Windows Live Messenger Sound

How to Change the Default Sounds in Windows Live Messenger

information   Information
This will show you how to change the Windows Live Messenger sound events to what you want them to be instead of the default sounds. You will also see how to backup the old sound events in case you want to restore them later.
warning   Warning
Make sure Windows Live Messenger is turned off before during this.





METHOD ONE
For Windows Live Messenger 8.5


Note   Note
This is for the WLM version 8.5 and older

1. Open Windows Live Messenger.​
2. Click on the menu icon and click on Tools and Options. (See screenshot below)​
Messenger.jpg

3. In the left pane, click on Alerts and Sounds. (See screenshot below step 7)​
4. To Enable or Disable an Alert
A) Under the Alerts section (top right pane), check or uncheck the Alerts you want or do not want. (See screenshot below step 7)​
NOTE: Alerts are not​

5. To Enable or Disable a Sound Event
A) Under the Sounds section (bottom right pane), check or uncheck the sound event. (See screenshot below step 7)​

6. To Change a Sound Event
A) Click on a listed sound event to highlight it. (See screenshot below step 7)​
B) Click on the Browse button.​
C) Navigate to your new .wav, .wma, or .mp3 sound file that you want to use.​
D) Select the new sound file and click Open.​
E) Repeat for any other sound event you want to change.​

7. When done, click on OK.​
Options.jpg







METHOD TWO
For Windows Live Messenger 14.0+

1. Open Windows Live Messenger.​
2. Click on the menu icon and click on Tools and Options. (See screenshot below step 2 in METHOD ONE)​
NOTE: In Windows Live Messenger 2011 (15.4.3502.922 + versions), you click on the drop down menu under your name and then on More Options.​
3. To Enable or Disable an Alert or Notification
A) In the left pane, click on Alerts. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: In Windows Live Messenger 2011 (15.4.3502.922 version) this is called Notifications instead.​
B) Check or uncheck the Alerts you want or do not want.​
WLM_Beta_Alerts.jpgNotifications.jpg


4. To Enable or Disable a Sound Event
A) In the left pane, click on Sounds. (See screenshot below step 7)​
B) Click on the Sound event to expand it, and dot or undot Don't play a sound. (See screenshot below step 7)​
C) Go to step 7.​

5. To Change a Sound Event
A) In the left pane, click on Sounds. (See screenshot below step 7)​
B) Click on the Sound event to expand it.​
C) Dot the sound file you want to play for this sound event, and go to step 7.​
NOTE: This is if you want a sound file already listed under the expanded sound event.​
OR
D) Click on the Add a new sound button.​
NOTE: This is if you want to add a new sound file that is not already listed under the expanded sound event.​
E) Navigate to your new .wav, .wma, or .mp3 sound file that you want to use.​
F) Select the new sound file and click on Done.​
G) Dot the sound file you just added to select it.​

7. When done, click on OK.​
Messenger_Beta.jpg

That's it,
Shawn



 

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Last edited:
I canno get this to work. I have followed the directions and it just continues to play the default sound even if my .wma file is the file. Can someone help me with what I may be doing wrong?
 

My Computer

Hello Soldierswife, and welcome to Vista Forum's.

Did you check to make sure that all of the WMA files were unblocked before you moved them into the C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger location with the same name as the ones you are replacing?

Double check for a typo in the file name.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

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    512 GB M.2 SSD
It did not give me that option; however I did discover that if I went into the Tools-Options-Alerts and Sounds profiles on my Windows Live and clicked on the checked item that I wanted to change then went to Browse it allowed me to change it ( I think-haven't tested it yet).
 

My Computer

You're welcome John, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for the addition.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Great,

only, shame these sound files only have a play time of up to 15 seconds?! :cry:

Unlike MSN Messenger, WLMessenger has a playing restriction on its wave file attachments.
Sure, i can opt for choosing my own Messenger sounds as shown in the how-to above,
but there is no where there is an option to extend the sound-file play-time.

Why was this restriction introduced?
Why provide the facility to amend your Messenger Sound alerts, but then only allow a few seconds for them to play?

:huh: Stephen
 

My Computer

Hello Stephen, and welcome to Vista Forums.

That would be a good question to send to the Windows Live Messenger team.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
I hope you get one from them soon. It would be nice to not have that limitation.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
:huh: Update:

Ive finally had a reply:
WLMSupport:devil: said:
there is a limit when recording wav files as alert on Messenger. This feature is by design and cannot be changed.
msn_sarcastic.gif


We have forwarded your suggestion to the product team that carefully reviews these suggestions and considers them for future releases.

What more can i say.
Feeling [D]

That said, there is a sort of work around for anybody wishing to use the add-on MessengerPlus! from Patchou - tho it cant help with the Customised WLM files,
you can assign log-in and play times to the activities of your friends (various, and up to 99 seconds)
if anybody's interested
 

My Computer

Thank you for sharring this WonderWabbit. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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