How to play the logon or startup sound in

Windows 8.1 or Windows 8

Every release of Windows since as far back as I can remember (Windows 3.1) has played a welcome sound at
startup. In Windows NT-based systems, there is a startup sound as well as separate logon sound. A sound can
also play when Windows logs off or when it shuts down. You can assign all these sounds from Control Panel
-> Sound. But in Windows 8, sounds for these events have been eliminated almost entirely. Let's see how to
revive them.
In Windows 8, Microsoft focused on making Windows boot and shut down faster and so they completely
removed the sounds which play at logon, log off and shutdown. Even if you assign sounds to the events for
'Exit Windows', 'Windows Logon' and 'Windows Logoff' or try to restore these events using the Registry, they
will not play. I contacted Microsoft for a clarification and here is what they replied:
"We removed these sound events for performance reasons. We pay a lot of attention to how quickly the
machine powers on, powers off, goes to sleep, resumes from sleep, etc. As part of speeding this up, we
experiment a lot with what process is in control of the startup and shutdown sounds. In an interim build of
Windows 8 while it was under development, we were able to speed things up considerably by moving the
shutdown sound from Explorer.exe (which is running while youre still logged on) to Logonui.exe (which is the
process that shows the "Shutting down" circle.)
However moving the shutdown sound this late started running into other problems. The code we use to play
the sound (the PlaySound API) needs to read from the registry (to see what the preferences for this sound
were) and from the disk (to read the .wav file), and we ran into issues where the sound was unable to play (or
got cutoff halfway) because we had shut down the registry or the disk already! We could have spent time
rewriting the API but we decided the safest and most performant thing to do was to eliminate the sound
altogether."

Sounds Control Panel no longer has events for Shutdown, Logon or Logoff

The startup sound remained in Windows 8 but it is disabled by default. You need to go to the Sound Control
Panel -> Sounds tab and check the option "Play Windows Startup sound".
Additionally, Microsoft introduced fast startup/hybrid boot in Windows 8. Due to this feature, when you click
Shut down, it logs you out and hibernates the kernel and powers off; it doesn't really exit Windows. When you
turn on your Windows 8 PC again, it resumes from hibernate and logs in again. This is different from
booting after a full shut down.
Even if you turn on the Windows startup sound, it will only play if you did a full shut down. It never plays
when fast startup is on. So what is the solution? The trick is to simply use the Windows event log system to
play the sounds now. Here are step-by-step instructions to revive the Logon sound: (You can use the same
method to assign sounds for log off and shutdown events)
1.

Open Notepad and paste the following lines into it. (This is a simple VBScript for
Windows to play any sound using the Speech API. I prefer this method because it doesn't depend on
loading some bloated and slow program such as Windows Media Player just to quickly play one sound
and close it):

2. Set oVoice = CreateObject("SAPI.SpVoice")

3. set oSpFileStream = CreateObject("SAPI.SpFileStream")

4. oSpFileStream.Open "C:\Windows\Media\Windows Logon.wav"
5. oVoice.SpeakStream oSpFileStream
oSpFileStream.Close

Tip: Note the sound I used in this script. It is a lovely new sound included in Windows 8 located at
C:\Windows\Media. You can change it to any other .WAV sound you want.
Tip: If you are wondering, where you can find some quality sounds, look no further than this article.
6.

Save this file anywhere with a .VBS extension. For example, "Logon Sound.vbs"
Tip: You can add the filename and extension inside quotes, so that Notepad does not add ".txt" to the
filename that you have typed. Adding it inside quotes will save it as "Logon Sound.vbs" and not,
"Logon Sound.vbs.txt".

7.

Now we need to find some appropriate event to associate this sound. Open Event
Viewer by typing: Eventvwr into the Run dialog, or on the Start screen.

8.

Open Event Viewer opens, expand the 'Windows Logs' category and click the
'System' log.

9.
10.

Now click the Action menu and click Find...

In the Find what: text box, type: 7001 and press Enter or "Find Next" button. The
Winlogon event will be selected.
(7001 is the Event ID for one of the many events which gets logged into the Event Log when you log
on to Windows)

Event Viewer showing all the System events

11.

Now right click this event and click 'Attach Task to This Event...'

12.

The 'Create Basic Task Wizard' window will open.

13.

Type a descriptive name if you want such as "Logon sound" and click Next. Typing a
name is optional, so it's easier to locate this task later if you need to delete it.

14.

Click Next again and then choose 'Start a program' and Next again.

15.

In the Program/script: field, type: WScript.exe. In the Arguments field, enter the path
to the file you saved. For example, "C:\Windows\Logon Sound.vbs" (make sure you use double
quotes if your path contains spaces or long file names)

Attaching a task to the event

16.

Check the box called "Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish"
Then click Finish to create the task.

17.

Optionally, go to the Conditions tab and uncheck "Start the task only if the computer
is on AC power", if you want the logon sound to play even when your Windows 8 PC or tablet is
running on batteries.

18.

Click OK and close Event Viewer.

19.

Now try shutting down Windows from the Settings Charm (Win+I), or by pressing
Alt+F4 on the Desktop, or from your favorite Start Menu replacement such as Classic Shell.

20.

The next time you log in, the sound should play.That's it! You just revived your logon
sound. The startup sound will still play when you do a full shut down and this newly assigned sound
will play when you log on. You can use this same method to find some appropriate events in the Event
Log for shutdown and log off and assign different sounds to them by creating another script.
Be sure to check out WinSounds.com for a large collection of free, downloadable sounds.

Related Articles:
Ultimate list of all Windows keyboard shortcuts with Win keys

[Tip] Paste a file or folder path to the command prompt quickly

How to control Windows Search indexing in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8

How to add Switch between windows button back on the Windows 8 taskbar

How to bring back Show Desktop button next to the Start button on the Taskbar
This entry was posted in Windows 8.1 and tagged logoff sound, logon sound, shutdown sound, sound, startup
sound,Windows 8, Windows 8.1 on January 2, 2014 by Gaurav Kale.
About Gaurav Kale
Google
View all posts by Gaurav Kale
Post navigation
Windows 8.1 Tip: Dont shut down using Start button to avoid slow startup Base black theme for
Windows 8.1

16 thoughts on How to play the logon or startup sound in Windows 8.1 or Windows 8
1.

Pingback: Startsound aktivieren auch beim Windows 8.1 Schnellstart. Und so geht es:
Deskmodder.de
2.
M.T.January 6, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Maybe this works fine with very short sounds, but unfortunately the item I want to hear after logon, sounds
very choppy.
It sounds just fine in Windows 7 after logon, but not in Windows 8.1 using the method described here.
It sounds just as choppy if I run the VBScript from Windows, so delaying the task wont help.
Too bad. I was really hoping to have finally found the solution to bringing back functionality that Microsoft
has removed.
Guess Ill have to keep looking.

This is the 1m09s of music that Ive used to test the logon sound:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o4pyuw27h2z3aru/Haven%20Mix%20Theme.wav
Reply
1.

BoopathiFebruary 9, 2014 at 10:05 am

Guys i get an error while the system starts in the script on line 4
please help me with this. thanks in advance.
Reply
M.T.January 7, 2014 at 12:03 pm

3.

After some testing I can now confirm that the method described here works. No matter how long or large
the .wav-file is.
Apparently though the .wav-file used must have codec pcm_s16le to work. The file I mentioned in my
previous post (the one that sounded choppy) had codec pcm_u8. After converting it to pcm_s16le it now
works.
So thanks to the author for giving us this How to
Reply
1.

Sergey TkachenkoJanuary 7, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Thank you too for your useful comment.
Reply
LarryJanuary 11, 2014 at 5:12 pm

4.

First let me say I have no experience with vbscripting. that being said I followed your instructions to the
letter could get the file to play a sound.. tried to get the vbs script to execute just by clicking on it finally
got that to work but the WScript procedure would not work could create the event and it was there when
checked in the Task Scheduler and would run from the task scheduler but showed never having been run
before. I was able to make a shortcut to the Startup folder and the startup sound works great. but Im still left
with a shutdown script that I cant assign to event and get to work any suggestions (thanks for your
time.this the first bit of information on this topic that works)
Reply
1.

Gaurav KalePost authorJanuary 11, 2014 at 5:56 pm

Actually if it plays without delay by placing in the startup folder, then good for you. I recommended
the Event Log way because shortcuts in the startup folder start very late on Windows 8. You could also
use Group Policy (Gpedit.msc) -> Windows Settings. It has Logon/Log off scripts as well as
Startup/Shutdown scripts.

5.

Reply
VisceralToastJanuary 17, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Could someone please tell me the Event IDs for shutdown and log off? I cant seem to find them.

Reply
1.

Sergey TkachenkoJanuary 18, 2014 at 10:04 am

Sure, I will do it later this day.
Reply

2.

Gaurav KalePost authorJanuary 19, 2014 at 10:52 am

For logoff, event ID is 7002. For hybrid shutdown, event ID is 1074. For entering sleep/hibernate,
event ID is 42. For resuming from sleep/hibernate, event ID is 1.
Reply
1.

VisceralToastFebruary 5, 2014 at 8:50 am

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Reply
SonyaFebruary 10, 2014 at 5:53 pm

6.

How may we delete the task is it doesnt work? My task couldnt find the file, even though I had the path right.
I had to do a system restore to eliminate the task error sound every time I logged on. Is there an easier way to
do the delete? My system is Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit.
Reply
1.

Gaurav KalePost authorFebruary 10, 2014 at 6:45 pm

In Task Scheduler, there is a separate category of Event Viewer Tasks. Expand Task Scheduler
Library and click the Event Viewer Tasks item. There, you will be able to see the Task you created.
Right click it and select Delete.
Reply
Tim TurnerFebruary 13, 2014 at 8:10 pm

7.

Really? We must do all of this to play a simple sound in Microsoft OS that has been there forever?
Unbelievable makes me want to seriously start looking a t MAC. or just use my old Dell Windows 7
Laptop instead.
Reply
1.

Sergey TkachenkoFebruary 14, 2014 at 1:23 pm

Only if you need to play it.
Reply
Sotoro10February 25, 2014 at 5:51 pm

8.

It didnt want to work for me so I gave up and just assigned the logon logoff sounds to skype. Its not entirely
on time with the logon sound, but when I log off, Skype is the last thing to shut down, so it works.
Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Name *

Email *

Website

Comment

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a

href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b>

<blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Post Comment

themes for pidgin

ACTIVITY

Popular
Latest
Comments

How to get tabs back in Yahoo! MailOctober 10, 2013

How to prevent Windows 8 from automatically logging in the last userJanuary 30, 2013

Desktop gadgets and sidebar for Windows 8.1July 2, 2013

How to disable the edge panels (Charms Bar and Switcher) in Windows 8August 16, 2012

How to remove all bundled Modern apps from your user account in Windows 8February 7, 2013

How to change the boot logo in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8October 29, 2013

How to restore the missing Briefcase feature in Windows 8 RTMSeptember 12, 2012

Where is the ad hoc wireless connection feature in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1September 18,
2013

CATEGORIES

Android
Articles
C#
Classic Shell
Email
Firefox
Giveaway
Google
Google Chrome
Internet Explorer
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Surface
Opera
Scripts and tweaks
Skin Packs
SkyDrive
Skype
Software
Windows

Windows 7
Windows 7 Themes
Windows 8
Windows 8 Themepacks
Windows 8 Themes