How To Customize The Sound Scheme Used On Your Windows Pc Sartup Sound

Windows has a set of sounds applied to events and programs, such as "Close Program", "Default Beep", "Maximize", "Minimize", etc. The collection of all these sounds is called a sound scheme and is associated with a Windows theme. For example, the themes that come bundled with Windows are using the Windows Default sound scheme. When you change your Windows theme, the sound scheme is also changed according to the new theme's settings. If you are not happy with a certain sound scheme, you can easily customize it so that it uses the sounds you want. You can even create your own sound schemes. Let's see how it all works.

NOTE: This guide applies to both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

How To Open The Sound Scheme Customization Window

If you want to customize the sound scheme, first, you need to open the Soundwindow. In order to do that, right click or press and hold the Desktop and selectPersonalize from the contextual menu.

NOTE: Alternatively, you can open theControl Panel, go to Appearance and Personalization and thenPersonalization.

In the Personalization window below the list of themes, you have several buttons for each important element included in a theme. The third element is Sounds. To edit the current sound scheme, click or tap the Sounds section.

The Sound window opens. It should look like in the screenshot below.

How To Change The Active Sound Scheme

You can change the scheme used by your current Windows theme by choosing another, from the list of available sound schemes. There you will find an entry named Sound Scheme and a drop-down list. A click or tap on it displays the sounds schemes installed on your computer or device. Now, select the new sound scheme you want applied and press OK.

If you like your computer to stay silent, there is a "No Sounds" scheme available. Switch to it if you don't want any sounds to be played while using Windows.

If you have used both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 you will notice an important difference related to sound schemes - Windows 7 has many preinstalled sound schemes, many of which also existed in earlier versions of Windows. Windows 8.1 on the other hand has only two sound schemes: Windows Default and No Sounds.

How To Customize A Sound Scheme Or Create a new one

If you want to create a new sound scheme, you need to start by customizing the sounds found in an existing scheme. The fastest way to create a new scheme is to first select No Sounds, which has no sounds included, and add the sounds you want to use for the Windows events that interest you. When you are done changing the sounds, save the modified sound scheme using a different name.

IMPORTANT: Before you start, you need to be aware of a very important aspect. Windows 8.1 uses only .wav files for sound schemes. If you want to use .mp3 or.wma files in your sound scheme, you will have to convert them to the .wav format first. There are many sites on the web that will convert audio formats online, such asMedia.io - Online Audio Converter or Online Converter. If you prefer a desktop application for your conversion, CNET's Download.com lists over 1,000 conversion software.

In order to customize a scheme, first, click or tap an item in the Program Eventssection, for which you want to change the sound and press Browse.

Now, choose the new sound that you want for the event and click or tap Open.

If you want to use a sound that already exists in Windows, click or tap the Soundslist on the bottom. Then, pick another sound from those available.

You can hear the new sound you selected by clicking or tapping the Test button near the sound.

Do this for every event you want changed, in order to confirm that the sound you want is played for each event.

How To Save A Sound Scheme

Once you finish changing the sounds included in a sound scheme, you should save it so that your hard work will not get lost. If you modify a scheme and do not save it, Windows displays the sound scheme with the text "(modified)" next to it, as shown below. Click or tap the Save Asbutton near the sound scheme's name.

In the Save Scheme As window, type in a name for the new sound scheme you just created and press OK.

The newly saved sound scheme is available in the list of sound schemes that can be selected and applied to your current Windows theme.

The Connection Between Sound Scheme And Windows Themes

Another important aspect to remember is that sound schemes are associated with Windows themes. Basically, a sound scheme is part of a Windows theme.

If you change the sound scheme of a theme, a "new theme" is created, namedUnsaved Theme.