Windows 10 Volume Change Issue: Speakers vs USB Headphones
If you have recently installed Windows 10 and connected multiple audio devices, such as speakers and USB headphones with a mic set, you might have noticed that the volume settings keep changing every time you start a new application or switch between devices. This article will help you understand the issue and provide solutions to fix it.
Understanding the Windows 10 Volume Mixer
Windows 10 features a volume mixer that controls the audio levels for various applications and devices. When you connect multiple audio devices, the volume mixer may create some confusion, leading to frequent volume changes. This issue is even more common when you use USB headphones or speakers because these devices typically have their individual volume controls, causing further complications.
Identifying the Problem
To confirm that you have a volume change issue, check the following:
- Connect both audio devices (speakers and USB headphones)
- Set the master volume to a specific level
- Open an application that uses audio (e.g., a music player or Youtube video)
- Observe if the volume changes while playing the audio, or when you switch between devices
Solutions for the Volume Change Issue
Here are some potential solutions to fix the volume change problem:
Solution 1: Configure Per-Application Volume Levels
In the Windows 10 volume mixer, you can set individual volume levels for each application. Follow these steps:
- Right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray.
- Select "Open Volume Mixer."
- Adjust the volume for every active application and device as necessary.
// PowerShell script to set volume per application
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.MainWindowHandle -ne 0 } | ForEach-Object {
$name = $_.ProcessName
$volume = $_.MainWindowTitle -match '(.*)\((\d+)\)$' | Out-Null; $matches[2]
if ($null -ne $volume) {
$volume = [math]::Round($volume / 10)
$null = (New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application).sapi.sp voices |
Where-Object { $_.GetAttributeValue("Name") -eq $name } |
ForEach-Object { $_.GetAttributeValue("Volume") = $volume }
}
}
Solution 2: Update Audio Drivers
Outdated audio drivers may cause stability issues and conflicting settings. Visit your device manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers and follow their installation instructions.
Solution 3: Adjust Device Properties
You can modify the device properties for both the speakers and USB headphones:
- Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray.
- Select "Sound settings."
- Scroll down and click "Sound Control Panel."
- Right-click your speaker or USB headphone device.
- Select "Properties," and then switch to the "Advanced" tab.
- Deselect "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device."
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Solution 4: Modify Registry Settings
You can change registry settings to disable the automatic exclusive mode:
- Press "Win + R" and type "regedit" in the Run dialog box.
- Navigate to "
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32