- Use the No Sounds combination to remove all system sounds at once without affecting multimedia.
- Manage notifications with Do Not Disturb, priority list, and automatic rules to filter what's important.
- Silence only what's annoying: specific events (Asterisk, Exclamation, System Notification) or notification sounds.
If you've ever thought your PC makes more noise than you'd like, you've come to the right place: here's a complete guide to making it quieter. Windows 11 silently when you want. By changing the appropriate settings, You can silence all system sounds without affecting the music, videos, or games you're playing; you can also adjust the volume of each application.
We'll also see how to adjust only those notifications that bother you, leaving the rest untouched. Although the option isn't very obvious, the customization of sounds Windows 11 is very flexibleand the system itself also gives you tools to control notificationsYou can disable them completely, or limit only some. appsActivate Do Not Disturb mode and even decide which priority alerts get through even if everything else is silent.
The quickest way to silence window, notification, and action sounds is to change the sound scheme. To do this from the Settings app, open the Start menu and go to Settings; then go to Personalization and tap Themes. There you'll see a Sound option; tap it, Open the Sound Combination menu and choose the No Sounds option.Finally, click Apply to save it.
This setting only affects the operating system's own sounds, so Your multimedia applications will continue to work as usual.If you later regret this, you can revert to Windows Default and restore the system's original sound experience.
Another useful route, especially if you're coming from clicking the speaker icon in the system tray, is this: right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, select Open sound settings, and in the right panel go to Sound Control Panel. In the pop-up window, go to the Sounds tab. Choose No sounds in Sound scheme and confirm with Apply and OK. Result: total silence of system events without having to go through them one by one.
Remember that this choice is integrated with the Themes. That is to say, You can save your background, colors, cursor, and even your sound combination as a theme.so that switching between quiet and louder profiles is just a matter of a couple of clicks.
Remove or change specific event sounds
You might not want complete silence and prefer to keep some notifications. In that case, in the same Sounds window, leave the Windows Default scheme selected and focus on the Program Events list. There, the sounds are organized by system action; if you select one, you can click Test to listen to it and confirm that it's the one bothering you. Once you locate it, Open the Sounds list and choose None.
This technique is perfect for removing only what bothers you: for example, those effects called Asterisk, Exclamation Point, or System Notification. If you prefer, you can also replace them with another WAV file. But if what you're looking for is peace, the "None" option is your ally.Remember to apply the changes so they are saved.
A good trick is to go little by little: Identify the event with Test, remove it, and use the equipment for a while. To see if you're missing any audible alerts. If you detect another annoying beep, repeat the process. This way you retain auditory feedback on what really matters to you.
If you're trying to track down a stray beep that sounds when you open an app or exit full screen, it's usually associated with those generic events (Asterisk, Exclamation, or System Notification). Muting them one by one allows you to fine-tune your audio without losing the rest of the alerts. that you do find useful.
Full control of notifications: disable, per app, and Do Not Disturb
Beyond system sounds, notifications can become a real nuisance if you don't control them. Windows 11 offers several layers of management to tame them: You can turn them off completely, limit which apps can disturb you, and activate Do Not Disturb. with a list of priorities that filters out what's important and silences everything else.
Turn off all notifications
If you don't want to see any notification cards, go to Settings, then System, and then Notifications. At the top, you'll see a master switch: Turn it off and say goodbye to all notifications from that moment on.Ideal when you need absolute concentration and don't want to be checking app by app.
Mute notifications from specific apps
If you prefer a more targeted approach, you'll find a list of your apps on that same Notifications screen. Review them one by one, and Deactivate only the ones you consider noisyThis allows you to keep things running, such as your work calendar or email, while muting social media or non-critical apps; for example, WhatsApp notifications.
Activate Do Not Disturb and customize priorities
Do Not Disturb mode is the guardian of your peace. Go to Settings, then System, and open Focus. There you'll see the Do Not Disturb option: turn it on, in-flight notifications are blockedYou can activate it on a case-by-case basis or schedule it with automatic rules (we'll see this shortly).
On that screen, you'll find the key to not missing what's important: the Priority List. Tap on Customize Priority List to decide who and what can break the silence. There you can allow, for example, call notifications, alarms, and essential apps while everything else is put on hold.
- In Calls and alerts, check the boxes that allow key calls or alerts to come in when Do Not Disturb is on. This way you ensure that urgent matters don't get lost..
- In Apps, use the Add apps button to choose which apps can notify in silent mode. Only your essential tools will be allowed..
Automatic rules and critical moments
In addition to manually activating Do Not Disturb, you can have the system do it for you in specific situations. In Focus settings, you'll find Automatic Rules for enabling Do Not Disturb mode. It turns on when playing games, when mirroring the screen for a presentation, or at predefined times.So, when you start a game or connect to a projector, Windows 11 starts up silently without you having to touch anything.
If you prefer working in blocks of time, take advantage of Focus Sessions. From that same section, you can start a session and, before you begin, Link Microsoft To Do tasks to the Clock app —you can also create routines with the ClockThis way you have a clear view of what you want to complete, with noise kept under control by using Do Not Disturb.
For privacy and order, you can also configure the lock screenIn the Notifications section, you'll see options to show or hide alerts on the lock screen; if you want discretion, disables its appearance on the lock screen and your PC will not display messages when it is locked.
Remove only the notification sounds
Are you annoyed by the beeps but still want the notification card to appear? There's a specific toggle: go to Settings, then System, open Sound, and then Notifications. There you'll find the Play notification sounds option. Deactivate it and you'll still have the notifications on screen, but silent..
How to use the taskbar to your advantage
Although major changes are made through Settings, there are useful shortcuts for everyday use. Right-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray opens Sound Settings or provides quick access to... output devices. From there you jump to the Sound Control Panel and the Sounds tab if you need to adjust something specific without wasting time navigating through menus.
Tips and solutions for occasional beeps
Sometimes it seems like everything is quiet, but there's a persistent, annoying beep. Stay calm. It can usually be fixed without installing anything.Let's look at typical cases and how to resolve them using only Windows 11 options.
The beep when changing the volume This is a fairly common complaint. Since there's no "Change Volume" event listed, the sound is usually coming from the generic "Default Beep" or "System Notification" events. Go back to the Sounds window, select those events, and set them to "None." Apply the changes and try adjusting the volume again using the keyboard's keys.
If you also hear a ding when opening or closing an app, check Asterisk and Exclamation in the event list. Use the Try button so you don't go in blind. until you find the culprit, and when you do, put it in None. It's a bit of a detective process, but it works.
You might want to use the "No sound" option if you prefer to get straight to the point. With that scheme, Windows 11 removes all event sounds all at once. If your goal is to prevent the PC from beeping at all, this is the fastest and most reversible method.
A common request is to automatically silence the system upon shutdown, so that the next Boot Be mute. Without resorting to external tools, the simplest way is to leave the "No sound" setting applied, and furthermore, Activate Do Not Disturb with automatic rules This way, it will activate every time you log in during your work period. The system won't make any event sounds, and you won't experience any notification interruptions when you start up.
If your goal is absolute silence throughout your day, don't forget the setting we mentioned earlier: in Settings, System, Sound, Notifications, turn off Play notification sounds. This only silences the warning tones.But you still look at the cards so you don't miss anything visually important.
When you're worried about missing critical notifications, combine two things: leave the No Sounds scheme (to remove system noise) and customize the Priority List within Do Not Disturb. It allows calls, alarms, and truly essential apps.and blocks the rest. You'll get a quiet work environment where only the essentials get in.
For those who work with presentations or in gaming sessions, it's worth setting up Automatic Rules. When mirroring your screen, activate Do Not Disturb so that notifications and beeps don't appear in front of others; when gaming, activate it as well so that Don't let any untimely notifications interrupt your rhythmThese are two very typical situations where automation makes all the difference.
If you use focus sessions, take advantage of the Clock app's integration with Microsoft To Do. Before starting a session, Choose the tasks you are going to focus on.The system silences distractions with Do Not Disturb and at the same time gives you focus with a timer and your list at hand.
A lesser-known detail: from Notifications, in addition to the general switch, you can adjust privacy settings such as the content that is displayed. If you prefer, Prevents notifications from appearing on the lock screenYou gain discretion and a cleaner lock screen, without revealing information to others.
If at the end of the day you're just annoyed by the sound, but you don't want to miss any pop-up cards, remember the key path: Settings, System, Sound, Notifications, and turn off Play notification sounds. It's the fine-tuning option that separates noise from information..
Windows 11 comes standard with everything you need to keep noise at bay: sound schemes to silence everything, event-based customization for the most meticulous users, a powerful notification system that you can turn on, off, or filter by app, and a Do Not Disturb mode that, with its priority list and automatic rules, Turn your PC into a quiet workspace or gaming environment where nothing interrupts you except what you decide.
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