One effective way to set up a hotkey for changing system audio output in Windows 11 is by using the AutoHotkey scripting language. Here’s a script that can help:
“`plaintext
; AutoHotkey script to switch between audio outputs
; Press Win+A to switch audio devices

Persistent

NoEnv

SendMode Input

Hotkey, #a, SwitchAudioDevice
Return

SwitchAudioDevice:
Run, mmsys.cpl
WinWait,Sound
ControlSend,SysListView321,{Down},Sound
sleep, 100
ControlClick,&Set Default
sleep, 100
ControlClick,OK
Return
“`

Steps:
1. Install AutoHotkey: Download and install AutoHotkey from its official website.
2. Create a Script: Open Notepad, paste the script above, and save the file with an .ahk extension.
3. Run the Script: Double-click the saved .ahk file to run it.

With this script running, you can now press Win + A to switch your audio output devices.

To utilize the Nircmd utility for creating a hotkey, follow these steps:

1. Download Nircmd: Go to the NirSoft website, download Nircmd, and extract it to a folder.
2. Create Shortcut: Inside the extracted folder, create a shortcut with the following target:
   plaintext
"C:\path\to\nircmd.exe" setdefaultsounddevice "Speakers" 1
3. Assign Hotkey: Right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and assign a hotkey like Ctrl + Alt + P.

This method uses a lightweight utility for efficient hotkey setup.

You can also use a slightly more tech-savvy method by creating a custom PowerShell script and then binding it to a hotkey:

1. PowerShell Script: Open Notepad and create a script to toggle devices:
   “`plaintext

PowerShell script to change audio output

Add-Type -TypeDefinition @”

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

public class Sound
{
[DllImport(“user32.dll”)]
public static extern IntPtr SendMessageTimeout(IntPtr hWnd, uint Msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, uint fuFlags, uint uTimeout, out IntPtr lpdwResult);
}

“@

“`

1. Save Script: Save the script with a .ps1 extension.
2. Create Shortcut: Right-click the script file, create a shortcut, and place it on your desktop.
3. Assign Shortcut Key: Right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and set a Shortcut key like Ctrl + Alt + S.

Running the script via the shortcut will quickly change your audio device.

To set up a hotkey to change the system audio output in Windows 11, you can use a third-party application called SoundSwitch. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Download SoundSwitch: Visit the SoundSwitch website and download the latest version of the software.
2. Install SoundSwitch: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Open SoundSwitch: After installation, open the SoundSwitch application.
4. Configure Hotkeys: In the SoundSwitch window, navigate to the ‘Hotkeys’ tab. Here, you’ll see options to assign hotkeys to switch between your audio devices.
5. Assign Hotkeys: Click on the ‘Primary Device’ field and press the combination of keys you want to use as your hotkey, such as Ctrl + Alt + D.
6. Add Devices: Under the ‘Devices’ tab, make sure all your audio devices are listed. If not, click ‘Add’ and select them.
7. Save Settings: Click ‘Save’ to apply your changes. Now, you can use your hotkey to switch between audio outputs seamlessly.

Using Windows 11’s built-in Sound settings, manually configuring a hotkey isn’t straightforward. However, you can streamline this process:

1. Pin Audio Settings to Taskbar: Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select ‘Sound settings’.
2. Quick Settings Access: Drag the ‘Sound settings’ window to the taskbar for easy access.

This doesn’t create a hotkey but simplifies access to sound settings to switch outputs quickly.

If you prefer a more visual approach, the EarTrumpet app, available via the Microsoft Store, offers a unique and user-friendly way to manage audio:

1. Install EarTrumpet: Go to the Microsoft Store, search for EarTrumpet, and install it.
2. Usage: After installation, EarTrumpet will appear in your system tray.
3. Switch Devices: Click the EarTrumpet icon, and you can easily switch between audio devices without needing a hotkey.

This method is intuitive and integrates well with Windows 11’s visual interface.