Macs have chimed at startup since the 1980s — that warm tone is pure Apple nostalgia. Now your iPhone can do it too. Apple added Mac-style power chimes in iOS 16, so your phone can play a sound when it boots up and when it shuts down. But here’s the crucial caveat up front: this only works on iPhone 14 series and newer (iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 and later). If you’re on an iPhone 13 or older, the option simply won’t appear. For everyone else, here’s the 30-second setup.
How to turn on the iPhone power on/off chime
- Open Settings, then tap Accessibility.
- Under the Hearing section, tap Audio/Visual.
- Toggle “Power On & Off Sounds” on (it turns green).
- Test it: power your iPhone off and back on. The startup chime plays as the Apple logo appears at boot; a shutdown sound plays when powering off.
That’s the whole thing — one toggle, buried in Accessibility because Apple originally designed it as an assistive feature: an audible confirmation that the device is powering on or off, useful if you can’t easily see the screen. Apple’s Accessibility pages list it among the hearing-related options.
A note on haptics
Here’s a detail most guides miss: you’ll also feel haptic feedback when the device turns on or off, even if you’ve disabled other haptics. Apple ties a subtle vibration to the power cycle itself, so the chime isn’t the only confirmation you get. If you love customizing iPhone audio, see our guides to adding and changing the iPhone startup sound and turning off AirPods charging case sounds.
If it still doesn’t work
- The toggle isn’t there. Double-check your model — iPhone 14 or newer is required. Also confirm you’re on iOS 16 or later via Settings → General → Software Update.
- No sound at boot. Make sure your ringer volume is up — the chime respects the current volume level. If the phone is muted, the chime stays quiet.
- It worked, then stopped. Toggle the switch off and back on, then restart. Rare, but the setting can need a nudge after major iOS updates. You might also enjoy automatically identifying songs playing nearby on iPhone while you’re in an audio-tweaking mood.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the chime to a custom sound?
No. It’s a fixed built-in tone — Apple doesn’t offer a picker or volume slider for it. You can only toggle it on or off. MacRumors and MakeUseOf have both confirmed there’s no customization beyond the switch.
Does the chime play on every restart?
Yes — every full power-on and power-off plays its respective sound while the toggle is enabled. Resprings (soft restarts) don’t trigger it; only complete boot and shutdown cycles do.
Conclusion
One toggle in Settings → Accessibility → Audio/Visual, and your iPhone gains a touch of classic Mac character. It’s a small delight — and now you know exactly where Apple hid it.
