How to restore the classic Mac startup chime to Apple's new 2016 MacBook Pros

Apple's newly released MacBook Pros do away with the classic F-sharp major boot-up chime that has been a part of the Mac since 1999. Thankfully, for those who want to keep it, there's an easy way to bring it back.

In addition to ditching the startup chime, Apple's new MacBook Pros with Touch Bar automatically boot up when plugged into power or when the lid is opened. But now, they do so silently, without the chime Mac users have grown accustomed to over the last 17 years.

While it's off by default, it's not gone entirely. A simple Terminal command spotlighted by Pingie can bring it back.

Simply open Terminal in macOS and type the following command:

sudo nvram BootAudio=%01

It should be noted that making such modifications to your system requires a user to enter their administrative password. If you want to return to the new, silent boot mode, the change can be reversed with the following Terminal command:

sudo nvram BootAudio=%00

The new auto-boot configuration when plugged in or opened can also be disabled if a user wants to return their Mac to a more familiar state. The "AutoBoot" functionality can be disabled with the following command in Terminal:

sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00

Likewise, the auto-boot functionality can be restored with yet another simple command. It is:

sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03

The current but outgoing Mac chime was first introduced on the iMac G3 in 1999. Prior to that, various versions of the chime have been a staple of the Mac since the Macintosh II.

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44 Comments

suddenly newton

said about 7 years ago

Bring back the "Happy Mac Face"

Donvermo

said about 7 years ago

I wonder why they chose to remove it. It is not like people reboot their MacBooks constantly throughout the day that it would be a problem. Granted it takes up space while it isn't being used often. Software real estate is the cheapest one we have and keeping an old but nostalgic reference to the machine's origins seems like just that small dot on the I that adds the emotional attachment to the machine many of us share. It will certainly be missed.

zoetmb

said about 7 years ago

Emotionally, getting rid of the startup chime seems like a big deal. But then I realize that it's incredibly rare that I ever reboot the Mac, so I never really hear it anyway and even when I do reboot, I barely notice the chime - we're so used to it, it's like hearing the compressor in the refrigerator cycle

I remember at some Apple convention, John Sculley once showed a film showing a 'computer book' conception. When the actor in the film opened the computer book (I think they were sitting on a park bench), it gave the familiar Mac chime even though it seemed nothing like a Mac and everyone in the audience cheered/laughed because it had the same effect as if the Mac chime was hear on a Star Trek computer.

eyekey

said about 7 years ago

Whenever I have to reboot and my girlfriend is already sleeping, the chime wakes her up. So I leave the room for rebooting. I do not give one f that the sound is gone. And the "Happy Face"? Come on. It is super ugly.

darkpaw

said about 7 years ago

Likewise, the auto-boot functionality can be restored with yet another simple command. It is:
sudo nvram AutoBoot%03
Shouldn't that be: sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03 ?

Aside from that, it's great that the startup chime can be re-enabled.

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