Windows 11 includes a feature designed to make VoIP calls (like Skype, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom) easier to hear by automatically reducing the volume of all other sounds playing on your PC by 80%. While this is useful in an office environment, it can be incredibly frustrating if you are trying to listen to background music while gaming with friends on Discord, or watching a YouTube video while on a casual call. The sudden, drastic drop in audio quality and volume for your background apps is jarring. Fortunately, you can tell Windows to stop managing your audio levels entirely.
How to Stop Automatic Volume Lowering
You can turn off this communication feature by accessing the legacy Sound Control Panel.
- Open the Settings app in Windows 11 (press the Windows Key + I).
- Navigate to System > Sound.
- Scroll down to the “Advanced” section and click on More sound settings. This will open the classic Sound dialogue box.
- Click on the Communications tab at the far right of the window.
- You will see the question, “When Windows detects communications activity:” followed by several options.
- Select the bottom option labelled Do nothing.
- Click Apply, then click OK to save your changes.
From now on, whenever you receive or place a voice call on your PC, your music, games, and videos will continue playing at their normal, full volume, giving you complete manual control over your audio mix.