Devices Change Default Sound Input Device in Windows 11


Microphone2_banner.png

This tutorial will show you different ways to change the default sound input device for your account in Windows 11.

The default sound input device is the device that Windows uses for speaking or recording.

When you connect more than one microphone or other recording devices to your PC, you can select which device you want to use by default.


Contents

  • Option One: Change Default Sound Input Device in Settings
  • Option Two: Change Default Sound Input Device in Sound Control Panel
  • Option Three: Change Default Sound Input Device in Game Bar
  • Option Four: Change Default Sound Input Device for App in Settings




Option One

Change Default Sound Input Device in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Sound on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Sound_input_device_Settings-1.png

3 Under Input < Choose a device for speaking and recording on the right side, select (dot) the device you want to set as the default sound input device. (see screenshot below)

Sound_input_device_Settings-2.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Change Default Sound Input Device in Sound Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sound icon.

2 Click/tap on the Recording tab, and perform one of the actions below you want to use to set the default sound output device. (see screenshots below)
  • Select a recording device, and click/tap on Set Default.
  • Right click or press and hold on a recording device, and click/tap on Set as Default Device.
Sound_input_device_Control_Panel-1.png
Sound_input_device_Control_Panel-2.png

3 Click/tap on OK when finished. (see screenshot below)

Sound_input_device_Control_Panel-3.png




Option Three

Change Default Sound Input Device in Game Bar


1 Open the Game Bar (Win+G).

2 Click/tap on the Audio icon on the Game Bar to open the Audio widget. (see screenshot below)

3 In the Voice tab of the Audio widget, click/tap on the current Windows Default Input device.

4 Select the device you want to set as the default sound input device.

Sound_input_device_Game_Bar.png





Option Four

Change Default Sound Input Device for App in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Sound on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Sound_input_device_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Volume mixer. (see screenshot below)


Default_input_device_for_app-1.png

4 Under Apps, select the Input device you want in the drop menu for each available app (ex: "Google Chrome") you want. (see screenshot below)

Default is the default setting to use the default input device for system.


Default_input_device_for_app-2.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
Shawn, you can also access the classic Sound options from System > Sound > More Sound Settings.
You probably already know. :)

Sound Settings.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Stigg's Build
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-10900X
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G
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    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Super Mini ITX 6 GB OC
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" FHD LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor (LS27F350FHEXXY)
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    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Pro Series 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
    Western Digital Red Pro WD8003FFBX-68B9AN0 8 TB, 7200 RPM, SATA-III
    Western Digital Red Pro WD8003FFBX-68B9AN0 8 TB, 7200 RPM, SATA-III
    PSU
    Corsair HX1200 1200W 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Black Solid Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata V2
    Mouse
    Razer DeathAdder Essential
    Internet Speed
    FTTN 100Mbps / 40Mbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    N/A
    Other Info
    Logitech BRIO 4k Ultra HD USB-C Webcam
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS
    CPU
    Core i7-8750H
    Motherboard
    Zephyrus M GM501GS
    Memory
    SK Hynix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) HMA82GS6CJR8N-VK 16 GB DDR4-2666 DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC294
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AU Optronics B156HAN07.1 [15.6" LCD]
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung MZVKW512HMJP-00000 512 GB, PCI-E 3.0 x4
    Samsung SSD 860 QVO 4TB 4 TB, SATA-III
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    N/A
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    N/A
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    N/A
    Mouse
    Razer DeathAdder Essential
    Keyboard
    PC/AT Enhanced PS2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
    Internet Speed
    FTTN 100Mbps / 40Mbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    N/A
    Other Info
    USB2.0 HD UVC Webcam
Tutorial updated to add option 4 to select a default sound input device for an app. :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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