2:09 AM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 2:09 AM in response to X423424X

    Thanks,

    I have checked previous discussions. I think it ought to be user's choice to use it or not. Seems to me I will know if the computer booted properly after a few seconds. I have had the tone and it still didn't boot properly so I don't think it is that useful.

    Anyway, I still think it should be a built in choice for the user. It is very annoying in a public, or quiet situation.

    I checked out Psst but it cost money. I don't feel I should pay for something that the computer should offer as a choice. The other system do.

    The one freeware is not compatible to OS X 10.7.4.

    I will check out some of the links you suggested.

    Thanks,

    Glenn

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Jun 4, 2012 2:38 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 2:38 AM in response to imicanada

    We'll agree to disagree.  Those beep tones may not be useful to you but if you post here with a boot problem odds are someone is going to ask you if you are getting any warning chimes.  And even if you are not odds are even higher you might be asked to to a pram reset, safe boot, or boot from the lion recovery partition to run Disk Utility to repair your drive, and so on.  These are all standard basic diagnostic techniques that require the boot chime to do them.

  • by imicanada,

    imicanada imicanada Jun 4, 2012 4:45 AM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 4:45 AM in response to X423424X

    Thanks anyway....

    Cheers,

    Glenn

  • by funky_pat,

    funky_pat funky_pat Jul 29, 2012 12:50 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (11 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 29, 2012 12:50 AM in response to imicanada

    I agree with the OP on this one. The default startup sound should be an option.

     

    On the rebuttal regarding warning chimes, why can't they be separate? Not having the default startup sound shouldn't necessarily disable warning chimes.

     

    If anyone here knows of a way to disable the default startup sound for Mac OS 10.6.8, please chime in (pun intended). Thanks.

  • by rockhopper09,

    rockhopper09 rockhopper09 Aug 21, 2012 2:20 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 21, 2012 2:20 AM in response to imicanada

    Glenn,

     

    I agree that the Startup sound is annoying.  A simple option in General settings would fix this, but I guess Apple will never make this possible.

     

    I found this app which appears to work with Mountain Lion

     

    http://www.allvu.com/index.php/sndownloadpage.html

     

    I hope Apple will actually hear the millions of users that want this option.  My ipad and iphone do not go BONNNG!! so why does my Mac have to do the this.  How about at least make the option to change the sound to be the iphone "Drop" or some Apple chime that is quieter.

  • by DuckieT00,

    DuckieT00 DuckieT00 Aug 21, 2012 9:06 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 21, 2012 9:06 AM in response to imicanada

    Have you tried the free app 'volume reset' by Avery deGruchy?

     

    Free from the app store, mute or reduce the volume of the startup chime and no longer be hated or mocked by anyone nearby. It's a must have. Gets rid of Apple one big problem lack of volume adjustment of the BOINGGG!!.

  • by Tsuma,

    Tsuma Tsuma Aug 21, 2012 9:59 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 21, 2012 9:59 AM in response to imicanada

    To disable the startup sound that plays when you turn on your mac, simply hold down the mute button while pressing the power button. Keep it held down for a while, until after the sound would have normally played.

  • by Lil Gee,

    Lil Gee Lil Gee Sep 20, 2012 5:20 PM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 20, 2012 5:20 PM in response to imicanada

    i recently bought an iMac and having used windows PCs previously, i find this lack of being able to turn off the start up sound down right annoying. i am usually awake when the rest of my household is asleep, so to have my iMac tell the whole world it's starting up is not in the least bit useful.

     

    i have earphones constantly plugged in, and i thought, oh the sound will play through them, like it does on windows, but oh no... i tried muting the sound, like i have on my windows computers, but again to no avail. say what you will about windows, they've got the sound settings i like!

     

    why must apple dictate to us like this? it really is the simple things like this that make people see brands in a negative light. and have me saying, you know what? macs aren't all they're cracked up to be!!

     

    @X423424X - surely apple are genius enough to let us turn the startup sound off, yet if there is a problem on boot up, a 'special chime' would still sound. doesn't seem that hard to me, microsoft clearly managed it.

     

    plus if my mac isn't going to boot up, i don't really need a little chime to tell me that, i'm going to notice...

  • by del_boy_56,

    del_boy_56 del_boy_56 Nov 19, 2012 2:03 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 19, 2012 2:03 PM in response to X423424X

    I usaly reboot my imac from 50 miles away. Does anyone know how to make the noise louder so I can hear it, otherwise I don't what is happening?

    Oh yes the people in my office call me up anyway - no problem.

  • by tirian13,

    tirian13 tirian13 Nov 25, 2012 8:32 PM in response to rockhopper09
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2012 8:32 PM in response to rockhopper09

    Running OS 10.8.2 on Mac book air.  This link took me to a free application called "Start Ninja".  Downloaded the program and it works perfectly.  Thanks so much Rockhopper 09!

  • by Knighstalker,

    Knighstalker Knighstalker Jan 30, 2013 3:47 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2013 3:47 AM in response to imicanada
  • by shronecooke,

    shronecooke shronecooke Apr 8, 2013 12:26 AM in response to rockhopper09
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 8, 2013 12:26 AM in response to rockhopper09

    Does not work with iMac - pity - that piano chord noise reminds me of my Grandad playing hymns on a Sunday morning!

  • by darksouljp,

    darksouljp darksouljp Apr 21, 2013 4:30 AM in response to imicanada
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2013 4:30 AM in response to imicanada

    NONE OF THE ABOVE WORKS FOR ME!

    imac/Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5

     

    I find this great solution...

    <This is a Direct Download Link>

    MuteCon for Mac OS

    or go to http://homepage1.nifty.com/macbs/download.htm#MuteCon

    mutec202.dmg(90.3KB)(recent version)

    is a japanese site but the app is in english.

    this app mute the sound before exit and demute after boot.

    works with Lion/snow leopard/ Mointain Lion

    set the preferences like this

    Captura de Tela 2013-04-21 às 19.06.56.png

    and add to Admin User acount to launch on startup.

    So easy...I can not believe I lost so much time.

    Help to spread the word!!!

     

    <Edited By Host>

Page 1 of 7 last Next