Microsoft released Windows 11 in 2021, bringing back a prominent startup sound after Windows 8 and Windows 10 kept booting largely silent by default for most users. The short chime became familiar through new laptops, setup videos, and side-by-side comparisons with sounds from Windows XP and Windows 7. Tech creators then lifted it as a standalone clip for memes, parody operating systems, and fake boot sequences. It remains popular because a single play instantly communicates Microsoft's current desktop era without needing any logo or narration.