Windows 11 has a revamped user interface that has been well received, but there are some changes that don’t suit some users. One of them is the volume mixer, which has been removed in favor of a unified sound menu. This guide shows you how to get back the classic volume mixer in Windows 11.
In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
Why do you need a volume mixer?
The main advantage of the volume mixer is that it allows users to control the sound of various applications. You can mute the sound in the browser app while running the music app at full volume.
Access to it is easy. The volume mixer flies out of the tray where it is always available with just one click.
How to use the new volume mixer in Windows 11
Volume Mixer now has a new home, it looks and works differently. Left-clicking on the volume button on the taskbar now displays a single volume bar, which is universal and works across the entire device. Other options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also visible.
By clicking the arrow icon to the right of the volume slider, you can select the audio output. However, if you right-click the volume icon on the taskbar, you’ll see a hidden menu containing a shortcut to the new volume mixer.
Click “Open Volume Mixer” to open the corresponding page in Settings.
The sound menu is divided into two parts: System and Applications. While it’s functional and works just as well, it’s not optimal and requires a few clicks.
Luckily, there’s a way to get your old volume mixer back without installing a third-party app.
How to add the old volume mixer to the taskbar?
- printZwycięstwo+rto open the Run prompt and enter the command below. Paste toWejść wrun it.
- This will open the classic volume mixer that you know and use on Windows 10 and earlier.
- In the taskbar, right-click the Volume Mixer icon and select “Pin to Taskbar”.
- The shortcut to the classic volume mixer should be added to the taskbar on the right side of the list. Now you can access the volume mixer directly with one click in Windows 11.
Add volume to the system tray in Windows 11
While the taskbar shortcut is good, it has two problems: it’s not yet available in the system tray, its original location, and while this method works now, it might not be available in the future.
Fortunately, someone in the Windows community noticed this and came up with an alternative, aptly labeling itClassic Volume Mixer. It is open source and can be downloaded for free on GitHub.
- Extract the ClassicVolumeMixer.exe file and put it in the Startup folder to get it running. To do this, pressZwycięstwo+rto reopen the Run prompt and enter the command below.
- Place ClassicVolumeMixer.exe in the folder that opens.
- Restart your computer. You should see a new but familiar icon appear in your system tray.
Frequent questions
1. What is the difference between new and old volume mixers?
Thread. They both offer the same functionality. The only difference is the location of the new volume mixer, which is hidden in Windows settings.
2. How do I remove the classic volume mixer from the tray?
Nothing has been installed on your computer. It just connects to thesystem32folder to add the shortcut back to the taskbar. To remove Classic Volume Mixer, just delete ClassicVolumeMixer.exe from the Startup folder and restart.