Sometimes turning the volume up to 100 is all that you need. Other times, however, you need that little extra boost. When the Windows volume is all the way up but things are still too quiet, here are some things you can try to make things a bit louder.
1. Check the Software Volume
If you’re listening to something within an app and things seem a little quiet, check if you can adjust the audio within the software itself. This is easy on a YouTube video – just click the volume button, and slide it up. Video games, however, sometimes don’t have an evident volume scale. These can be hidden away in the options menu, so look to see if you can’t boost the volume within the software you’re using.
Some video player software may even come with a volume-boosting option. For example, if you find VLC to be a little on the quiet side, you can increase its volume by up to 300% within the player itself. It pays to do a little investigation into what you can do within the app!
2. Adjust the Volume Dipping Option If Voice Calls Cause Trouble
If everything sounds perfectly fine during regular use but takes a sudden dip when you enter a voice call, then you have a communications option set to lower volume during calls.
To fix this, click on the Start button, then type “Control Panel,” and press Enter.
While in small or large icon view, click on Sound.
In the window that pops up, click the Communications tab. Ensure the radio buttons are set to “Do Nothing.”
If it’s not set to “Do Nothing,” go ahead and set it, then click OK. Now the volume won’t dip down during calls!
3. Check Individual Software Levels
If every app sound bar is at a good volume, the levels for that specific app may be low. You can double-check the individual volume levels by right-clicking the volume icon in the taskbar, then clicking “Open Volume Mixer.”
You’ll see all the software you have open with their individual volume scales. Ensure the quiet app hasn’t had its volume dropped for some reason. If the bar is lower than the others, lift it to the same level as pictured below.
4. Use Audio Enhancements
If everything is just too quiet in general, you can use audio enhancements in Windows 10 to give your sound levels that extra boost.
To do this, right-click the sound control in the toolbar, then click “Open Volume Mixer.”
Click on the icon of the current device you’re listening to.
Go to the Enhancement tab, then check the “Loudness Equalization” box. Click Apply.
This will boost the sound even further, which should hopefully make it loud enough for you to hear!
Getting the Extra Boost
It can be annoying when the sound is too quiet but your volume is maxed out. The cause can be one of many things, from automatic voice call features to individual app volume sliders being low. Sometimes, however, things are just too quiet in general; at which point you can use sound boosters within either Windows 10 or the software itself to get that extra few decibels.
For more Windows tips, we have a neat little tip here on how to check if a USB drive is bootable or not in Windows 10. We can also help you fix the Windows 10 Action Center when it’s not opening.
Simon Batt is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for cybersecurity.
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Equalizer APO – 20dB preamp option (but it has SO many options you can play with).
I use this for blasting volume out of my headphones at speaker-like volumes. Also for playing games which are designed ‘too quiet’ or can benefit from increased volumes like HUNT Showdown, Rainbow Six Siege, Cuisine Royale etc.
Chrome extension ‘Volume Master’.
I had no option – enhancements when opening the window as instructed.
Nothing worked for me until I stumbled upon and un-checked the “turn on the 7.1 virtual surround sound” checkbox on the “Spatial Sound” tab (Speakers Properties dialog box) then I clicked the “Apply” button and WHAM, full volume