Windows Audio & EarTrumpet Guides
This hub collects hands-on guides for anyone who wants finer control over sound on a Windows PC. Each guide walks through one specific task — adjusting the volume of a single app, switching between speakers and a headset, or fixing a volume control that has stopped responding — using the exact menus, settings paths, and keyboard shortcuts involved.
Some guides use only the tools built into Windows 10 and Windows 11; others show where EarTrumpet makes the same job faster. If you are troubleshooting a specific error rather than learning a task, the troubleshooting hub may get you to an answer more directly.
Guides for controlling app volume
These guides cover the most common request: turning one app up or down without touching the volume of anything else.
Guides for switching audio devices
Move sound to different speakers, headphones, or a monitor without digging through Control Panel every time.
Guides for fixing broken volume controls
When the flyout, mixer, or an app's own slider stops working, these guides walk through the fix in order.
How these guides relate to EarTrumpet
EarTrumpet is a free, open-source tray app that adds per-app volume sliders and quick device switching directly to the Windows volume flyout, so several of the tasks below take one extra click if it is installed. Where that shortcut exists, the guide says so; where it doesn't apply, the guide sticks to built-in Windows tools such as the Volume mixer and Sound settings.
What you need before you start
You don't need to install anything to follow most guides here — a current build of Windows 10 or Windows 11 with a working sound driver is enough for the built-in methods. A few guides also cover the faster route through EarTrumpet, a free tray app; where that's the case, the guide notes it as an optional shortcut rather than a requirement.
If you're not sure which Windows version you're on, open Settings > System > About and check the 'Windows specifications' section before picking a guide, since Windows 10 and Windows 11 use different menu paths for the same tasks.
Alternative approaches worth knowing about
Most tasks in this hub have more than one valid method: the modern flyout, the Settings app, and — for advanced users — the legacy sndvol.exe mixer that has shipped with Windows since Vista. If one interface is missing a feature you need, such as per-app output routing, try the alternative before assuming the task isn't possible.
EarTrumpet is one more alternative front-end worth trying if you find yourself repeating the same clicks daily; see how to manage app audio for a full comparison of the built-in tools versus EarTrumpet's flyout.
If a guide's steps don't work for you
Windows updates occasionally move settings or rename menu items, so a step that references an exact label may look slightly different on your build. If a menu path in a guide doesn't match what you see, search the Settings app for the underlying keyword (like 'volume' or 'sound') instead of navigating manually.
For symptoms rather than tasks — audio that has stopped working entirely, an app that won't show up in the mixer, or EarTrumpet failing to open — the troubleshooting hub is organized by problem and is usually faster than working through a how-to guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need EarTrumpet to follow these guides?
No. Every guide explains the built-in Windows method first. EarTrumpet is mentioned only where it genuinely saves steps.
Do these guides work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Most tasks exist on both, but the menu paths differ. Guides note the differences, and dedicated Windows 11 and Windows 10 guides are linked where the steps diverge significantly.
Where do I go if my problem isn't a how-to but an error message?
Check the troubleshooting hub, which is organized by symptom rather than by task.
Are these guides specific to a particular Windows build?
They cover current Windows 10 and Windows 11 releases. Menu wording can shift slightly between updates, but the underlying features described here have been stable for several years.
Can I use these guides if I don't want to install EarTrumpet?
Yes. Every guide explains the built-in Windows method in full, and EarTrumpet is only ever an optional extra step, never a requirement.
Which guide should I start with?
If you just want one app quieter, start with how to change the volume for one app. If sound has stopped working altogether, start in the troubleshooting hub instead.
Want a permanent per-app volume mixer instead of digging through menus? Download EarTrumpet.