StartupSound.prefPane for Mac

Customize your Mac’s boot sound

StartupSound.prefPane is a free macOS utility that makes managing the boot chime simple. It installs as a preference pane so you can quickly enable or mute the sound that plays when your Mac starts up, and it also lets you pick alternate audio files to use at boot.

Key capabilities

• Choose a custom audio file to play during startup.
• Turn the Mac startup sound on or off with a single switch.
• Adds an option directly to System Preferences for quick access.
• Lightweight and easy to use — no complicated configuration required.
• Free to download and use.

How it fits into your workflow

Because it appears in System Preferences, the tool feels native and is easy to find. Its straightforward controls are aimed at users who want a fast way to personalize or silence the boot sound without digging into terminal commands or system-level settings.

Recommended free substitute

• VLC media player — a free, widely used multimedia app that can also be helpful if you want a familiar, no-cost option for managing or previewing audio files on macOS.