This tutorial will show you different ways on how to mute and unmute the system volume or sound volume of individual devices and apps in Windows 11.
The default audio playback device is the device that Windows uses to output (play) sound.
While you can adjust the volume level of individual devices and apps, sometimes you may just want to mute and unmute the volume as needed without affecting the set volume level.
Contents
- Option One: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume using Keyboard
- Option Two: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Quick Settings
- Option Three: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Settings
- Option Four: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Volume Mixer
- Option Five: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Game Bar
- Option Six: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Control Panel
- Option Seven: Mute and Unmute Sound Output Volume in Windows Mobility Center
1 Press the Mute key on the keyboard to toggle mute on and off. (see screenshot below)
The actual key you press on the keyboard will vary per manufacturer.
1 Open Quick Settings (Win+A). (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on the volume icon to the left of the slider to toggle mute on and off.
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)
3 Under Output, click/tap on the volume icon to the left of the slider to toggle mute on and off. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
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)
3 Click/tap on Volume mixer on the right side under Advanced. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on the volume icon to the left of the slider to toggle mute on and off for System and individual Apps you want. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close Settings if you like.
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 Audio widget, click/tap on the volume icon to the left of the slider to toggle mute on and off for System (Windows Default Output) and individual Apps you want. (see screenshot below)
1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sounds icon.
2 In the Playback tab, double click/tap on the output device you want to mute or unmute. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Levels tab, click/tap on the volume icon to toggle mute on or off, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
1 Open Windows Mobility Center (mbclrt.exe).
2 In Volume, check or uncheck Mute for what you want. (see screenshot below)
3 You can now close Windows Mobility Center if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited: