Windows 11 test builds are accidentally playing the Windows Vista startup sound

The latest Windows 11 Dev and Beta builds just got a surprising hit of nostalgia. Alongside the usual tweaks and under-the-hood changes, users noticed something very unexpected—Windows is booting with the old Windows Vista startup chime.

Yes, the same sound Microsoft introduced nearly two decades ago. Insiders flagged the bug earlier this week, and Microsoft quickly confirmed the mix-up. “This week’s flight comes with a delightful blast from the past and will play the Windows Vista boot sound instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. We’re working on a fix,” the company noted in its changelog.

That Vista sound is back—for now

While this clearly wasn’t intentional, the timing raised eyebrows. Apple’s new macOS 26 “Tahoe” design—unveiled just days ago—has been widely compared to Windows Vista’s Aero interface. That might explain why people are suddenly reminiscing about Vista all over again.

Brandon LeBlanc from the Windows Insider team also chimed in on X, joking:

I went in and had some fun with the sound files in Windows and thought folks needed a blast from the past 😉 You did say how much you loved Vista.

It’s just a bug, but one that’s turning heads. If you miss the Vista sound, by the way, it’s still possible to bring it back manually. You’ll need the original WAV file, a quick Registry tweak, and some changes in Sound settings. Until then, enjoy the accidental nostalgia—because chances are, this jingle won’t be around much longer.