How to Customize Startup Sound in Windows 10

In a previous post, I highlighted some ways with which you can manage the startup programs in Windows. But did you know that you can customize Windows startup jingle with a custom message? If not, then this post will tell you just how to do so.

You can set up a custom welcome message, an important reminder, a motivational message, or even prank your brother by setting up a custom message on his PC. Whatever your reasons are, it’s really easy to set up a custom voice message on your Windows PC and I’ll show you how.

Note: This tip will work on Windows 7 and 8 as well.

Step 1. Create VBScript via Notepad

You first need to create a VBScript containing the voice message and then put it in the Startup folder to execute it on Windows startup.

To create the VBScript you need to open up Notepad first. Type notepad in Windows search bar and select Notepad from the list. In the Notepad, copy/paste the below-mentioned code:

dim speech
text="Your Message"
set speech=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
speech.speak text

Step 2. Edit VBSCript, replace it with your message

Here, you can replace the Your Message part with your own text. Just remember to add the quotes.

Step 3. Save the VBSCript

Now click on File, go to Save and save the file with .vbs extension. You can name the file whatever you like, but it must have .vbs extension. For example: “welcome.vbs“.

Step 4. Test the VBSCript

To test the file, open it (by double-clicking) and you should hear your message in the voice of the Window’s built-in narrator.

Note: If you see a code error when you launch the VBScript, then try re-adding all the quotes (” “) in the code I provided. Sometimes a difference of font style can stop the script from working (happened to me).

If you want to edit the script, then right-click on it and select Edit. You can modify the message part however you please and open the script to test the changes. The text narrator respects most types of punctuations, such as comma, full stop, or apostrophe, but punctuations like a question mark or exclamation mark will not be entertained.

Additionally, the narrator doesn’t speak non-english words properly, such as your name. But you can help it pronounce better by entering the word as it sounds. For example, the narrator speaks my name better when I type “Kaaraar“, instead of “Karrar“.

Step 5. Place VBScript in Startup folder

After creating and testing the VBScript, let’s drop it in the Startup folder to make it start up with Windows. Press Windows + R keys and type shell:startup in the Run dialog to open the Startup folder.

Paste the VBScript inside here.

Step 6. Restart PC

Whatever is added to the Startup folder automatically launches when Windows start so same will happen to this script. Restart your PC, and you will be welcomed with your custom voice message when the desktop opens up.

The voice message will play after the other startup programs so it may delay a bit depending on your startup apps. And later, if you want to get rid of the custom voice message, simply delete the script from the Startup folder or move it somewhere else.

Conclusion

As the custom voice message is using Windows built-in Narrator app, it should be able to speak out anything you type. In case you want to type a language apart from English, it would be better to type the word pronunciation instead of its exact spelling.