Microsoft launched Windows 11 in 2021 with a new, softer startup chime designed to feel calm and welcoming, a return to the distinctive boot sounds of earlier Windows versions. The standard sound is quiet by design, so louder edits quickly became popular on soundboards, TikTok and YouTube, where creators use the amplified version for jokes, reveals and tech content. Its familiarity keeps it instantly recognisable, even for viewers who have only heard it once when turning on a new laptop.
About this sound
The loud Windows 11 startup chime, a bright melody that plays when the system boots. It is used for tech reveals, setup videos and PC nostalgia clips.
The clip is the Windows 11 startup sound amplified to a much louder level than the gentle chime Microsoft ships with the system. It opens with a soft, shimmering synth swell that quickly builds into a clear, uplifting four-note melody, bright and clean rather than harsh, before fading out in just over three seconds. Played at full volume, the familiar jingle feels suddenly dramatic and attention-grabbing, turning an everyday boot-up cue into a punchline or a reveal. Viewers instantly recognise it from their own computers, which makes it feel both nostalgic and slightly absurd when it bursts out unexpectedly.
