Windows 11 has separate controls for notification audio. Use an app’s Play a sound switch to silence one sender while keeping its banners, change the relevant Windows sound event to replace or remove a system notification tone, or use Do not disturb and Focus for temporary quiet. Turning off the main Notifications switch is broader and also removes visual alerts.
Choose the right Windows 11 control
| Goal | Best method | What remains enabled | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silence one noisy app | App-specific Play a sound switch | Other apps, banners and Notification Center | Repeat for each app |
| Replace the Windows notification tone | More sound settings > Sounds | Notifications and other system audio | Event names vary by build and alert type |
| Remove one Windows event sound | Set that event to No Sounds | Other sound events | May not affect an app’s independent sound |
| Quiet the computer temporarily | Do not disturb | Notifications remain in Notification Center | Alarms, reminders and selected priority alerts can still appear |
| Stop every normal notification | Main Notifications switch | Nothing for normal notifications | Visual notifications are disabled too |
Turn off notification sounds for one app
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System > Notifications.
- Under Notifications from apps and other senders, select the app.
- Expand the app’s notification settings if necessary, then turn off Play a sound when a notification arrives.
The app can still display banners and place messages in Notification Center. This setting targets notification audio only; it does not mute the app’s music, calls, alarms or other in-app effects.
If the app is missing, make sure its main notification switch is enabled and that it has generated a notification. Some software does not use Windows’ standard notification channel and must be configured inside the app.
Change the Windows 11 notification sound
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Scroll down and select More sound settings.
- Open the Sounds tab.
- In Program Events, select the notification-related event used by your alert. The exact label can differ by Windows build, localization and alert type.
- Open the Sounds drop-down list and choose another available sound.
- Select Test to preview it, then choose Apply > OK.
This changes the sound attached to a Windows program event, so a third-party app that plays its own alert audio may not follow it. Searching Start for Change system sounds can also open the classic dialog on some installations. Microsoft’s sound guidance is available at Microsoft Support.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDisable a Windows notification sound completely
To remove a system event’s audio without disabling notifications, open More sound settings > Sounds, select the applicable notification event under Program Events, set the Sounds list to No Sounds, and select Apply > OK. The No Sounds choice is documented by Microsoft’s sound-effects guidance.
Alternatively, silence only one sender with its per-app Play a sound switch. Do not lower the master volume if you still want media, calls or games to be audible.
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Silence notifications temporarily with Do not disturb
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
- Turn on Do not disturb, or open Notification Center with Windows + N and use its Do not disturb control.
- Return to the same control when you want normal interruptions back.
Do not disturb suppresses most notification interruptions while continuing to route notifications to Notification Center. Alarms, reminders and notifications allowed by your priority list can still get through. Windows can also enable it automatically under Turn on do not disturb automatically, including for a scheduled time, display duplication, gaming, full-screen apps or the period after a feature update. Options can change with Windows updates. See Microsoft’s Windows notification guidance.
Use Focus for a timed quiet session
Focus is intended for a work or study session rather than a permanent sound preference. Start it from Windows’ clock or Settings, choose a duration, and Windows normally turns on Do not disturb for the session. Focus can also suppress notification-related taskbar flashing and badges. It minimizes distractions during the selected period; it is not a guaranteed mute for every audio source. Details are in Microsoft’s Focus documentation.
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Turn off all notifications
For a complete shutdown of normal Windows notifications, open Start > Settings > System > Notifications and turn off the main Notifications switch. This prevents notification banners and other normal notification behavior as well as sound, so use it only when you do not want visual alerts either.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep visual alerts without audio
Use an app’s Play a sound switch or set the relevant system event to No Sounds while leaving banners and Notification Center enabled. If hearing an alert is difficult, Windows can provide a visual alternative:
- Open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Audio (or press Windows + U).
- Find Flash my screen during audio notifications.
- Choose whether to flash the title bar, the active window or the entire screen.
See Microsoft’s visual alternatives to sounds and audio accessibility guidance.
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If notification sounds keep playing
- Reopen Settings > System > Notifications, select the app’s row and verify that its detailed Play a sound switch—not just the main notification switch—is off.
- In More sound settings > Sounds, select the correct notification-related Program Event, choose the intended sound or No Sounds, and select Apply. Test previews a choice but does not save it.
- Check the app’s own notification and sound settings. Browsers, communication tools, games, security products and media apps may generate independent alert audio.
- Use Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer to check the app’s volume and output device if the issue affects broader app audio. Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps are at Microsoft Support.
- Identify whether the sound is actually a call ringtone, alarm, media cue or in-app effect rather than a Windows notification event. For general low or quiet output, see Microsoft’s audio troubleshooting guide.
Restore notification sounds
- For one app, return to its notification settings and turn Play a sound when a notification arrives on.
- For a system event, reopen the Sounds tab, select the event and choose the previous sound from the list. If your Windows build offers a Default button, you can use it; its availability and placement vary.
- If Do not disturb or Focus is active, turn that mode off or wait for the session to end.
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