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To control whether a specific app makes a sound for notifications in Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Notifications, select the app under Notifications from apps and other senders, then switch Play a sound on or off. This Windows setting mutes or enables that app’s notification sound; it does not assign a custom sound file.
Change an app’s notification sound setting
- Open Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
- Under Notifications from apps and other senders, select the app you want to adjust.
- Turn Play a sound on or off.
Microsoft describes this control as a toggle for incoming notification sound. The app’s notification page also contains other controls, so leave those unchanged if your only goal is to silence or restore its sound. Microsoft’s Windows notification instructions cover this route for Windows 11.
What the other controls on an app’s page do
- Notifications: turns the app’s notifications on or off.
- Show notification banners: controls whether notifications appear as banners.
- Show notifications in Notification Center: controls whether they appear there.
- Show notifications on the lock screen: controls lock-screen notification visibility; you can also hide notification content there.
- Set notification priority: assigns Top, High, or Normal priority. Windows allows only one app to have Top priority.
These settings govern notification delivery and visibility as well as sound. Turning off banners, for example, is different from turning off Play a sound.
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Windows sound toggle versus an app’s own sound options
| Where you change it | What the cited controls offer | What the change is for |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 app notification settings | Per-app sound on or off | Mute or enable incoming notification sounds for that app |
| An app’s own settings | Depends on the app; Teams and Outlook provide examples of more specific sound controls | Choose sounds for particular notification categories or events where the app supports it |
The Windows page documented by Microsoft does not provide a per-app sound-file picker. If you want a different sound rather than silence, check the app’s own settings. Microsoft Teams, for example, offers sound controls for general notifications and selected notification types; Outlook documents sound effects for certain events as well as Windows program-event sound options. These are app-specific examples, not a guarantee that every app supports custom sounds. Teams notification settings and Outlook sound-effect guidance describe those app-level options.
Reduce interruptions without losing notifications
If you want fewer interruptions across Windows rather than changing one app’s sound, use Do not disturb or Focus. Windows can turn on Do not disturb under selected conditions, and priority settings can allow chosen notifications through. Muted notifications remain available in Notification Center for later review. Microsoft’s Windows guidance explains these options, which can vary with Windows updates.
Quick Recap
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