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To hear an alert for new mail in Outlook.com, open Settings > General > Notifications, switch on Mail under Notify me about, then expand the Mail section and enable its sound option.

Turn on a sound for new Outlook.com email

  1. Sign in to Outlook.com and select Settings.

  2. Go to General > Notifications.

  3. Under Notify me about, turn on Mail.

  4. Expand the Mail section and choose the notification display and sound preferences you want.

Outlook.com notifications can appear in the app or at the bottom right of the desktop window; the settings let you choose whether a sound accompanies them. The sound option is separate from the Mail notification toggle, so check both. Microsoft Support explains the notification settings and locations.

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If no sound plays

First confirm that Mail notifications and the sound preference are both enabled in Outlook.com. If they are, other apps or system settings may be preventing notifications from arriving. Microsoft lists Teams status and Windows Notifications settings—including Focus Assist and Do not disturb—as possible sources of interference. Their effect can depend on your device and configuration, so turning on the Outlook.com option alone does not guarantee an audible alert in every environment. See Microsoft’s notification troubleshooting guidance.

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Outlook.com is different from Outlook for Windows

These steps are for Outlook.com in a browser. The Outlook for Windows desktop app has a separate sound configuration path in the app and Windows controls; its instructions for custom new-mail sounds specify .wav files. That file requirement does not apply to the Outlook.com setting. Microsoft’s Windows app instructions are here.

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