Windows 11 Sound Settings: Output, Mixer and Spatial Sound

Most sound problems on Windows 11 are not broken hardware; they are sound going to the wrong device, an app turned down in the mixer, or a headset that Windows treats as two devices. Knowing your way around Windows 11 sound settings fixes most of them in a minute. This guide covers choosing outputs and inputs, the volume mixer, per-app output, device properties such as spatial sound and mono audio, and where to go when there is no sound at all.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2. Names on device property pages can vary slightly with the audio driver.

Open Sound settings

• Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and select Sound settings, or
• Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.

The page has an Output section, an Input section and an Advanced section.

Choose where sound plays (Output)

Under Output, select the device to play sound: laptop speakers, a monitor’s speakers over HDMI or DisplayPort, USB or Bluetooth headphones. Set its volume with the slider. The device you choose becomes the default for apps that follow Windows.

For quick switching, open Quick Settings (Windows logo key + A), select the arrow next to the volume slider and pick a device. This is the fastest way to move between headphones and speakers during the day.

If a device is missing, select Pair a new output device for Bluetooth headphones, or check the cable. Microsoft’s Bluetooth pairing page covers headphones; see also Windows 11 Bluetooth settings.

Choose a microphone (Input)

Under Input, select the microphone and watch the level bar while you speak. Select the device to set the input volume and run a quick test. Video call apps usually have their own microphone choice too; check it there if the call app uses the wrong one.

If the microphone is silent, check the privacy setting at Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and see Windows 11 microphone not working.

The Volume mixer

Under Advanced, select Volume mixer (or right-click the speaker icon and choose Open volume mixer). It shows:

• The system output and input devices and volume.
• Each app that is playing or recording sound, with its own volume slider.
• For each app, an Output device and Input device choice.

This is where you fix “one app is silent” problems: an app turned down to zero here stays quiet whatever the main volume says. The per-app output lets you, for example, play music on speakers while a call stays on the headset. Reset sound devices and volumes for all apps to the recommended defaults puts everything back if it gets confusing.

Device properties

Select an output device in Sound settings to open its properties:

Setting	What it does
Rename	Give the device a clear name, such as Desk speakers
Format	Sample rate and bit depth; the default is fine for most people
Enhance audio	Turns the driver’s audio enhancements on or off; switching off can fix distorted or quiet sound
Spatial sound	Virtual surround for headphones (Windows Sonic for Headphones) or other formats you have installed
Volume and balance	Left and right levels

Some options only appear with certain drivers or devices.

Mono audio

Mono audio is in the main Sound settings page (and under Accessibility > Audio). It combines the left and right channels so you hear everything in each ear, useful with one earbud or hearing in one ear.

Headsets that appear twice

Bluetooth headsets can appear as two devices: a high-quality stereo output and a “hands-free” output used when the microphone is active. Calls switch to the hands-free mode, which sounds flatter. That is normal Bluetooth behaviour. If music sounds poor after a call, make sure the stereo output is selected again.

No sound or poor sound

Work through Microsoft’s order:

1. Check the output device in Quick Settings; sound may be going to a monitor or disconnected headset.
2. Check mute and volume, including the app’s volume in the mixer and any hardware volume or mute key.
3. Check cables and connections; for Bluetooth, remove and re-pair the device.
4. Run the audio troubleshooter. Microsoft’s fix-sound page points to the automated troubleshooter in Get Help.
5. Turn off audio enhancements in the device properties.
6. Update or reinstall the audio driver; see update drivers in Windows 11.

The full walkthrough, including HDMI audio and crackling, is in Windows 11 audio not working.

Choosing the right output for calls

Video calls are where sound settings cause the most confusion, because call apps have their own device choices:

1. Before the call, pick the headset under Output and Input in Sound settings.
2. In the call app’s settings, set speaker and microphone to the same headset, or to Default so it follows Windows.
3. Use the app’s test call or sound check if it has one.

If others hear an echo, you are probably using laptop speakers and microphone together; headphones fix it.

Related settings

• System sounds: under Advanced, More sound settings opens the classic Sound control panel, where the Sounds tab lets you choose or silence Windows notification sounds.
• Notifications: to stop chimes from apps, see Windows 11 notification settings.
• Live captions: if you cannot hear audio, Windows can caption it; see live captions.

For the rest of the System page, see our Windows 11 settings guide.