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Depending on your Windows settings, the volume of any application or game that is running when you receive a Skype call is automatically reduced by up to 50%. In some instances, the volume settings do not return to previous levels after the call ends, which can be a nuisance. This happens because Windows detects incoming Skype calls as communications activity. If you prefer that your volume remains the same during a Skype session, adjust the settings from the communications tab of your Windows sound properties.
1.Switch to the Windows 8 desktop mode and right-click or press and hold the speaker icon on the taskbar.
2.Select 'Sounds' from the context menu and then choose the 'Communications' tab.
3.Select the 'Do nothing' radio button to prevent other sounds on your computer from being lowered during Skype calls.
4.Select 'Apply' and then choose 'OK' to commit to the changes.
About the Author
Virtually growing up in a computer repair shop, Naomi Bolton has held a passion for as long as she can remember. After earning a diploma through a four year course in graphic design from Cibap College, Bolton launched her own photography business. Her work has been featured on Blinklist, Gameramble and many others.
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Bolton, Naomi. 'How to Stop Skype From Lowering the Volume of Everything Else.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/stop-skype-lowering-volume-everything-else-74259.html. Accessed 30 June 2019.
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Adjusting the volume and changing the system sound settings on Windows 10 has always been a straightforward process, but you were only able to manage them using Control Panel.
However, starting with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, you can now manage speakers and microphones settings, and it's also possible to adjust the volume on apps and system sound individually using the Settings app.
In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to change the sound settings using the new options available starting with the April 2018 Update.
How to manage Windows sound options using Settings
To set your default output speaker, adjust the master volume, and fix common sound problems, do the following:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click on Sound.
The Sound page includes two sections separating the output and input options. At the top of the page, you'll find your output options.
Using the Choose your output device drop-down menu, you can quickly change the speakers you want to use as the default.
You can also click the Device properties link, which opens additional speaker settings using the Control Panel experience:
- General -- You can enable or disable the speaker and access audio driver information.
- Levels -- Allows you to adjust master volume and balance settings.
- Enhancements -- Includes settings to enhance audio with special effects.
- Advanced -- Allows you to change default sample rate and bit depth.
- Spatial sound -- Includes the options to use Windows 10's spatial sound format, including 'Windows Sonic for Headphones' and 'Dolby Atmos for Headphones.'
Similar to using the speaker icon in the taskbar, on the Sound page you can also change the system master volume with the slider.
You'll also find a Troubleshoot button that starts the audio troubleshooter to fix common sound problems automatically.
How to manage Windows microphone options using Settings
To set a microphone as your default, test if it's working, and customize its properties, do the following:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click on Sound.
Under 'Input,' you'll find the options to configure your microphone.
Using the Choose your input device drop-down menu, you can quickly select the microphone that you want to use as your default.
You can also click the Device properties link to open additional microphone settings using the Control Panel experience:
- General: You can enable or disable the speaker and access audio driver information.
- Listen -- Lets you allow or deny the microphone to listen to your speakers, and you can customize power options.
- Levels -- Allows you to adjust the volume and balance settings for the microphone.
- Advanced -- Allows you to change default sample rate and bit depth.
The Input section also includes an indication to test if your microphone is working, and if it's not, you can click the Troubleshoot button to open the microphone troubleshooter to fix common problems.
How to manage sound settings from the taskbar
Alongside the new Sound page in the Settings app, you can still adjust the master volume and access sound settings from the taskbar.
Starting with the Windows 10 April Update, the sound context menu has been updated with a new modern look, and now it also includes quick access to the new Sound settings and removes the 'Recording devices' option.
You'll notice that the 'Volume Mixer' is still accessible, but it'll eventually go away as these settings can now be found in 'App volume and device preferences' page.
How to manage advanced Windows sound options using Settings
The new Sound settings also include a number of advanced options to control volume and input and output devices. (This experience replaces the Volume Mixer, which is still available in the April 2018 Update.)
To access and customize app volume and device preferences, do the following:
Audio Volume Control
- Open Settings.
- Click on System
- Click on Sound.
- Under 'Other sound options,' click the App volume and device preferences option.
The first thing you'll find on this page is the slider to control the system master volume and adjust all sounds. On the right, there are two drop-down menus to select the default speaker and microphone, which are the same settings that you can customize in the Sound page.
At the bottom of the page, you can adjust volume for specific apps and system sounds as a percentage of the master volume.
Alongside the ability to change the volume for apps and system individually, this page also allows you to select the default output and input device if you have multiple speaker setups and microphones.
If you want to revert all your changes, you can use the Reset button to roll back to Microsoft's recommended sound settings.
Wrapping things up
Although the April 2018 Update finally ports the sound options to the Settings app, you'll still need to use the Control Panel experience to change more advanced properties. However, eventually, those options are also expected to move in some form to the Settings app.
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More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
The Sound area of the Windows 10 Control Panel’s Hardware and Sound category lets you adjust your PC’s volume, a handy technique when trying to sneak in a computer game on a Windows tablet during a boring business meeting.
Most Windows tablets come with toggle-switch volume controls mounted along their left or right edge. The top button turns up the volume; the lower button decreases the volume. Experiment with them a bit before bringing Angry Birds into the board room. Cassandra read vs write performance.
To turn down your PC’s volume from the desktop, shown here, click the little speaker by your clock and slide down the volume. No speaker on your taskbar? Restore it by right-clicking the taskbar’s digital clock, choosing Properties, and turning the Volume switch to On.
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Click the speaker icon and move the sliding control to adjust your PC’s volume.
To mute your PC, click the little speaker icon at the left of the sliding control, as shown. Clicking that icon again lets your computer blare music again.
Right-click the taskbar’s speaker icon and choose Open Volume Mixer from the pop-up menu to set different volumes for different desktop programs. You can quietly detonate explosives in your favorite game while still allowing your desktop’s e-mail program to loudly announce any new messages. (Note: The individualized volume levels only control desktop programs, not apps, unfortunately.)
With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new volume control in Windows 10, but the underlying problem it faced was the absence of any option that allowed a user to change volume for apps, individually. If you click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, you will get a control that lets you change only the master volume. In this post we will see, how you can enable the old Volume Mixer and change the sound volume for individual apps in Windows 10.
Windows 10 Volume Control missing
The Volume Control is actually not missing in Windows 10. You have to right-click on the volume icon to bring up the following menu.
Adjust volume for individual programs
Click on the Open Volume Mixer link to open the Volume Mixer as follows:
Here you can adjust volume for individual programs, as well as for the entire device by moving the slider.
Get old Volume Control in Windows 10
There are some who prefer to use the old Windows 7 Volume Mixer and Control. If you wish to have it, you will have to edit the Windows Registry.
Open Registry Editor. and navigate to the following Registry key:
Next, in the right pane you will see a 32-bit DWORD value named EnableMtcUvc. In case you do not see it, create it. Its default value is 1. Change it to 0.
Chrome Volume Control
You will see the change taking effect immediately. Now, when you click the speaker icon in the system tray, the old sound volume slider will appear, with the Mixer button in the bottom area.
Go ahead and adjust the volume for individual apps in Windows 10.
Ear Trumpet for Windows 10
If you want, you can also use a freeware called Ear Trumpet, that offers you a smarter way to control the volume for each individual program.
You can read more here about the EarTrumpet Volume Control app.
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