12 Outdated Tech Sounds That Still Echo in Your Head
These old tech sounds may be gone, but they are still stuck in your memory.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Before smartphones and silent touchscreens, technology made a lot more noise. They were loud, clunky, and unforgettable. Here are 12 tech sounds that many people still remember, even if the devices are long gone.
1. The Dial-Up Modem Symphony
Frunze103 on Wikimedia Commons
Connecting to the internet used to mean waiting through a loud screeching sound. This was the modem trying to connect. It was annoying, but also exciting at the time.
2. The Whir of the Floppy Disk
Jacek Halicki on Wikimedia Commons
Floppy disks made a soft whirring sound when they were read by a computer. It meant your files were being loaded or saved. This sound was part of using computers in the ’90s.
3. The Rhythmic Clack of Typewriters
Sammlung der Medien und Wissenschaft on Wikimedia Commons
Typewriters made a sharp clacking sound with every key press. When you reached the end of the line, it gave a little ding. It was loud but satisfying to hear.
4. The Click-Whirl of Rotary Dials
Berthold Werner on Wikimedia Commons
Rotary phones made a clicking noise as you turned the dial. Each number took time to spin and return. It was slow, but part of the fun back then.
5. The Buzz of Dot Matrix Printers
Corvair on Wikimedia Commons
Dot matrix printers made a buzzing and grinding noise while printing. They used pins to hit paper through a ribbon. Offices were full of this sound for years.
6. The Whir of VHS Rewinding
LoMit on Wikimedia Commons
After watching a VHS tape, you had to rewind it. The VCR made a fast whirring sound as it worked. That noise meant your movie was ready for next time.
7. The Pop of CRT TVs
Melonbob on Wikimedia Commons
Old TVs made a quiet pop when you turned them on. The screen would glow and slowly warm up. It was a normal part of watching TV before flat screens.
8. The Chime of Windows 95
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
When you started a Windows 95 computer, it played a soft chime. It meant your computer was ready. Many people still remember that sound clearly.
9. The Iconic Nokia Ringtone
Lippincott Studio, per source on Wikimedia Commons
Nokia phones had a default ringtone that played everywhere. It was short, catchy, and hard to forget, and it became one of the most famous ringtones in the world.
10. The Beep of Pagers
Florian Fuchs on Wikimedia Commons
Pagers made a simple beep when someone sent you a message. It was a quiet but important sound. People used to check their pagers right away after hearing it.
11. The Click and Whirr of Polaroids
Thomas Jantzen/SPÖ on Wikimedia Commons
Taking a photo on a Polaroid camera involved a click, followed by a soft whirr. The picture came out right after, and then you waited for it to slowly appear.
12. The Clickety-Clack of Mechanical Keyboards
Morn on Wikimedia Commons
Old keyboards made a loud clicking sound when you typed. Every key press was strong and clear. Many people still love that sound today.