How to Enable and Disable Screen Flash Effects on Windows 11

If your computer's notification sound is malfunctioning, such as a broken speaker or a non-functioning notification sound mode, Windows offers an alternative screen flashing effect. As soon as a new notification arrives, Windows will display a screen flashing effect. Users can choose to have the title bar, the active window, or the entire screen flash when a notification arrives. Below are detailed instructions.

Turn the Screen Flash Effect on or Off via Settings

Step 1:

Open Settings on your computer, then select Accessibility from the list on the left side of the interface.

Continue looking to the side and click on the Audio option to adjust the sound settings on your computer.

Step 2:

Find the "Flash my screen during audio notifications" setting to adjust the screen flashing effect when you receive audio notifications.

We select one of the flashing effect options below.

• Never
• The title bar of the active window is blinking.
• The active window is blinking.
• Illuminate the entire screen.

Turn the Screen Flash Effect on or Off via the Control Panel

Step 1:

Open the Control Panel and switch to Small icons mode . Then, scroll down and click on Ease of Access Center .

Step 2:

Switch to the new interface, scroll down and select the option " Use text or visual alternatives for sounds" .

Step 3:

To enable the screen blinking effect when there is a notification sound, check the box next to "Turn on visual notifications for sounds (Sound Sentry)" .

In the Choose visual warning section, we can also select the flashing effect we want.

How to Enable Screen Flash Effects via Registry

Please note that you need administrator privileges to perform this action.

Turn off screen flickering effects.

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 2 /f reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v WindowsEffect /t REG_SZ /d 0 /f

The title bar of the active window is blinking.

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 3 /f reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v WindowsEffect /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f

The active window is blinking.

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 3 /f reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v WindowsEffect /t REG_SZ /d 2 /f

The entire screen flickers.

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 3 /f reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilitySoundSentry" /v WindowsEffect /t REG_SZ /d 3 /f