Turning On Or Off the MacBook Power Chime

On many recent MacBook models you will get an audible chime when you plug the machine into power. But if you have one of the models where this is not on by default, you can use a Terminal command to turn it on. If you'd rather not hear this sound when you plug in your MacBook, you can also disable it.

Comments: 10 Responses to “Turning On Or Off the MacBook Power Chime”

    Tom Watson
    6 years ago

    Hi Gary Thanks for this video lesson. BUt I have tried several different methods I have found and none have worked. I am trying to get the chime back onto an Imac ( new) with HIgh Sierra on it. Do you think think this may work. And is there a spot where I can copy paste the terminal code you had in the video? Thanks Tom Watson

    6 years ago

    Tom: This can't work with an iMac because the iMac doesn't have a battery. It has no way to be "on" before you plug it in to power.

    Jerry king
    6 years ago

    Are there similar methods to get Power On chime to play on the new iMac?

    6 years ago

    Jerry: No. The "startup chime" is something completely different. A "power chime" is a process running on a Mac (has to be running, so the Mac has to be ON already) that looks for a power connection and chimes when it happens. So you plug in a MacBook and it chimes. But a startup chime is something that happens as part of the boot up sequence. It isn't "running" and "waiting" it is just something that is part of the startup sequence. Apple removed this from Macs a couple of years ago.
    There's no way to get it back. I suppose you could create an app (in Automator, perhaps) that just plays a sound, and then put that in the apps that run on login. But that wouldn't play until after the Mac has booted, instead of very early in the startup sequence.
    I suppose many (most?) people haven't even noticed that the startup chime is gone because you shouldn't really ever have to "startup" your Mac. Just put it to sleep and wake it up. No need to ever shut it down.

    Jim Moore
    6 years ago

    Excellent, thank you Gary. Works fine on my MBP 17"

    Was wondering if you know of a similar way to indicate that the MBP has become unplugged? That would actually be more important to be as my battery is getting old.

    Jim

    6 years ago

    Jim: No, sorry, I don't know of a way to indicate that.

    Laraine
    6 years ago

    People who complain about their new iMacs not playing the start-up chime amuse me. How long have we been complaining how much we hate the start-up chime? I hated it because I had to put speakers on my 2009 8-core Mac Pro to make it suitable for music and had to install Boom to get enough sound from some of my CDs, which meant I felt my Mac's BONG! on start-up was enough to wake up my husband. At first I was disconcerted that my new iMac didn't chime, but I'm used to it now.

    Douglas Brace
    6 years ago

    If you to go "/System/Library/CoreServices/PowerChime.app/Contents/Resources" you will see "connect_power.aif". That is the audio file that you are hearing.

    6 years ago

    Douglas: Good find! I wonder then if you could change it... An "Ouch! Careful with that!" would be hilarious.

    e kacz
    6 years ago

    this doesn't work on a 2017 12" macbook running high sierra 10.13.6

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