Windows will play a sound when you log on, if your battery is running low, and if you encounter an error. But what if you want to mix things up a bit and change the entire sound scheme for your computer?

Most people will change their wallpaper or screensaver, but let's take it one step further by altering Windows sounds. A lightsaber swoosh when you receive an email? A famous movie quote when you shut down? The sky's the limit!

This guide will briefly walk you through how to change your Windows sound scheme, then point you to some of the best places to download alternative audio effects.

How to Alter Individual Sounds or Set a Sound Scheme

It’s simple and quick to customize sound on Windows 10. For example, you can edit specific sounds or build an entirely new sound scheme.

windows 10 sound
  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to System > Sound > Sound Control Panel.
  3. Switch to the Sounds tab.
  4. Program Events lists all the sounds you can change. Select one, then click Browse to locate the new sound file. Repeat this for all the Program Events you want to change.
  5. When done, beneath Sound Scheme, click Save As to name your scheme.

For more detail on how to set your sounds, check our customizing your Windows sound effects guide.

Top Resources for Windows Sound Downloads

Now you know how to customize your sound schemes, it's just a case of picking out those perfect Windows audio files. If you don’t have any suitable choices, take a gander at the list below for some free resources.

It's important to note that you can only use WAV files for your audio files. If you're using your own clips, rather than those from the specialized sites below, they might be in an alternative format like MP3.

Don't fear. It's not a problem—you’ll need to convert your audio files before you can use them as Windows sounds. You can use a handy free and online tool called media.io to convert your files.

Here are some of the best websites to download replacement Windows 10 sounds, all offering audio in WAV format.

1. FindSounds

findsounds

FindSounds has a great variety of sound effects to offer because it searches all over the web to hunt down the audio. Whether you want your computer to play a different guitar chord for every event, fancy some animal noises to get you in the jungle spirit, or want a Simpsons makeover, FindSounds has got you covered.

FindSounds calls itself the Google of sound; while that oversells it, there's still plenty of audio to keep you satisfied. Just type in what you're looking for and click Search, or you can browse its categories to get the inspiration flowing.

2. Freesound

freesound

Freesound is incredibly active, and new sounds are constantly being added from users all over the globe. There are over half a million sound effects and counting, making it a hugely varied source. Of course, there's the standard stuff that you can expect, like nature noises and drum beats, but there are also more unusual choices like the ambient noise inside a walk-in freezer.

You don't even have to convert anything since you can sort all the results by file type, meaning you can pick out the WAV files that'll keep Windows happy. Also, there's a feature that allows you to follow specific users or tags. You'll then be notified whenever these are updated through weekly emails, which is great if you like to keep your sounds fresh.

3. freeSFX

freesfx

Sound effects and music tracks aplenty are on offer at freeSFX. Grab a comical squish, the chug of a train, or the fax modem signal (just in case you miss the olden days.) There are even very specific, specialized noises, which make freeSFX a unique place.

There's also a variety of royalty-free music, should you want to opt for some lengthier tunes to accompany your Windows actions. You might want to use this as your log-in sound to start the day with a track you enjoy—opting for smooth jazz, for example, is a sure-fire way to keep calm!

Related: Cool Sound Effects You Can Make Using Audacity

4. SoundBible

soundbible

There are thousands of free sound effects for you to grab from SoundBible, with more added every week. A slot machine, race car, and ice cubes in a glass are just some of the sounds you can download from their site.

You can easily search for sounds or browse through those that have been recently added. Alternatively, try the random sounds listed on the site's footer. Once you find a sound, you can listen to it on the page before downloading the WAV.

5. BBC Sound Effects

bbc sound effects

The BBC has been broadcasting on the radio since the 1920s, which is longer than you've been alive. In that time, they've collected together a vast array of sounds and made them available online. Over 33,000, to be more precise.

Everything you can dream of can be found here, to an insanely specific measure. Interior noises at a seafood restaurant? Sure. Someone wiping a bar? Yes. The sound of acid blobs? I bet you want to know what that sounds like.

Handily, you can easily find all of this and more through the search (which lets you filter by category, duration, and even continent), then download straight to your computer.

6. BigSoundBank

bigsoundbank

BigSoundBank has been online since 2005, founded to offer high-quality sound effects for free. It certainly achieves that.

You can browse through sound categories like creatures, fireworks, and weather, or scroll through the thousands of sounds on offer. One of the nice features of BigSoundBank is that it shows you related audio files to the one you're looking at, which helps when creating a unified Windows sound scheme.

Enhance Your Sound on Windows 10

Go forth and edit your Windows sound scheme to your heart's content. You can make as many as you like, allowing you to switch things up when different moods strike.

This is just one of the ways that you can enhance your Windows 10 sound. You can also enable sound enhancements, Windows Sonic, and other features to get the best audio possible.