The Windows Sound Mixer, Old and New

The legacy sndvol.exe mixer

Type sndvol into the Run dialog (Win+R) or Start search to open the classic sound mixer window. It shows master volume and per-app volume as vertical sliders in a compact popup, and it still works on current Windows 10 and 11 builds.

The modern Settings-based mixer

Windows 11 replaced the classic popup with a fuller page in Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer, adding an output-device picker per app. Windows 10 offers a similar but simpler "App volume and device preferences" page.

When to use which

• Use sndvol for a quick, no-frills mixer that opens instantly
• Use the Settings mixer when you also need to change an app's output device
• Use a tray app like EarTrumpet if you want both without extra clicks

Why the name causes confusion

"Sound mixer," "volume mixer," and "audio mixer" are used almost interchangeably online, but they usually point at the same underlying per-app volume feature under different names from different Windows eras. If a guide mentions a tool you can't find, it's worth checking whether it's describing sndvol.exe, the modern Settings page, or a completely different Windows audio control surface like Sound settings.

Opening the sound mixer step by step

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray
2. Choose "Open Volume mixer" (Windows 11) or the equivalent classic popup (Windows 10)
3. Alternatively, press Win+R, type sndvol, and press Enter for the legacy popup on either version
4. Drag each app's slider to set its level independently of the others

Right-click shortcuts

Right-clicking the speaker icon in the tray offers direct links to "Open Volume mixer", "Sound settings", and (in some builds) "Sounds" for system sound schemes, saving a trip through the Settings app.

Sound mixer limitations worth knowing

• It won't show apps that haven't produced any sound yet during the session
• It can't apply equalization, compression, or other audio effects
• It doesn't control microphone or recording levels, only playback
• Closing an app removes it from the mixer until it plays audio again

When a tray app makes more sense

If you frequently switch between several apps and devices, reaching the sound mixer through a right-click menu or Run dialog adds friction compared with a persistent tray flyout. EarTrumpet keeps the same sliders one click away and adds quick device switching, described on the EarTrumpet features page. For side-by-side comparisons of similar tools, see Windows volume control.

Frequently asked questions

Is sndvol.exe still supported?

Yes, it ships with current Windows 10 and 11 and continues to work, though Microsoft's newer per-app tools duplicate most of its function.

Why do I see two different mixer designs online?

Screenshots often come from different Windows versions; Windows 11's mixer looks different from Windows 10's and from the older sndvol popup.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for the sound mixer?

Windows 11 supports Win+Ctrl+V to jump directly to the Settings-based mixer; there's no default shortcut for the classic sndvol popup.

Does the sound mixer work the same for all audio devices?

Yes, it applies to whichever device is set as default, and per-app device assignments carry over if you route an app elsewhere.