Setting Per-App Volume in Windows 11

Step-by-step: setting per-app volume

1. Press Win+Ctrl+V to open the Volume mixer directly.
2. Scroll to find the app you want to adjust in the app list.
3. Drag that app's slider left or right to lower or raise its volume.
4. Click the small speaker icon beside the slider to mute that app only.
5. Use the device dropdown under the app's name if you also want to change its output device.

Why an app might not appear yet

Apps only show up in the mixer once they've initialized audio playback. If an app you expect to see is missing, play a sound in it first, then reopen the mixer. See the Windows 11 volume mixer page for the full layout.

Per-app volume and games

Games often run as a single process with in-game audio settings, so lowering the Windows mixer slider affects everything inside that game uniformly rather than individual game sounds.

Per-app volume in browsers

Browsers like Chrome and Edge are treated as one app in the mixer, so the slider affects every open tab together — Windows doesn't split volume per browser tab.

Combining per-app volume with device switching

The same dropdown used to mute or adjust an app can also send its audio to a different device entirely, which is especially useful for video calls: keep your call app on a headset while everything else, including notification sounds, plays through speakers.

What happens after a reboot

Per-app levels are tied to the app's audio session and executable name, so a level you set today typically carries over the next time you open the same app, though closing and reopening an app abruptly can occasionally reset it to full volume.

Making per-app volume faster to access

Since reopening the Volume mixer each time takes a few clicks, tools such as EarTrumpet keep the same sliders permanently available from the system tray. Details are in the EarTrumpet Windows 11 guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I lower the volume of just one app in Windows 11?

Open the Volume mixer (Win+Ctrl+V) and drag that specific app's slider down.

Can I set per-tab volume in a browser?

No, Windows 11's mixer controls volume per application, not per browser tab.

Why isn't my app showing in the volume mixer?

It hasn't produced audio yet in this session; play any sound from it and it will appear.

Does per-app volume persist after restarting the PC?

Generally yes, Windows retains the last level set for an app tied to its executable name.

Can I mute one app while a call is running in another?

Yes, click the mute icon next to that app's slider in the Volume mixer without affecting the call app.

Is there a faster way to reach per-app volume than Settings?

Win+Ctrl+V opens the mixer directly, and a tray tool like EarTrumpet can put the same sliders one click away permanently.