How Do I Turn Off All Microsoft Sounds?

Turning off all Microsoft sounds on your Windows PC can be achieved through several methods, ranging from a complete system mute to disabling specific sound schemes or application notifications. The most straightforward way to silence all sounds immediately is by adjusting your Master Volume.

1. Mute All Sounds Instantly with Master Volume

The quickest way to stop all sounds coming from your computer, including those from Microsoft applications and Windows system alerts, is by muting the master volume.

• Step 1: Click the Windows button (Start menu icon) and type "Sound" into the search bar.
• Step 2: From the search results, select Sound Settings.
• Step 3: In the Sound Settings window, locate the Master volume slider under the "Output" section.
• Step 4: Drag this slider all the way to the left (0) to mute all sounds coming from your system. This will effectively silence everything.

2. Disable System Event Sounds (Sound Scheme)

If you prefer to keep your overall volume active but want to turn off the specific beeps, chimes, and alerts associated with Windows system events (like emptying the Recycle Bin, new device connected, or critical battery warnings), you can change your sound scheme.

• Step 1: Right-click the Speaker icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) and select Sound settings.
• Step 2: In the Sound Settings window, scroll down and click on More sound settings or Sound Control Panel (depending on your Windows version). This will open the classic Sound dialog box.
• Step 3: Navigate to the Sounds tab.
• Step 4: Under the "Sound Scheme" dropdown menu, select "No Sounds".
• Step 5: Click Apply and then OK.

This action will prevent Windows from playing any sounds for standard system events, offering a quieter computing experience.

3. Manage Individual Application Volumes

Sometimes, you might want to keep system sounds but silence specific applications, especially Microsoft-related ones like Microsoft Edge, Outlook, or Teams. Windows allows you to control the volume for each app individually.

• Step 1: Right-click the Speaker icon in your system tray and select Open Sound settings.
• Step 2: In the Sound Settings window, scroll down to "Advanced sound options" or "App volume and device preferences" (depending on your Windows version) and click it.
• Step 3: Here, you will see a list of all currently open applications that are generating sound. You can drag the volume slider for any specific application (e.g., Microsoft Edge, Outlook, Xbox App) to 0 to mute it, or adjust it to your preferred level.

Quick Tip for Volume Mixer:

You can also right-click the Speaker icon and choose Open Volume Mixer for a quick way to adjust individual application volumes.

4. Turn Off Notification Sounds

Modern Windows applications, including many from Microsoft, use notifications that often come with sounds. You can disable these sounds system-wide or for specific apps.

• Step 1: Click the Windows button (Start menu icon) and select Settings (the gear icon).
• Step 2: Go to System > Notifications & actions.
• Step 3: To disable notification sounds globally, uncheck the box next to "Allow notifications to play sounds" or toggle it off.
• Step 4: To disable sounds for specific Microsoft applications, scroll down to the "Notifications from apps and other senders" section. Find the desired app (e.g., Mail, Calendar, Microsoft Teams) and click on it. Then, toggle off the option "Play a sound when a notification arrives."

5. Disable Windows Startup Sound

The classic Windows startup chime can also be turned off for a completely silent boot experience.

• Step 1: Right-click the Speaker icon in your system tray and select Sound settings.
• Step 2: Click on More sound settings or Sound Control Panel.
• Step 3: Go to the Sounds tab.
• Step 4: Uncheck the box next to "Play Windows Startup sound."
• Step 5: Click Apply and then OK.

Summary of Methods to Turn Off Microsoft Sounds

Here's a quick overview of the methods discussed:

Method	Effect	Quick Steps
Master Volume	Mutes all sounds instantly.	Windows Key > Type "Sound" > Sound Settings > Drag Master volume to 0.
Sound Scheme ("No Sounds")	Disables Windows system event sounds.	Right-click Speaker > Sound settings > More sound settings > Sounds tab > Sound Scheme: "No Sounds".
App Volume Mixer	Mutes/adjusts sound for specific applications.	Right-click Speaker > Open Sound settings > App volume and device preferences (or Open Volume Mixer).
Notification Sounds	Disables sounds for app notifications.	Settings > System > Notifications & actions > Toggle "Allow notifications to play sounds" or per-app sound.
Windows Startup Sound	Disables the sound played when Windows starts.	Right-click Speaker > Sound settings > More sound settings > Sounds tab > Uncheck "Play Windows Startup sound."

By utilizing these methods, you can gain complete control over all Microsoft-related sounds on your Windows device, tailoring your audio experience to your preferences.