How to Play Sound at Logon (Sign-in) in Windows 10 and Windows 11


Starting in Windows 8, the Windows Logon sound event has been disabled. This leaves you unable to change or play the Windows Logon sound at sign-in in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

As a workaround, you can still create an elevated task to play a sound at sign-in (logon) to Windows.

This tutorial will show you how to play a sound at logon (sign-in) for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

You must be signed in as an administrator with a password to create an elevated task.

Contents

• Option One: Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) from Startup Folder using a BAT file
• Option Two: Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task Automatically using a BAT file
• Option Three: Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task Manually in Task Scheduler

OPTION ONE

Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) from Startup Folder using a BAT file

Special thanks to Matthew and Paul Black for providing this option.

This will create a VBScript that points to the .wav file to be played in either Startup folder below:

Current User:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

All Users:
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

1 Download the Play_Sound_at_Logon_Passwordless.bat file below to your desktop.

Download

2 Unblock the downloaded .bat file.

3 Run the .bat file.

4 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve running the .bat file elevated (run as administrator).

5 Press the number for the option you want, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

6 When prompted, enter the full path of the .wav file you want to run at startup, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

7 When finished, you can close the command prompt. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task Automatically using a BAT file

Special thanks to Matthew for providing the .bat files in this option.

1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.

2 To Add Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task

A) Download the Play_Sound_at_Logon.bat file below to your desktop.

Download

B) Unblock the downloaded .bat file.

C) Run the .bat file.

D) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve running the .bat file elevated (run as administrator).

E) When prompted, enter the full path of the .wav file you want to play at logon (sign-in). (see screenshot below)

F) When prompted, enter the password for the account to authorize the task.

G) When finished, press any key to close the command prompt.

3 To Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task

A) Download the Delete_the_scheduled_task.bat file below to your desktop.

Download

B) Unblock the downloaded .bat file.

C) Run the .bat file.

D) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve running the .bat file elevated (run as administrator).

E) When finished, press any key to close the command prompt.

OPTION THREE

Add or Remove Play a Sound at Logon (Sign-in) Task Manually in Task Scheduler

1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type taskschd.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Task Scheduler.

2 Click/tap on Task Scheduler Library in the left pane of Task Scheduler, and click/tap on Create Task in the right Actions pane. (see screenshot below)

3 In the General tab, type a name (ex: "Play logon sound") you want for this task. (see screenshot below)

4 In the General tab, select (dot) Run whether user is logged on or not. (see screenshot below)

5 In the General tab, check the Run with highest privileges box. (see screenshot below)

6 In the General tab, select Windows 10 in the Configure for drop down. (see screenshot below)

7 Click/tap on the Triggers tab, and click/tap on the New button. (see screenshot below)

8 Select At log on in the Begin the task drop down, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

The At log on trigger is for when a user signs in to their account and not currently still signed in from say after lock computer or switch user.

9 In the Triggers tab, click/tap on the New button. (see screenshot below)

10 Select On connection to user session in the Begin the task drop down, select (dot) Connection from local computer, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

The On connection to user session trigger is for when a user signs in to their account while currently still signed in from say after switch user.

11 Click/tap on the Actions tab, and click/tap on the New button. (see screenshot below)

12 Perform the actions below: (see screenshot below)

A) Select Start a program in the Action drop down.

B) Type PowerShell in the Program/script field box.

C) Enter the command below into the Add arguments field box, and click/tap on OK.

-c (New-Object Media.SoundPlayer 'C:\Windows\Media\Windows Logon.wav').PlaySync();

If you wanted to play a sound (.wav file) of your choice instead, you can substitute C:\Windows\Media\Windows Logon.wav in the command above with the full path of the .wav file (with .wav file extension included) you want to be played.

13 Click/tap on the Conditions tab, uncheck the Start the task only if the computer is on AC power box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

14 Enter your account's password, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

15 This task (ex: "Play logon sound") is now finished, and will now play a sound at sign-in for all users on your PC. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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