How to modify or disable Computer Sounds in Windows 8?

Learn how to change, modify or disable Windows Default Sounds in Windows 8. There are different sounds for common events, alerts and notifications in Windows and Windows programs. For example there are sounds for startup, critical stop, notification etc. We call them system sounds or computer sounds. A set of these sounds are known as Sound Theme or Sound Scheme. By default, Windows 8 comes with a sound scheme named Windows Default. Continue reading to learn how to modify the default Windows sounds.

Microsoft offers easy customization options for default sounds in Windows 8. The sound schemes can be disabled, changed and renamed. Moreover, users can modify sounds for individual events such as critical stop, new fail notification etc. I you don’t like the Windows Default sounds, change it with your own sound schemes. If a sound scheme is not available, you may change the individual event sounds and customize the Windows experience. And if you are really fed up with all these system beeps and alerts, you can completely disable computer sounds.

How to change a Windows Sound Scheme?

You can easily change a sound scheme in Windows. But, you need to have more than one sound schemes installed on your PC.

1. Open Sound settings in Windows. It can be done in several ways. Example: Go to Control panel and click on Sound. Alternatively, right click on the speaker icon on Windows taskbar and select Sounds from the context menu.
2. In the Sound dialog box, go to Sounds tab and open the Sound Schemes list. Select the scheme you want to use. Example: CSI in our case.



3. Press the Apply button.

That will change your sound scheme to the selected one.

How to change individual Windows event sounds?

1. Open Sound settings. Go to Control panel and click on Sound icon.
2. The Sound settings dialog box will appear. Go to Sounds tab. Under the Program Events section, names of all events are listed for which sounds are available. Click on an even name. Example: Critical Stop.
3. The name of the sound file will appear below. Press the Test button to hear the sound. Press Browse button to select a new sound for that event.



4. Browse to the audio file location in your computer and select the file of your choice and press Open button. If necessary, press the Test button to hear the sound.
5. Likewise, change the sounds of events that you want to change. When satisfied, press the Apply button.

That will change the current Windows sound scheme with your own sounds.

How to Rename Windows Sound Scheme?

Windows Sound Schemes can be renamed. This comes handy when you modify an existing scheme. If you don’t want to lose your custom sound settings, you should save the modified scheme with a new name. Following are the steps to rename or save a windows sound scheme.

1. Open your computer’s Sound settings.
2. In the Sound dialogue box, go to Sounds tab. If necessary, modify the individual sounds.
3. In the Sound Scheme section, near the sound schemes list, there is a Save as button, press it.



4. The Save Scheme as dialog box will appear. Type a meaningful name and press OK.

That will save your modified sound scheme. Rename a sound scheme whenever you modify system sounds. Otherwise, system will reset your modification when you switch the scheme or disable sounds.

How to disable Default Windows Sounds?

1. Go to Control panel and click on the Sound icon.
2. Sound settings dialogue box will appear. Go to Sounds tab and and open the menu under the heading Sound Scheme. Select No Sounds from the available options.



3. Press the Apply button at the bottom of the dialog box.

That will disable all windows sound schemes. No more sounds for system events, alerts or notifications. If you prefer a quiet PC, disable the Computer Sounds by following the above mentioned steps.