It sounds like an annoying issue to deal with, especially when you're in professional settings and the laptop suddenly unmutes itself. There could be a few reasons why this is happening, but here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:
1. Check power settings: Sometimes, power settings can interfere with audio settings. Go to "Settings" > "System" > "Power & Sleep" and click on "Additional power settings" to open the Power Options. Ensure that the power plan you are using is not set to allow the computer to wake itself up.
2. Update audio drivers: Outdated or incompatible audio drivers can cause unexpected behavior. Visit the Asus support website and enter your laptop model to download and install the latest audio drivers for Windows 11.
3. Disable audio enhancements: Certain audio enhancements can conflict with the mute settings. Right-click on the volume icon in the taskbar, select "Sounds" and go to the "Playback" tab. Right-click on the default playback device (usually labeled "Speakers" or "Headphones") and choose "Properties". In the properties window, go to the "Enhancements" tab. Check the "Disable all enhancements" box and click "Apply" and then "OK".
4. Clear startup programs: There may be certain programs that are set to run at startup and override the mute settings. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, go to the "Startup" tab, and disable any unnecessary programs that may be running at startup.
5. Perform a clean boot: A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of startup programs and drivers, which can help identify if a third-party application is causing the issue. You can perform a clean boot by following the instructions in this Microsoft support article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-d4a2ecca-b77b-2fce-091b-d316bdfaadea
If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to consider contacting Asus support for further assistance. They may have specific solutions or firmware updates available for your laptop model.
I hope one of these solutions helps you resolve the issue and allows you to work without worrying about unexpected audio playback.