Reference number: CH000725

How can I disable / enable the internal speaker?

Question:

How can I disable / enable the internal speaker?

Additional information:

This document contains information about disabling the internal speaker (speaker on the motherboard). This speaker is responsible for the beeps or beeping noises and sounds you often hear from your computer. See our internal speaker definition for additional information about this term.

If you're looking for information and help about external speakers see our speaker page.

Answer:

The answer to this question depending on the type of motherboard you have in the computer and its configuration and/or the software you have installed in the computer.

Disabling the internal speaker

Software
Motherboard jumper
Motherboard cable

Software

If you're running Microsoft Windows you can disable the Internal speaker or PC speaker by following the below steps.

1. Open Device Manager
2. In Device Manager click View and click "Show hidden devices"
3. This should make "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" visible in Device Manager.
4. Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers by clicking the plus and double-click Beep.
5. Within the "Beep properties" window click the Driver tab.
6. Under the driver tab if you wish to temporarily disable this device click the Stop button. If you wish to permanently disable this device under the Startup Type select Disabled.

Motherboard jumper

If following the above steps does not disable the Internal speaker you can also almost always disable the Internal speaker through jumpers on the motherboard. Many motherboard manufacturers have jumpers that when jumped or not jumped will enable the onboard speaker.

Unfortunately all motherboards are different, therefore you will need to refer to the motherboard documentation in order to determine if your motherboard has such a jumper and what to set it to. 

Motherboard cable

Some motherboards do not have an onboard speaker and instead use a computer case speaker which can be removed to disable the speaker. Unfortunately again you will need to refer to the motherboard or computers documentation to determine if your computer is setup this way.

Enabling the internal speaker

Software
Motherboard jumper
Motherboard cable

Software

If you're running Microsoft Windows you can enable the Internal Speaker or PC speaker by following the below steps.

1. Open Device Manager
2. In Device Manager click View and click "Show hidden devices"
3. This should make "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" visible in Device Manager.
4. Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers by clicking the plus and double-click Beep.
5. Within the "Beep properties" window click the Driver tab.
6. Under the driver tab if you wish to temporarily enable this device click the Start button. If you wish to permanently enable this device under the Startup Type select System.

Motherboard jumper

If following the above steps does not enable the Internal speaker you can also almost always enable the Internal speaker through jumpers on the motherboard. Many motherboard manufacturers have jumpers that when jumped or not jumped will disable the onboard speaker.

Unfortunately all motherboards are different, therefore you will need to refer to the motherboard documentation in order to determine if your motherboard has such a jumper and what to set it to. 

Motherboard cable

Some motherboards do not have an onboard speaker and instead use a computer case speaker which can be removed to disable the speaker. Unfortunately again you will need to refer to the motherboard or computers documentation to determine if your computer is setup this way.