How do I turn off all Microsoft sounds?

To effectively turn off all Microsoft sounds on your Windows PC, you have several options, ranging from muting all system audio to specifically disabling Windows system sounds, notification alerts, and sounds within individual Microsoft applications.

Mute All System Audio (Quickest Method)

The fastest way to ensure silence for all sounds, including those generated by Microsoft software, is to mute your computer's master volume. This will silence everything, from system alerts to media playback.

Using the Master Volume Control

1. Click the Windows Start button (or press the Windows key).
2. Type Sound into the search bar.
3. From the search results, select Sound settings.
4. In the Sound settings window, locate the Master volume slider, usually found at the top.
5. Drag the slider all the way to the left, setting it to 0. This action will mute all system sounds instantly.
6. Alternatively, you can click the speaker icon next to the volume slider to toggle mute on or off.

Disable Specific Windows System Sounds

If you want to turn off sounds related to Windows events (like startup, shutdown, errors, or notifications) while potentially keeping other application sounds active, you can adjust your sound scheme.

Adjusting Sound Scheme Settings

1. Click the Windows Start button (or press the Windows key).
2. Type Sound and select Sound Control Panel from the search results (you might see "Change system sounds" as an option).
3. In the Sound dialog box that appears, click on the Sounds tab.
4. Under the "Sound Scheme" dropdown menu, select No Sounds.
5. Click Apply, then OK to save your changes.

This action will turn off sounds for common Windows events like critical stop, new mail notification, Windows startup, and more, ensuring a quieter operating system experience.

Manage Notification Sounds

Many Microsoft applications, as well as the Windows operating system itself, use notifications that can play sounds. You can manage these directly through Windows Settings.

Turning Off Notification Sounds Globally or Per-App

1. Go to Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Navigate to System > Notifications.
3. Under the "Notifications from apps and other senders" section, you have a few options:
   • Globally mute notification sounds: Toggle off the "Allow notifications to play sounds" option at the top of the section.
   • Mute sounds for specific apps: Scroll through the list of applications. For any Microsoft app (e.g., Mail, Calendar, Edge, Microsoft Store), click on its entry. Here, you can uncheck the "Play a sound when a notification arrives" option.
4. Close the Settings window; changes are usually applied immediately.

For more detailed information on managing notifications, you can refer to Microsoft's official support page on Change notification settings in Windows.

Controlling Sounds in Individual Microsoft Applications

Some Microsoft applications have their own internal sound settings that override or supplement system-wide settings. For complete silence, it's often necessary to check these specific application preferences.

Examples of Application-Specific Sound Settings

Application	Path to Sound Settings
Microsoft Teams	In Teams, click your profile picture > Settings > Notifications. Here you can customize sound preferences for chat messages, calls, and other activities. Look for options to turn off notification sounds.
Microsoft Outlook	In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail. Under the "Message arrival" section, uncheck the "Play a sound" box. Click OK.
Microsoft Edge	Browser sounds are usually managed through Windows Notification Settings as described above. For website-specific sounds, you can right-click on a tab in Edge and select "Mute tab."
Xbox App	Within the Xbox app, navigate to Settings > Notifications. Here you can manage sounds for game invites, achievements, and chat messages.
Microsoft Mail / Calendar	These apps' notification sounds are typically managed via Windows Notification Settings (Settings > System > Notifications). You might also find minimal in-app sound options within their respective settings menus.

Always check the settings or preferences menu within the specific Microsoft application you are using for precise sound control.

Troubleshooting and Additional Tips

If you're still hearing unwanted sounds, consider these additional steps:

• Check Physical Volume Controls: Ensure your keyboard, headphones, or external speakers don't have their own volume knobs or mute buttons engaged.
• Update Audio Drivers: Outdated audio drivers can sometimes cause unexpected sound behavior. Check for driver updates through Device Manager or your PC manufacturer's website.
• Restart Your PC: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches affecting sound.

By using a combination of these methods, you can effectively turn off all Microsoft sounds on your computer and achieve a quieter, less intrusive computing experience.

[[Windows Audio]]