Windows 11 was unveiled by Microsoft in June 2021 and released that October as the successor to Windows 10, bringing back a startup sound after Windows 10 had none by default. Its calm, ambient chime became part of the operating system's identity and was quickly clipped and shared online during the launch period. Because the sound is so closely tied to turning on a PC, creators kept reusing it outside Windows itself as shorthand for booting up, restarting, or a system coming back to life.
About this sound
The Windows 11 startup sound effect from Microsoft's operating system, a calm modern chime people use for PC boot ups, tech reveals and meme edits.
This is the modern Windows 11 system sound associated with the launch of Microsoft's operating system in 2021, built around a soft, layered electronic chime. It starts gently and resolves into a clean, airy tone that feels calm and futuristic compared with older Windows sounds. There is no voice or harsh hit, just a smooth digital swell that signals something powering on or being revealed. Viewers instantly read it as a computer starting up, so it lands as a familiar tech cue that can make an ordinary moment feel like a fresh system boot.