Microsoft released Windows 95 in 1995, and its startup sound was composed by musician Brian Eno, who was asked to create a short piece that felt welcoming, optimistic and futuristic. The brief melody played every time the system booted, making it one of the most heard sounds of the decade as home computers spread. Decades later it survives through retro computing videos, tech nostalgia compilations and meme edits, where it instantly signals the 1990s and the excitement of switching on a personal computer for the first time.
Über diesen Sound
The iconic Windows 95 startup chime, a brief synthesized melody from the classic operating system. Creators use it for retro tech jokes and nostalgic edits.
This is the short startup sound from Windows 95, a bright, rising synthesized melody that builds gently and resolves with a warm, optimistic swell before fading out. Lasting only a few seconds, it feels both futuristic for its time and instantly familiar, like the hum of an old computer waking up in a quiet room. Hearing it now triggers a wave of nostalgia for floppy disks, dial-up tones and chunky beige monitors, while also signalling a fresh start, a reboot or a joke about outdated technology. Its clean, hopeful tone makes even a simple edit feel polished and deliberately retro.
