How to Change the Volume for a Single App

Change one app's volume in Windows 11

1. Click the speaker icon in the taskbar, or press Win+Ctrl+V.
2. Choose 'Volume mixer' from the flyout that appears.
3. Scroll to the 'Apps' section and locate the app you want to change.
4. Drag its slider independently of the 'System sounds' and output sliders above it.

Change one app's volume in Windows 10

1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
2. Scroll down to 'App volume and device preferences' and click it.
3. Find the app in the list and drag its volume slider left or right.
4. Optionally change which output or input device that same app uses from the dropdown next to it.

If the app isn't in the list

Windows only lists apps that have recently played or requested audio. Play any sound from the app — a notification, a video, a test tone — then reopen the mixer and it should appear.

Faster access with EarTrumpet

EarTrumpet shows the same per-app sliders directly in the flyout you get from clicking the speaker icon, so there's no extra menu to open.

What you need first

No download is required for the built-in method — it works on any current Windows 10 or Windows 11 install with a functioning sound driver. The app whose volume you want to change just needs to be open and playing (or about to play) audio, since Windows only shows apps with an active session in the mixer list.

If you'd rather skip the extra menu entirely, install EarTrumpet first so its per-app sliders appear directly in the tray flyout.

Alternative: the classic sndvol mixer

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 still include the older sndvol mixer as a backup. Press Win+R, type sndvol, and press Enter — it lists the same per-app sliders in a plainer window, and it's useful if the modern flyout or Settings page is temporarily unresponsive.

When the volume change doesn't stick

If you drag a slider down and the app's actual loudness doesn't change, the app likely has its own internal volume setting that's overriding or compounding with the Windows-level one — check the app's own settings menu. If the slider itself won't move at all, see how to fix app volume that won't change for a more targeted fix-it sequence.

For the wider picture of muting an app entirely, checking which apps use your microphone, and routing apps to specific devices, see how to manage app audio on Windows.

Frequently asked questions

Will lowering one app's volume affect recordings or streams?

No, the per-app slider only changes what you hear locally; it doesn't affect what the app sends elsewhere unless that app has its own separate output settings.

Can I set a permanent volume for an app that starts every time?

Windows doesn't save per-app levels across app restarts; EarTrumpet doesn't either, since both rely on the same underlying Windows audio session APIs.

What if the app's slider is grayed out?

This usually means the app isn't currently producing audio; it becomes adjustable again once it starts playing sound.

Does changing one app's volume affect a recording made with that app?

No, the Windows per-app slider only changes local playback volume, not what the app captures or sends over a call or recording.

Why does the app's slider reset to full every time I reopen it?

Windows doesn't remember per-app volume across app restarts; each new audio session starts at full volume unless the app itself saves its own setting.

Can I change the volume for an app that's minimized to the tray?

Yes, as long as it's still running and has an active audio session, it appears in the mixer list even while minimized.