How to Adjust Volume for Apps in Windows 10 and 11?

By Jon — Windows Audio Expert  |  March 16, 2026  |  7 min read

Why You'd Want to Control Volume Per App in Windows

Picture this: you are playing a game with friends. The game's soundtrack is cranked up the way it should be. But every time someone talks in Discord, you have to physically reach for the volume knob or frantically drag the system slider — and then the next explosion in the game nearly blows your ears out because you forgot to turn it back up.

There is a much better way. Windows lets you set a completely independent volume level for every single app — so your game stays at 80%, Discord sits at 40%, Spotify plays quietly in the background at 25%, and a notification sound does not scare you out of your chair. All at the same time, without touching any other app.

This is called per-app volume control, and it has been in Windows since Windows Vista — yet the vast majority of users never discover it. This guide walks through five different ways to use it, from the classic Volume Mixer to a smarter third-party tool that adds features Microsoft never bothered to build.

Important note: Per-app volume control only works for apps that use the Windows audio session (WASAPI). Most mainstream apps — browsers, games, media players, communication tools — fully support it. Legacy or low-level audio apps that bypass Windows audio may not appear in Volume Mixer.

Method 1: Volume Mixer — The Quickest Way

Recommended — Windows 10 & 11

Volume Mixer is built into every version of Windows 10 and 11. It is a floating panel that shows a vertical slider for every app currently producing sound. You can raise, lower, or mute any app independently in seconds — no settings menus, no digging through panels.

Method 2: App Volume and Device Preferences (Persistent Settings)

Persistent Per-App Volume

The Volume Mixer is great for quick adjustments, but settings made there can reset when you close and reopen an app. For volume levels that stick every time you launch an app, use App volume and device preferences — a less-known panel in Windows Sound Settings that remembers your choices permanently.

Method 3: Windows 11 Settings Volume Mixer

Windows 11 Only

Windows 11 introduced a redesigned Volume Mixer directly inside the Settings app — a cleaner, more modern interface compared to the classic floating panel. It combines per-app volume sliders with device assignment in one place.

Method 4: Route Different Apps to Different Audio Devices

Multi-Device Audio Routing

One of the most powerful — and completely underused — features in Windows is the ability to send different apps to completely different audio devices. For example: your game audio goes to your speakers, but a Discord call goes directly into your headset. No third-party software needed.

Method 5: EarTrumpet — Best Free Third-Party Volume Manager

Third-Party — Free

If you want more control than Windows provides out of the box — including persistent volume memory, a cleaner interface, and keyboard shortcut support — EarTrumpet is the tool most Windows power users rely on. It is free, open-source, and available directly from the Microsoft Store.

Real-World Scenarios and What to Do in Each

Here are the most common situations where per-app volume control solves a real frustration — and exactly which method to use in each case.

Which Method Should You Use?

Common Problems and Their Fixes

App not showing in Volume Mixer

Volume Mixer only lists apps that are currently producing audio. Open the app, start playing audio within it, then open Volume Mixer — it will appear. Apps that are open but silent will not be listed until they start outputting sound.

App volume resets to 100% every time it opens

Some apps — particularly games using DirectSound or apps with built-in audio engines — override Windows volume settings on launch. Two solutions: use App volume and device preferences (Method 2) instead of Volume Mixer since those settings have higher priority, or switch to EarTrumpet (Method 5) which has better handling of volume memory for stubborn apps.

Cannot hear a specific app even at 100%

Check whether the app has its own internal volume control. Games, media players, and video apps often have a separate in-app volume slider that is independent of Windows. Set both the in-app volume and the Windows Volume Mixer slider to 100%, then use the Windows level to reduce it to your preferred listening level.

Volume Mixer missing from the right-click speaker menu

On Windows 11, some builds moved Volume Mixer out of the right-click context menu. If you do not see it, go directly to Settings → System → Sound → Volume Mixer instead. You can also pin it to the taskbar for faster access via a custom shortcut to sndvol.exe.

All app volumes reset after a Windows Update

Windows feature updates can reset audio session settings. After any major update, reopen App volume and device preferences and confirm your per-app levels are still set correctly. For the most update-resistant setup, use EarTrumpet — it stores settings in its own configuration file that is unaffected by Windows audio driver resets.

Test Your Audio After Adjusting App Volumes

Once you have configured per-app volumes, confirm the setup is working correctly before your next important session.

• Windows built-in test: Go to Settings → System → Sound → select your output device → click Test. This plays a tone through your current default output device to confirm audio is routing correctly.
• Per-channel test: Visit sound test — it plays audio through your left and right channels separately so you can confirm both channels are working at the correct balance. Useful after any audio reconfiguration to rule out channel imbalance introduced during setup. Free, browser-based, no installation needed.
• Live app test: Open all your configured apps simultaneously, play audio in each, and confirm the relative volumes match your intended levels. Adjust any stragglers using Volume Mixer for fine-tuning.

Good habit to build: Every time Windows updates, spend 60 seconds opening App volume and device preferences to confirm your per-app levels are intact. Updates can silently reset audio driver settings, and catching it right after an update is far less frustrating than noticing it in the middle of a call or gaming session.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I adjust the volume for a specific app in Windows 10?

Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar and select Open Volume Mixer. A panel opens with a separate vertical slider for every app currently playing audio. Drag the slider for your target app up or down — this does not affect any other app or the overall system volume.

How do I change the volume for individual apps in Windows 11?

Go to Settings → System → Sound and scroll down to click "App volume and device preferences". Every app that has used audio recently will be listed with its own volume slider. Adjust the slider for the specific app you want to change. These settings persist across app restarts.

Where is the Volume Mixer in Windows 11?

Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar (bottom-right corner) and select Open Volume Mixer. In Windows 11, you can also go to Settings → System → Sound → Volume Mixer for the redesigned version inside the Settings app. Both show per-app volume sliders for all active audio sessions.

Can I set a default volume for an app so it always opens at the same level?

Yes. Go to Settings → System → Sound → App volume and device preferences. Set the desired volume for any listed app. Windows remembers this value and applies it whenever that app plays audio — even after you restart the app or reboot Windows. For even more reliable persistence, use EarTrumpet from the Microsoft Store.

Why does my app volume reset to 100% every time I reopen it?

Some apps override the Windows volume setting when they launch. Use Settings → System → Sound → App volume and device preferences instead of the floating Volume Mixer — that location has higher persistence priority. If the problem continues, install EarTrumpet (free, Microsoft Store) which handles volume memory for stubborn apps more reliably.

How do I mute one app while keeping others at full volume?

Open Volume Mixer by right-clicking the speaker icon and selecting Open Volume Mixer. Click the small speaker icon directly below the slider of the app you want to mute. That app's audio will be completely silenced while all other apps continue playing at their current levels.

Why is the app not showing in Volume Mixer?

Volume Mixer only shows apps that are currently producing audio output. If an app is open but not actively playing sound at that moment, it will not appear. Start playing audio in the app first — a video, song, or audio message — then open Volume Mixer and the app's slider will appear automatically.

Can I use different audio output devices for different apps in Windows?

Yes. Go to Settings → System → Sound → App volume and device preferences. Next to each app you will see both a volume slider and an Output dropdown menu. Click the dropdown for any app and select a different speaker, headphone, or audio device. That app will immediately route its audio to the selected device while all other apps continue using the system default.

Does adjusting app volume in Volume Mixer affect the microphone?

No. Volume Mixer controls only audio output — what you hear from apps. Microphone input is completely separate, controlled under the Input section in Sound Settings. Changing an app's playback volume has zero effect on microphone sensitivity, recording levels, or what others hear from you.

What is the best free tool to control per-app volume in Windows?

EarTrumpet is the most widely recommended free tool for per-app volume control in Windows 10 and 11. Install it free from the Microsoft Store. It replaces the default speaker icon with a smarter mixer that supports persistent volume levels, per-app output device switching, a cleaner and faster interface, and better handling of apps that reset their volume on launch.

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