October 18, 2026
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Posted May 23, 2015 at 6:43pm by
These are instructions on how to add a startup sound to Mac OS X.

Step One
Launch Automator from your Applications folder.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Two
Click the New Document button.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Three
Select Application from the list of document types then click the Choose button.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Four
Drag the Run Shell Script action from the list off Actions to the workflow pane on the right hand side of the window.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Five
In the text area, type Afplay followed by the full path to the sound file you would like to use as a startup sound. You can also just type Afplay then drag the sound file into the text area.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Six
To make sure your sound file plays correctly, click the Run button at the top right of the screen. If you receive a warning that the application will not receive input when run inside Automator, just click OK.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Seven
Once you've confirmed that the sound plays correctly, choose Save from the File menu.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Eight
Enter a name for the application that you will remember, choose your Applications folder from the Where dropdown menu, and click Save.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Step Nine
To get the startup sound to play at startup, follow these instructions to add it as an OS X startup item.
How to Add a Startup Sound to Mac OS X

Please follow iClarified on X, Facebook, or RSS for more Apple news, tutorials, and videos.

Add Comment
Would you like to be notified when someone replies or adds a new comment?
Yes (All Threads)
Yes (This Thread Only)
No
iClarified Icon
Notifications
Would you like to be notified when we post a new Apple news article or tutorial?
Yes
No
Comments (16)
You must login or register to add a comment...
isaiah
isaiah - December 11, 2016 at 10:22am
Is it possible to do this but for an application's start up?
Reply · Like
yourotherform
yourotherform - November 13, 2016 at 10:04pm
Do you know how to startup with a video?
Reply · Like
Azzum Waqar
Azzum Waqar - April 8, 2016 at 2:31pm
Thanks!!! but it doesn't play at the very moment you log in, it plays when the system is loading start up items. but great stuff thanks!
Reply · Like
AloysiusWee102
AloysiusWee102 - March 3, 2016 at 6:33pm
Great! It worked like a charm! :) thanks ^^
Reply · Like
anonymous little helper
anonymous little helper - January 28, 2016 at 5:21am
For those of you having trouble with the "May only Specify one file to play" message… I did some testing and figured out that, if the file's pathname has a space in it, it doesn't work… e.g. '/user/name/folder/song.mp3' seems to work, but '/user/name name/folder/song song.mp3' does not… at least not on my MBP : )
Reply · Like
Nirvager
Nirvager - October 23, 2016 at 1:47pm
Thankyou! Got rid of all of my spaces and underscores, had to rename my folders and file, and works just fine now
Reply · Like
Magicmogwai
Magicmogwai - January 6, 2016 at 2:35pm
I had the same 'no such file or directory' problem Make sure there is a space between 'AFplay' and the file path. Worked for me.
Reply · Like
keylimepietower
keylimepietower - May 25, 2015 at 5:39pm
Has anyone had luck adding this with Yosemite? Keeps giving an error "no such file"
Reply · Like
helping
helping - June 2, 2015 at 6:34pm
Did you change the path to the audio file to be the correct path your file?
Reply · Like
keylimepietower
keylimepietower - June 3, 2015 at 1:12am
Yes.. I typed in Afplay and dragged the file over and get this error "Run Shell Script failed - 1 error .. May only Specify one file to play"
Reply · Like
tutcat
tutcat - February 6, 2016 at 8:00pm
take the file you want to use and place it in terminal then copy the file address that you get
Reply · Like
NATO
NATO - May 23, 2015 at 11:40pm
Does anyone know how to remove that startup chime? It is very annoying and wakes everyone in the house.
Reply · Like
gamerscul9870
gamerscul9870 - May 24, 2015 at 12:52am
Haven't you heard of turning it to silent for muting it on startup for the next time you use it.
Reply · Like
jira850
jira850 - May 24, 2015 at 4:09am
this command should disable the chime (haven't tried though): sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=%80 or you can run this AppleScript when logging out: osascript -e "set volume output volume 0" how to create a logout script in Mac OS X is described on technical community sites like SuperUser.
Reply · Like
Reech
Reech - May 23, 2015 at 10:58pm
I get a problem when I try. 'The action shell script encountered an error' and the Log says 'No such file or directory' Any solutions? Thanks
Reply · Like
Big Keisha
Big Keisha - May 23, 2015 at 9:43pm
Cool idea add sound file of lambo car starting up lol
Reply · Like
Recent. Read the latest Apple News.
RECENT
Tutorials. Help is here.
TUTORIALS
Where to Download macOS Sonoma
How To Install Homebrew on Mac [Video]
How To Back Up Your iPhone to an External Drive on Mac [Video]
Where To Download iPad Firmware Files From
Where To Download iPhone Firmware Files From
Deals. Save on Apple devices and accessories.
DEALS