How to Enable the Classic macOS Startup Chime on New Macs

Not that I badly want to enable the classic startup chime on newer Macs, I have indeed missed this unique sound ever since Apple removed it in 2016. While a few hacks about getting the chime back onmacOSsurfaced online, their joy was short-lived as macOS updates rendered them useless. But guess what, an all-newTerminal command trick, which brings back the startup chime quite reliably, has been getting plenty of traction for the past few days. If you wish to get this iconic sound on your Mac, let’s unravel this hack right away!

Enable the Classic Startup Chime on Newer Macs

Enable the Classic Startup Chime on Newer Macs

For those unfamiliar, the chiming startup sound was actually(C-major chord)developed to let macOS users know that thediagnostic testsdidn’t find any software or hardware issues. And it had existed on almost every Mac boot since1991.One more thing worth noting is that themost recent F-sharp chordhad first forayed intoiMac G3 (1998)which was the first consumer-facing product to launch under the recently returned CEO Steve Jobs. Moreover, G3 proved to be a game-changer for Apple, saving the company from the impending financial ruin in the late 1990s. Now that you’ve got a fair amount of history behind this iconic sound, let’s get on with the quick steps!

  1. Launch theTerminal appon your Mac.

Note:Ensure that the volume of your Mac is up so that you can hear the classy chime sound.

  1. Now, enter thefollowing commandand hit theEnter/Return key.

  2. Next,enter your admin password.

  3. Next,close the Terminal appandrestart your Mac(Apple menu -> Restart).

Now, wait for the familiar chime sound to ring your ears when the Mac boots up.

Disable Classic Startup Chime on Newer Macs

Disable Classic Startup Chime on Newer Macs

If you ever wish to get rid of the chime sound, you can do so just as easily.

  1. Open theTerminal appon your macOS device. Then,paste the following command and hit Enter/Return.

  2. Now, you need toenter your admin password.

  3. Next,quit the Terminal appandrestartyour Mac.

Get the Classy Startup Chime on Newer Macs

So, that’s the way you can enable the iconic chiming startup sound on your newer Macs. Hopefully, the upcoming macOS updates don’t render it useless. As quite a lot of macOS users like this sound, it would be better if Apple offered an option to turn it on/off from the system preferences. What’s your take on it? And more importantly, have you found this trick worth giving a try? Do share your feedback with us in the comments below.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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