How to Control Volume Per App on Windows

Method 1: Windows built-in per-app volume mixer

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar).
2. Select 'Open Volume mixer' (Windows 11) or 'Open Volume mixer' from Sound settings (Windows 10).
3. Find the app you want to adjust in the list of running apps under the 'Apps' section.
4. Drag that app's individual slider left or right — the master volume above it is unaffected.
5. Close the mixer window; the level you set is remembered until the app closes.

Method 2: Using EarTrumpet for one-click access

EarTrumpet replaces the small flyout that appears when you click the speaker icon, adding a slider per running app without opening a separate window.

1. Install EarTrumpet from the Microsoft Store or via choco install eartrumpet.
2. Click the speaker icon in the tray — EarTrumpet's flyout opens instead of the plain Windows one.
3. Drag any app's slider to change its volume instantly.
4. Click the app's icon inside the flyout to switch which output device it plays through.

Keyboard shortcut for quick access

On Windows 11 you can open the built-in Volume mixer directly with Win+Ctrl+V, skipping the tray icon entirely.

Why per-app volume matters

• Keep voice chat audible over game sound effects
• Mute a browser tab's autoplay video without muting music
• Balance a video call against background music
• Prevent one noisy app from drowning out notifications

Before you start

You don't need admin rights or any special drivers to adjust per-app volume — this uses the standard Windows audio session API, which every desktop app that plays sound already relies on. The only real prerequisite is that the app you want to adjust must currently be producing audio, since Windows only lists active audio sessions in the mixer.

If you plan to try the EarTrumpet route, you'll need to install it first from the Microsoft Store, via choco install eartrumpet, or from a GitHub release, as described on the EarTrumpet installation page.

Alternative method: the legacy mixer

If the modern Volume mixer or flyout is unavailable for any reason, the older sndvol.exe mixer still ships with both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Press Win+R, type sndvol, and press Enter to open a classic slider-per-app window that has worked the same way since Windows Vista. It's less polished than the modern mixer but reads from the same underlying audio sessions, so any change you make there is fully compatible with the flyout method above.

When per-app volume doesn't work

If an app refuses to appear in the mixer, play a sound from it first — Windows only lists apps with a recent or active audio session, and closed or silent apps drop off the list entirely. If a slider moves but nothing changes, the app may have its own internal volume control that overrides the system-level one; check the app's own audio settings next.

For a broader fix-it sequence when an app's volume is stuck or grayed out, see how to fix app volume that won't change. For a wider view of muting, output routing, and microphone permissions in one place, see how to manage app audio on Windows.

Frequently asked questions

Does per-app volume reset when I restart the app?

Yes, Windows and EarTrumpet both reset an app's slider to full volume once it fully closes and reopens; the setting isn't saved permanently per app.

Can I do this without installing anything extra?

Yes — the built-in Volume mixer on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 already supports per-app sliders, no download required.

Why don't I see an app in the mixer list?

Only apps that are actively producing or requesting audio appear; open the app and play a sound, then reopen the mixer.

Does EarTrumpet replace the Windows Volume mixer entirely?

It replaces the tray flyout you get from clicking the speaker icon, but the built-in Volume mixer and sndvol still exist alongside it and work independently.

Can I control per-app volume from a script or command line?

Windows doesn't expose a first-party command-line tool for this; third-party utilities like Nircmd can script volume changes, but that's outside the scope of the built-in tools covered here.

Is per-app volume the same thing as an equalizer?

No, per-app volume only raises or lowers loudness; it doesn't shape frequencies. Tools like Equalizer APO handle equalization separately and aren't part of Windows' built-in mixer.