Why is my laptop sound so low Windows 11?

Why is my laptop sound so low Windows 11?
I recently updated my laptop to Windows 11, but now I’m experiencing a frustrating issue with the sound levels. Despite setting the volume to the maximum level, the audio output is still very low. This problem persists whether I’m watching videos, listening to music, or making video calls. I’ve checked all the obvious settings, like the volume mixer and individual app volumes, but nothing seems to help. It makes it difficult to enjoy media, and I’m also missing important parts of conversations during meetings. Why is this happening, and is there something specifically related to Windows 11 that could be causing this issue?
6 Answers

I encountered a similar problem and found that a Windows 11 bug was to blame. Here’s my solution:
1. Open the Settings app and navigate to ‘System’ -> ‘Sound.’
2. Scroll down to the ‘Advanced’ section and click on ‘All sound devices.’
3. Select your output device, then disable any special audio enhancements.
This managed to restore my laptop’s sound to normal levels.

Inspect the audio settings within specific applications. Often, the issue isn’t with system settings, but with the apps you’re using. For example:
– In media players like VLC, ensure the volume in the ‘Audio’ menu is set to 200%.
– In web browsers, check if individual tabs have audio controls that might be turned down.
Simple yet overlooked checks can often be the culprit for low volume.

Check if power settings are affecting the audio output. You can adjust this by:
1. Opening ‘Control Panel’ and heading to ‘Power Options.’
2. Clicking on ‘Change plan settings’ next to your selected power plan.
3. Choosing ‘Change advanced power settings.’
4. Expanding ‘Processor power management’ and ensuring that the settings for ‘Minimum processor state’ and ‘Maximum processor state’ are both set to 100%.
This can sometimes resolve low volume issues linked to power settings.

Applications might be taking control of your sound settings without you noticing. To fix this, reset all apps to their default configurations:
1. Open ‘Settings’ and go to ‘System’ -> ‘Sound.’
2. Click ‘App volume and device preferences.’
3. Ensure no individual app has a lower volume setting and reset them to default.
For me, this alignment finally settled the sound levels without further hassles.

You may need to tweak your laptop’s sound settings via the Control Panel. Here are the steps:
1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose ‘Playback Devices.’
2. Double-click on your default audio device to open its properties.
3. Head to the ‘Enhancements’ tab and tick the ‘Loudness Equalization’ box.
These changes should amplify your laptop’s volume on Windows 11.

Outdated audio drivers could be the culprit. Here’s what you can do:
1. Open Device Manager by typing it into the search bar.
2. Expand the ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ section.
3. Right-click on your audio device and select ‘Update driver.’
4. Go with ‘Search automatically for updated driver software.’
5. Follow any on-screen instructions.
Updating your drivers can typically fix various sound issues.