How to Fix the Volume Control Slider Not Working in Windows 10 & 11
Sometimes, your audio level won’t change when you drag the volume bar’s slider. Sometimes, you’ll notice that the volume gets stuck at a 100 percent level. Consequently, you’re able to only adjust the volume with the sound controls in media players or browsers.
Is the volume control slider not working on your Windows PC? If so, this is how you can fix the volume control slider not working in Windows.
1. Run the Playing Audio Troubleshooter
Windows has a Playing Audio troubleshooter that’s there to help you resolve sound-related issues. So, try running that troubleshooter first to see if it offers any potential fixes for the volume control slider not working. You can open and run the Playing Audio troubleshooter like this:
2. Scan and Repair System Files
The volume control slider might not work on your PC because of system file corruption. So, run a System File Checker scan to check for and repair corrupted files. This guide torunning an SFC scantells you how to repair corrupted system files.
3. Restart the Windows Explorer Process
Sometimes the volume control freezes because of File Explorer issues. So, restarting the Explorer process might fix the volume control not working for some users. Restart Explorer as follows:
4. Start or Restart Windows Audio Service
Restarting the Windows Audio service is a potential resolution that users confirm can fix the volume control slider. Some users may need to start that service if it’s not already running. This is how you can start or restart the Windows Audio Service:
5. Change the Scale Setting
Changing the scale is a slightly curious potential fix for the volume control slider not working. However, some users have said that setting the display scale to 125 percent fixed volume control not working for them. So, try changing theScalesetting like this:
6. Update the Audio Device Driver
A faulty or outmoded audio device driver on your PC could be causing the volume control issue. To remedy that, try updating your PC’s audio device driver.
The most straightforward way to do that is to utilize the best driver updater software like Driver Booster. Such software will detect an antiquated or faulty sound driver on your PC and enable you to update it. Check outhow to update Windows, apps, and driversfor more information.
However, some users have said they’ve fixed the volume control with Device Manager’s Update Driver tool. Those users selected an existing high-definition audio driver already on their PCs. This is how you can update the sound driver like that:
7. Reinstall Your PC’s Audio Device Driver
Reinstall the audio device driver if there isn’t a newer one available. You can reinstall that device driver as follows:
8. Disable Absolute Volume Control by Editing the Registry
This potential resolution is specifically for fixing the volume control slider not working with Bluetooth speakers. The Absolute Volume feature can cause the volume control to stop working with incompatible Bluetooth devices. Users with Bluetooth speakers have confirmed disabling Absolute Volume by editing a CT registry key resolves that issue.
Our guide aboutdisabling Absolute Volume on Windowsincludes full instructions for how to apply this potential fix.
9. Reinstall Windows With an In-Place Upgrade
If the volume control slider still isn’t working after going through the fixes above, there could be a deeper issue that only reinstalling (or resetting) Windows will resolve. you may reinstall the OS and preserve apps and user files by performing an in-place upgrade. So, try reinstalling Windows as covered in our guide toperforming an in-place upgrade on Windows.
Resetting Windows is a similar troubleshooting method to an in-place upgrade that will restore the platform to default settings. However, you can’t select to preserve all the apps you’ve installed within the “Reset this PC” tool. This article aboutfactory resetting Windowstells you how to utilize the “Reset this PC” utility.
Adjust the Audio Level With the Volume Control Slider Again on Windows
It’s undoubtedly an annoyance when the Windows volume control slider stops working even though you can still change sound levels within third-party software. Applying the potential solutions covered here will almost certainly fix that volume control slider for most users. With that issue resolved, you can adjust the volume with the control slider in the Windows 11/10 system tray again.
With a quick mouse scroll, you can adjust the volume of your Windows 11 PC with these nifty tools.
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