Enable or Disable Mac Startup Chime: The iconic Mac startup chime played when you power up your PC had been around since 1998. But Apple disabled it in 2016 starts with that year’s MacBook Pro refresh. Thanks to a newly launched Terminal command. Now you can re-active the Mac startup chord sound on macOS Catalina and earlier. Also, our step-by-step article displays you how.
Bringing Back the Iconic Mac Startup Chime
The later 2016 MacBook Pro models equipped with a Touch Bar labeled the first Apple computer systems in years to reach without the iconic startup tone. However, the most likely reason is that the machine automatically starts up when opened. So it can’t really need audio feedback when the user hits the power button.
Terminal command to restore the startup chime on the TouchBar-enabled MacBook Pro models was discovered shortly following the notebook’s launch. Unfortunately, the simple command stops working in later macOS updates for whatever reasons.
But thanks, the latest Terminal command was launched a few days ago by a South Carolina student and developer. It helps to bring back the iconic startup chord. Best of all, this latest method seems to work on most Mac models and macOS versions.
Follow our easy step-by-step guide to learn how you can re-enable the Mac startup chime on your PC. Also, disable it at will.
How to Allow the Mac Startup Chime
You can re-active the Mac startup chime on your PC using a Terminal command. However, it edits an NVRAM value which determines whether the PC should play startup sounds.
Step 1:
Firstly, Launch the Terminal app on your PC from the Applications/Utility folder. Also, use Spotlight to instantly find and launch the app.
Step 2:
Input the following Terminal command to re-active the Mac startup chime, then press Return.
sudo nvram StartupMute=%00
Type your password if needed.
However, to disable the Mac startup chime, simply execute this command in the Terminal window:
command sudo nvram StartupMute=%01
The Mac startup chimes an iconic signature of Apple PC over the years. However, it’s also a registered trademark in the US.
To be honest, we don’t know exactly why Apple disable the chime. So here’s hoping that the new Terminal command will stick around longer than the earlier one.
History of the Mac Startup Chime
The Mac startup chime plays before macOS starts booting. Just specify to the user that the machine has successfully passed hardware diagnostic tests run quickly at startup.
The particular chord played varies from one Mac model to another. But they’re all similar.
According to Jim Reekes (who did the startup chime used for the Quadra 700 through the Quadra 800):
The startup sound was done in my home studio. My home studio in on a Korg Wavestation EX. It’s a C major chord, played with both hands expand out as wide as possible (using third at the top if I recall).
After that iteration of the startup chime included a “bong” chord. However, an F major chord produces a “ding” sound and many other versions used in various periods.
The Mac startup chime is the latest version of the startup tone. However, it first appeared in the iMac G3 model launched in 1998. It’s the one produced by pitch-shifting the startup sound of the Macintosh Quadra 840AV model.
Apple notes in a support document which Mac PC’s support the startup tone:
Mac models from early 2016 make a chime sound when they startup. However, Mac models after 2016 and the latest doesn’t have a startup chime, with the exception of MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017).
The support document makes no mention of the previous Terminal command. Alternatively, the command seems to be an undocumented feature. After all, it could easily be erased from future macOS updates.
Conclusion:
Here’s all about “Enable Mac Startup Chime”. For further queries and questions let us know in the comments section below!
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