MS-Windows Platform and Tips & Tricks Tobi on 20 May 2008 01:11 pm
Turn-off Beep When Changing Volume in Windows
Read on to find out how to turn off the annoying sound when changing the volume in Windows. Two steps are necessary to make sure no beep will be heard.
The Windows system tray typically shows a speaker symbol in the system tray. Clicking on it allows setting or muting of all system sounds. If you don’t see the speaker symbol, then go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices and select the check box “Place volume icon in the task bar” in the “Volume” tab:
When all settings are at their default, then a sound will play when the volume is changed. When the mute box is selected, no sound will play. To turn off the volume changing sound even when the mute box is not selected, two steps are necessary. Most other websites only mention the first one:
Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices, go to the “Sounds” tab, and select the “Default Beep” from the “Program Events” list:
![](http://drjunker.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/default_beep_on.png "Select \\"Default Beep\\"")
Next, select “None” from the Sounds menu below:
![](http://drjunker.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/default_beep_off.png "Turn off \\"Default Beep\\"")
This menu is also useful for turning off all sort of other annoying sounds, such the sounds when starting and shutting down windows, when connecting USB devices, etc.
Unfortunately, turning off the default beep may have quite the opposite effect. Depending on the setting in the “Volume Control” panel, the default beep may be replaced with a very loud PC Speaker Beep. Unlike the Default Beep, which was played at the selected volume, the PC Speaker Beep has only one sound level, and it is very loud, especially, when listening through headphones.
To turn it off, double-click the speaker icon in the system tray. If the mixer does not show a slider for the PC speaker, then you need to turn it on via the Options>Properties dialog:
Finally, mute the PC speaker, to silence the PC Beep for good:
I found the the tip for this crucial second step in this discussion.
on 21 May 2008 at 13:45 # Optimality! » Windows Tweaks Repository
[...] my search to turn off the annoying beep when changing the volume in Windows (see previous post), I stumbled across this site that has a host of tips and tricks how to customize and tweak various [...]
on 12 Aug 2008 at 11:01 # naaman
ok so for me it didnt work but i did find this tip in one search
so eventually i found a way that worked for me so i wana add it in here
on my hp laptop i dont have a pc speaker channel in the internal audio card so i cant mute the pc speaker so got stuck with the stupid beep
when every other windows sound is off and win makes no sound at all
so i simply : created a 0.1 sec silnced wav file on a audio editing software and made that to be the default beep.
sharing info is good
on 12 Aug 2008 at 11:49 # Tobi
Naaman, are you sure you don’t have PC-Speaker channel, or is it simply not displayed in the volume control panel. If the former, then, yes, your trick works, but is not as elegant. You may need to turn on the PC Speaker slider as explained above via the Options>Properties dialog.
on 15 Aug 2008 at 19:11 # LadyFrog
Thank you!! That beep on my laptop was driving me nuts and not being anything close to a tech, I despaired of getting rid of it. But your instructions were so clear and in plain English, it was a snap to quiet the noisy beast. The screen shots were a great help too.
on 17 Sep 2008 at 16:17 # Stef
Muting the PC Speaker wasn’t enough for me, still a beep.
Elsewhere I found this, and this worked:
Go to Control Panel>System>Hardware Tab>Device Manager. Click on “View” and then on “Show Hidden Devices.” Expand “Non Plug and Play Drivers,” right click on “Beep” and click on “Disable.” You will have to reboot for the change to take effect.
Other beeps (like with starting up your machine), not heard as well!
on 10 Oct 2008 at 10:22 # Baron Von Kerplunk
System beep is a b!tch.
I tried the ones posted in the blog, no good.
Then did what Stef posted and it did the job.
Cheers Stef!
on 11 Dec 2008 at 17:23 # sean
THANK YOU! That beep has made me crazy for years!
on 13 Dec 2008 at 12:14 # joe
works. my ears owe you a debt of gratitude!
on 18 Dec 2008 at 15:22 # Brian
Many computers do not have the PC speaker listed in the Properties dialog as described above.
All hail Stef for the real correct answer!
on 15 Apr 2009 at 16:52 # Amy
Thanks Stef, u are the best. I love you.
on 17 Apr 2009 at 11:39 # Melissa
Thank God! That was soooo annoying and loud through headphones….
on 08 Aug 2009 at 10:04 # Susan
Stef — thank you, thank you!
on 15 Sep 2009 at 20:12 # Z
I’d opened and fiddled with so many different settings, and it wasn’t until seeing your point about PC Speaker Volume that I was able to fix this annoying feature – Thank you!
It was startling every single time I was at work with my headphones on, rocking away, and then needing to turn the volume up or down , way louder than the main volume setting.
Thank you thank you!
on 28 Jan 2010 at 12:37 # Jardy
i found this somewhere. worked for me.
………………
These commands assume administrative rights on the PC.
To temporarily disable the PC Speaker beep:
net stop beep
To disable the PC Speaker beep for good (until you undo this setting):
sc config beep start= disabled
So, if you are bothered right now by PC Speaker beeps and want them to go away even after a reboot, run net stop beep and then run sc config beep start= disabled.
on 28 Jan 2010 at 13:40 # Tobi
Interesting. I hadn’t heard about this before. I also have not tried it. Note that the commands mentioned in the previous post need to be entered at the command line. More information can, e.g., be found here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/kb00838671.aspx
on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:11 # tahwos
Tobi, In reference to the post by naaman, some PC’s just do not have the PC speaker listed in the Volume Control Properties, especially newer systems that utilize the High-Definition Audio Bus (re: KB888111). The existence of the PC speaker in the property section is a carry over from PCI sound cards and motherboards (with on-board sound ala AC ’97) that have the speaker as part of their architecture. That being said, the only way to access the system beep directly, is through the registry and device manager. While the “fix” that naaman mentions might not be as elegant, most PC users want the simple solution, and creating a blank WAV file fits that description. Most users already know how to access the sounds and themes to customize their computer, as well as using their machine to edit audio and video. Pointing them towards C:\Windows\Media or using the Browse button to find their creation is the most suitable solution. It is also portable, as their personalized sound scheme will most likely get carried over with any upgrades and not get wiped out by new installations of hardware or operating systems.
In reference to the “trick” posted by Jardy, I believe this only works if you have the Messenger Service turned on in Administrative Tools, which provides a huge security hole and is normally turned off in XP SP2 and later. The command has changed to MSG in Vista and Windows 7, as well as the perspective service involved; Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ). I do not know if these changes to Windows are compatible with the older Messenger Service used in XP and its predecessors. As a word of caution though, the NET SEND and MSG commands are mainly used in business environments that have their computers behind massive amounts security (Firewalls) or are totally isolated from the outside world; sometimes even on different networks from the office computers. The Services that need to be activated in order for these commands to work, pose a security risk that the average user should not take lightly; the same goes for messing around with the system registry. The command line is provided as a tool for hands-on troubleshooting and problem solving; any use for vanity should be done with the utmost amount of care and understanding.
The first step towards achievement is not knowing where to tread, but where not to.
on 19 May 2010 at 9:33 # Rachel
Thanks so much Stef, extremely useful!
on 13 Aug 2010 at 13:57 # Swati
Thanks Tobi!…Your suggestion worked for me! Big relief from that irritating beep!