Enable and Manage Per‑App Volume with Volume Mixer & App Audio Device Preferences
Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutesWindows can play audio from multiple apps at the same time—music in Spotify, a meeting in Teams, a game in the background, and a browser video you forgot was open. The problem is that one app can suddenly be way louder than everything else. Luckily, Windows 10 and Windows 11 include built-in tools to control per‑app volume and even choose which output device (speakers, headset, HDMI monitor, etc.) each app uses.
This guide walks you through using Volume Mixer and App volume and device preferences to quickly balance sound, route audio to the right device, and fix common “why is this app so loud/quiet?” issues.
Prerequisites
- A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with working audio (speakers/headphones).
- At least one app actively playing sound (or recently played sound), such as:
- A browser tab with video/audio
- Spotify, VLC, iTunes
- Discord, Teams, Zoom
- A game
Note (Windows versions):
- Windows 11 includes a modern Volume mixer in Settings.
- Windows 10 uses the classic Volume Mixer plus a Settings page for per-app device routing (available in most builds). The exact labels may vary slightly by version.
Step-by-Step: Use Volume Mixer to Control Per‑App Volume
1) Make sure the app is producing audio
- Start playing audio in the app you want to adjust (e.g., play a YouTube video).
- If the app is silent, check that it’s not paused and that its in-app volume isn’t muted.
Tip: Apps usually appear in the mixer only after they’ve played audio at least once in the current session.
2) Open Volume Mixer (Windows 11)
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to System → Sound.
- Scroll down and select Volume mixer.
- A Device section (your current output device)
- A Volume slider for overall system volume
- An Apps section showing individual apps with their own volume sliders
3) Open Volume Mixer (Windows 10)
You have two common options:Option A: Classic Volume Mixer (fastest)
- Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar (near the clock).
- Click Open Volume mixer.
- Press Win + I → System → Sound.
- Scroll and click App volume and device preferences (wording may vary).
4) Adjust an app’s volume without changing everything else
- In Volume Mixer, locate the app under Apps.
- Move the app’s slider left/right:
- Lower it to reduce loud apps (games, browsers).
- Raise it slightly for quiet apps (voice chat, meeting apps).
Note: This changes only that app’s volume relative to your overall output volume. If your system volume is set to 5%, every app will still be limited by that.
5) Mute an app instantly (without muting Windows)
- Find the app in the mixer.
- Click the speaker/mute icon next to that app (if shown), or drag its slider to 0.
6) Reset per-app volumes if things get messy
If volumes are all over the place after lots of tweaking:Windows 11
- Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer
- Look for a Reset option (typically “Reset sound devices and volumes for all apps…”).
- Click Reset to return apps to defaults.
- In many cases, you’ll need to manually set sliders back to normal in the mixer.
- Some builds include reset options in the app audio preferences page.
Warning: Resetting restores default app volumes and may remove custom per‑app routing choices.
Step-by-Step: Route Each App to a Specific Audio Output Device
This is where Windows gets really useful: you can send your game to speakers while sending Discord to a headset—at the same time.7) Open “App volume and device preferences”
Windows 11- Settings → System → Sound
- Select Volume mixer
- Under Apps, you may see per-app Output device options depending on version/build.
- Settings → System → Sound
- Click App volume and device preferences
8) Choose an output device per app
- In App volume and device preferences, find the app in the list.
- Use the Output dropdown to choose where that app plays audio:
- Default (follows your system default device)
- Headphones / Headset
- Speakers
- HDMI / Monitor audio
- Bluetooth device (if connected)
Tip: If you don’t see the device you want, connect/pair it first (Bluetooth) or plug it in, then reopen this page.
9) (Optional) Choose an input device per app (microphone)
Some versions of Windows also let you pick Input per app (great for voice chat and meetings):- Find the app (Teams, Discord, Zoom).
- Set Input to the microphone you want (USB mic vs headset mic).
Note: Many apps also have their own microphone selection in their settings. If Windows and the app conflict, prefer setting it inside the app first.
10) Apply changes (important!) by restarting the app
Per‑app device routing doesn’t always switch instantly.- Close the app completely (ensure it’s not still running in the tray).
- Reopen the app and play audio again.
Tip: For stubborn apps, a full sign-out/restart of Windows can help, but usually restarting the app is enough.
Helpful Tips, Notes, and Troubleshooting
Tip: Use the quick settings panel in Windows 11 for fast access
- Press Win + A → click the sound output selector (next to the volume slider) to quickly change the default device.
- Then use Volume mixer to fine-tune per-app volume.
Troubleshooting: The app doesn’t appear in Volume Mixer
Try this:- Make sure the app is currently playing sound.
- Close and reopen the app.
- Check if the app is running in a different session (rare, but can happen with remote desktop).
- Update audio drivers via Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers (only if you’re having broader sound problems).
Troubleshooting: App is still too loud even at low slider
- Check the app’s internal volume setting (YouTube player, game audio settings).
- Turn off audio enhancements:
- Settings → System → Sound → choose your output device
- Look for Enhancements / Audio enhancements and disable (wording varies)
Troubleshooting: Per‑app output device keeps reverting to Default
- Some apps override Windows routing or reinitialize audio at launch.
- Fixes to try:
- Set the device inside the app (preferred for Discord/Zoom/Teams).
- Restart the app after setting Windows routing.
- Ensure your desired device is connected before launching the app.
Warning: Exclusive mode can interfere (advanced but common)
Some audio drivers allow apps to take exclusive control, which can cause odd behavior.- Control Panel → Sound → Playback device → Properties → Advanced
- Try unchecking Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device if you experience conflicts.
Conclusion: Why Per‑App Volume Control Is Worth Using
Per‑app audio control is one of those “once you use it, you won’t go back” Windows features. With Volume Mixer and App Audio Device Preferences, you can keep meetings clear, tame loud browsers, and route sound exactly where you want—without constantly changing your main system volume.Key Takeaways:
- Adjust individual app volumes without affecting your overall system volume.
- Mute noisy apps quickly while keeping important audio (calls/alerts) audible.
- Route each app to a different output device (speakers vs headset vs HDMI).
- Restarting the app often helps when device routing doesn’t apply immediately.
This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.
