How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10


The default audio playback device is the device that Windows uses to output (play) sound. When you connect speakers, headphones, Bluetooth headset, or other audio devices to your PC, you can select which device you want to use by default.

While you can adjust the volume level of individual devices and apps, sometimes you may just want to mute and unmute the volume as needed without affecting the set volume level.

See also: Fix sound problems in Windows 10 | Microsoft Support

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to mute and unmute the system volume or sound volume of individual devices and apps in Windows 10.


Contents

  • Option One: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume using Keyboard
  • Option Two: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume from Volume icon on Taskbar
  • Option Three: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Volume Mixer
  • Option Four: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Game Bar
  • Option Five: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Settings
  • Option Six: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Advanced Sound Options
  • Option Seven: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Control Panel
  • Option Eight: Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows Mobility Center






OPTION ONE

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume using Keyboard


1 Press the Mute key on the keyboard to toggle mute volume on and off. (see screenshot below)

The actual key you press on the keyboard will vary per manufacturer.

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_keyboard.jpg






OPTION TWO

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume from Volume icon on Taskbar


1 Click/tap on the Volume icon on the taskbar notification area, and select the playback device (if you have more than one) you want to mute or unmute. (see screenshot below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_icon-1.png

2 Click/tap on the volume icon to toggle mute or unmute. (see screenshots below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_icon-2.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_icon-3.png






OPTION THREE

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Volume Mixer


1 Right click or press and hold on the Volume icon on the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Open Volume Mixer. (see screenshot below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_mixer-1.png

2 Click/tap on the volume icon of devices and apps to toggle mute or unmute for them. (see screenshots below)

Muting the default playback device (system volume) will mute all by default.

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_mixer-2.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_mixer-3.png






OPTION FOUR

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Game Bar


1 Press the Win + G keys to open the Game Bar.

2 In the Audio overlay, click/tap on the volume icon of devices and apps to toggle mute or unmute for them. (see screenshots below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_in_game_bar-1.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_in_game_bar-2.png






OPTION FIVE

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Settings


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Sound on the left side. (see screenshots below)

3 If you have more than one sound output device, select the device you want to mute or unmute in the Choose your output device drop menu.

4 Click/tap on the volume icon to toggle mute or unmute.

5 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_settings-1.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_settings-2.png






OPTION SIX

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Advanced Sound Options


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Sound on the left side, and click/tap on App volume and device preferences under Advanced sound options on the right side. (see screenshot below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_advanced_sound_options-1.png

3 Click/tap on the volume icon of devices and apps to toggle mute or unmute for them. (see screenshots below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_advanced_sound_options-2.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_advanced_sound_options-3.png

4 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.






OPTION SEVEN

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sound icon.

2 In the Playback tab, double click/tap on the device you want to mute or unmute. (see screenshot below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_control_panel-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Levels tab, click/tap on the volume icon to toggle mute or unmute, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_control_panel-2.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_control_panel-3.png

4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_control_panel-4.png






OPTION EIGHT

Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows Mobility Center


1 Open the Windows Mobility Center.

2 Check or uncheck the Mute box in the Volume section for what you want. (see screenshots below)

How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_windows_mobility_center-1.png How to Mute and Unmute Sound Volume in Windows 10-mute_unmute_volume_windows_mobility_center-2.png

3 You can now close the Windows Mobility Center if you like.


That's it,
Shawn