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  • Windows 11 now integrates the Volume Mixer function into the quick settings menu for easier individual app volume control.
  • The Volume Mixer feature is available in Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.2361 and newer, and can be accessed via Quick Settings, Windows Settings, or shortcut keys.
  • Users can adjust volume, mute apps, and select specific output and input devices for each app through the Volume Mixer.
  • The Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 also provides an option to adjust the system and app sound output volume levels.
  • Third-party app Ear Trumpet offers similar functionality to the Windows Volume Mixer, with an accessible interface from the System tray.

Windows features a Volume Mixer function that allows users to adjust the volume for each application currently running on their system. This function can be particularly useful for those who frequently use multiple applications simultaneously and wish to manage their individual volumes.

The most recent update to Windows 11 has integrated the Volume Mixer directly into the quick settings menu. Prior to this update, access to the volume mixer was limited to the sound settings on Windows 11. With the update, users can now manage the volume of each application from the Windows 11 Quick Settings, the Settings app, and through several other methods.

Change the Volume of Different Apps on Windows 11

On Windows, you can adjust the volume of each app individually. This means that you can have different volume levels for every active app.

For example, if you want your audio player to be louder and your social media apps to be quieter so you can enjoy your favorite music without being bothered by notifications, you can just turn down the volume for the social media apps without affecting the media players.

There are a few different ways to configure the volume level for each active app in Windows 11.

Using Volume Mixer from Quick Settings

Usually, the volume control in the Quick Settings on Windows 11 controls the sound for all apps at the same time. Turning it up or down makes all apps louder or quieter. But if you want to change the volume for individual apps, you would have to use the Volume Mixer through Windows Settings.

Windows 11 has added a modern volume mixer to Quick Settings that allows you to quickly adjust the volume for individual apps on the fly. This feature is only available in Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.2361 and newer.

  1. Click the 'Volume' icon in the taskbar corner and then click the 'Select a sound output' button next to the volume slider. Or you can just press the Windows + Ctrl + V keys together to launch the Volume Mixer in the Sound Output quick setting.
  1. In the Sound output menu, scroll down to find the Volume Mixer section and all active apps with audio output.
  2. Under Volume Mixer, use the sliders next to the app icons to adjust the volume for each.
  1. To mute an app, click on the app's icon in the volume mixer or use the volume slider and set the volume to 0.

Using Volume Mixer from Windows Settings

  1. Right-click the volume icon in the taskbar and select 'Open Volume mixer'. Alternatively, go to 'Settings' > 'System' > 'Sound' > 'Volume mixer'.
  1. Under the Apps section in the Volume mixer screen, you can control the volume for each app by adjusting the slider. You can also change the system sound separately from the apps.
  1. In the Volume mixer, you can also choose output and input devices for each app. To choose an output or input device for a specific app, click on the app tile to expand it, then select the desired device from the drop-down menu.
  1. If you wish to reset the sound devices and volumes for all apps to the defaults, just click the 'Reset' button on the same screen. This will set the volume level for all apps back to 100%.

Using Volume Mixer from Xbox Game Bar

To change the system and app sound output volume level from the Game Bar on Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar.
  2. If the Audio widget is not open, click the 'Audio' icon in the Game Bar.
  1. Choose the output device from the Windows Default Output drop-down menu.
  2. Then, use the sliders to adjust the volume level for the system and each desired app.
  1. You can also pin the Audio widget to your screen to quickly access the volume mixer and set a different for any app.

Notable mention: Ear Trumpet app

There's also a third-party app called Ear Trumpet that lets you control both universal and desktop apps. It's so good that Microsoft even copied features from the app to revamp its volume mixer for Windows 11, which now resembles Ear Trumpet a lot. The app is available in Microsoft Store and GitHub.

Get EarTrumpet from the Microsoft Store
EarTrumpet is a powerful volume control app for Windows

Ear Trumpet also offers some other cool features. Once installed the app can be accessed from the System tray.

When you click the 'Ear Trumpet' icon (Volume), it pops up individual volume sliders for all your running apps.

This makes it easier to adjust the volume of each app without having to open the Volume Mixer.