After investigating this issue, it turns out that this audio issue can actually be rooted in multiple potential causes. Here’s a list of scenarios that might cause the unusually low volume output on Windows 11 (21h2 and newer): Now that we went over every potential cause of this issue, let’s get to the fixing part. Below you’ll find a list of methods that have proven to be applicable for other users that have been dealing with low volume issues on Windows 11.
Run the Audio troubleshooter
When you’re troubleshooting this particular issue, the first thing you should test is whether your Windows 11 installation is actually able to fix this problem automatically. As it turns out, Microsoft is already aware of this problem and the software engineers have already pushed a couple of automated fixes aimed at resolving the low volume problem on Windows 11. To take advantage of these automated fixes, you’ll need to run the Audio troubleshooter and apply the recommended fix. This fix has been confirmed by a lot of affected users – particularly those that upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10 instead of clean installing the latest operating system. Follow the instructions below to run the Audio Troubleshooter and apply the recommended fix on Windows 11: If you’re still experiencing low-volume audio on your Windows 11 computer, move down to the next potential fix below.
Update the Audio driver
If the troubleshooter didn’t make a difference in your case, the next thing that you should do is ensure that the audio driver that you’re currently using is updated to the latest available version. Normally, Windows Update should automatically update and maintain this driver without any further action on your side. But in certain situations, you become stuck with an outdated audio driver that is not compatible with your current OS version. Several users that we’re dealing with this problem have reported that the problem was finally fixed after they used Device Manager to force the updating of the driver from the Properties screen of the High Definition Audio Device. Here’s what you need to do: If the same kind of problem is still ongoing, move down to the next potential fix below.
Install the dedicated Sound Card driver
If the method above didn’t work for you and you’re using a generic driver, the next thing you should do is install the dedicated sound card driver from the manufacturer’s website. This is recommended in situations where you are using an MSI or Lenovo laptop – these manufacturers typically used audio hardware that will cause problems with generic drivers. Note: Also stay away from generic drivers if you are using a dedicated sound card. Keep in mind that the instructions for finding and installing the dedicated sound card driver will be different depending on the manufacturer that you’ll need to go through. In order to provide you with a guide, we’ve checked out the instructions that you’ll need to follow when you want to install the dedicated sound card driver. Here’s what you need to do: In case you’re still experiencing low audio volume on Windows 11 despite updating (or replacing) your audio driver, move down to the next method below.
Uninstall audio driver (use a generic equivalent)
There is one more scenario that might be causing low audio volume on Windows 11. According to other affected users, you can expect to deal with this problem if you’re using a dedicated audio drive that was migrated over from Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 after you upgraded the OS to the latest instead of clean installing Windows 11. In this case, chances are the dedicated driver you’re using is not fully compatible with Windows 11. To rectify this problem, you’ll need to uninstall the current dedicated driver and revert to a generic audio equivalent. If you’re looking for specific instructions on how to do this, follow the instructions below: In case the same kind of issue is still persisting, move down to the next potential fix below.
Disable all enhancements from Sound Properties
If you’ve come this far without a viable fix, the next thing you should investigate is the selection of Sound Enhancements that you currently have enabled. A lot of different Windows 11 users complaining about low audio volume have reported that the issue was resolved after they disabled all audio enhancements. If you want specific instructions that will allow you to disable all enhancements from Sound Properties, follow the steps below to disable them completely: Note: If you’re using a dedicated audio card I will most likely come with its own audio enhancement options. In this scenario, you should disable them from the dedicated utility because disabling the Windows equivalents will not resolve the issue. Note 2: If you’re using SRS Premium Sound or SRS Premium Sound, you’ll need to uncheck the box associated with Audio Enhancement inside the dedicated app to fix the problem. In case you’re still experiencing low-volume audio despite the fact that you disabled every virtual enhancement, move down to the next potential fix below.
Change the BitRate sound format
If none of the other fixes above have been effective and you’re using a high-end sound system or headset, the low-volume audio issue you’re experiencing might be related to the fact that your Windows settings in regards to the stream format quality are insufficient to the active playback device. In this case, you should be able to fix the problem by accessing the Sound settings and modifying the Default format so that it uses the biggest sample rate available (24 bit – 48000 Hz). This fix was confirmed to be effective for a lot of users that we’re experiencing this issue immediately after upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10. In the vast majority of cases, this problem was resolved after they boosted the default stream format to Studio Quality. To do this, follow the instructions below for specific instructions on how to do this: If the same problem is persisting despite following the instructions below, move down to the next potential fix below.
Use a system restore point
If you’ve come this far without a viable fix, another scenario that you should explore is a case of driver incompatibility (especially if this problem started occurring after you installed or updated an app). If you only started to see this issue recently after you’ve enforced a particular change (a new driver installation, a driver swap, the installation of a new program, etc.), it wouldn’t hurt to start using System Restore to restore your computer back to a state in which this conflict was not occurring. Note: System Restore is configured to create and save new restore snapshots at important system events. Unless you modified this default behavior, you should have plenty of restore snapshots to choose from. For specific instructions on how to deploy this fix, following this guide on mounting previously saved System Restore point will. This operation will allow you to bring back your PC state to a previous point in time when this issue was not occurring. Once you used the above guide to restore your PC back to a healthy point, see if the low volume issue is still persisting on Windows 11. If the problem is still not resolved, move down to the next method below.
Deploy SFC and DISM scans
In case you’ve come this far without a viable solution, the final thing you should do is investigate for a potential case of system file corruption that ends up affecting your audio outputs. Unless you want to go for the third-party route, the logical choice would be to use a couple of built-in utilities (SFC and DISM). Note: These two built-in utilities are capable of fixing the system file corruption that might be affecting your OS’s ability to address dependencies used by Windows Update. Info: System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two built-in tools that are equipped to fix the most common corruption instances that might trigger this type of error. Ideally, you should start with a System File Checker scan as it doesn’t require a stable internet connection. Note: System File Checker uses a locally stored cache to replace corrupted system file items with healthy equivalents. Don’t stop this process until it’s finished to avoid causing additional logical errors. If you are using a traditional HDD instead of a more modern SSD, expect this process to take up to one hour or more (depending on your read and write speed. Important: The System File Checker scan has a tendency to freeze temporarily. If this happens in your case, don’t close the window and wait for the real-time tracking to return. After the SFC scan is finally complete, reboot your PC and see if the low audio issue is now fixed. In case the same problem is still ongoing, proceed by initiating a DISM scan. Note: DISM uses a sub-component of Windows Update to replace corrupted files with equivalents untainted by corruption. Ensure that your Internet connection is stable before starting this operation. Once you complete both SFC and DISM scans, restart your PC and see if the audio issues with your Windows 11 computer are now fixed. If the same problem is still ongoing, move down to the final potential fix below.
Revert back to Windows 10
If you’ve come this far without a result and you followed every method above, there’s a big chance you’re using some kind of legacy audio card that doesn’t have an equivalent for Windows 11. If you’re still within the 10-day rollback period, you can simply revert back to Windows 10 by following this simple guide. If this is no longer an option for you, there’s nothing you can really do to boost your audio volume on Windows 11.
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