How-To

How To Customize Windows 8 Shutdown, Logon and Logoff Sounds

By Brian Burgess

Updated February 22, 2022

Windows 8 allows you to customize sound events, but Shutdown, Logon and Logoff are hidden. This Registry tweak brings them back in Sound options.

Update: Windows 8.1 has reached the end of mainstream support. According to Microsoft: “Windows 8.1 reached the end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and will reach end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 had until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 to remain supported.”

Windows 7 and previous versions let you easily customize the sounds played when you Logon, Logoff or Shutdown your computer. You can still do it in Windows 8, but these and other sound alerts are hidden by default. But with a simple Registry tweak, you can get them back and customize them to your liking.

Windows 8 Logon Sounds

Here you can see that Windows Logon, Logoff, and Shutdown Program Events aren’t listed in Sounds. After the Registry hack, you’ll see a lot more options listed.

Registry Hack for Sound Events

Note: Before doing any Registry tweaking, make sure you Back it Up First!

First, use the Keyboard shortcut Windows Key + R to bring up the Run line and type: regedit and hit Enter.

Registry Editor opens up, and you need to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels under EventLabels; you’ll see a list of subfolders for different sound events for Windows 8.

Scroll down the list and click WindowsLogOff. In the right pane, you’ll see the key ExludeFromCPL. Double click on it and change the value to 0 and click OK.

Repeat the same steps for the SystemExit and WindowsLogoff subfolders. In the end, SystemExit, WindowsLogoff, and Windows Logon subfolder ExludeFromCPL key values will each be set to 0. When you’re done, close out of Registry Editor.

Customize Logoff, Logon, and Shutdown Sounds

Now from the Desktop, right-click the Sound icon on the Taskbar and select Sounds. Or hit Windows Key + W to bring up Setting Search and type: sounds.

Then select Change System Sounds under the search results.

Now you’ll see the Program Events list entries and customize them like you would in previous versions of Windows.

You can use this Registry tweak for other sounds that aren’t listed in Program Events too. If you like to customize every aspect of Windows 8, now you can – have fun!

Related Windows Sound Articles:

• Change the Sound Scheme in Windows 8
• Disable Windows Startup Sound