Mute an App in Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide

Essential Information

• To mute an application, click on the system tray (located on the right side of the taskbar). Select the option adjacent to the volume slider, scroll down to ‘Volume Mixer’, and mute the desired app.
• Alternatively, you can navigate to ‘Volume Mixer’ via Settings: Settings app > System > Sound > Volume mixer.
• For muting a website or browser tab, simply right-click on the tab and choose Mute site or Mute tab.
• Consider using third-party applications like EarTrumpet and NirSoft’s SoundVolumeView for more customizable and detailed sound control options.

Windows 11 offers the capability to manage the sound levels of various connected devices and individual applications. When multiple sources are pushing out sound, it can become overwhelming. Therefore, it’s advisable to mute applications whose audio you prefer not to hear. Below are various methods to natively mute an application in Windows 11, alongside some third-party alternatives that enhance the process.

6 Methods to Mute Applications in Windows 11

The methods outlined below are also applicable to Windows 10, although the user interface may vary slightly. Nevertheless, all methods remain effective.

Method 1: Through the System Tray

To mute an application via the System Tray, follow these steps:

1. Access Quick Settings in the system tray at the bottom right corner of your screen. Next to the volume slider, click on the preferences icon (to select a sound output).
   
2. Scroll down to ‘Volume mixer’. You can then either drag the slider to the left or click on the app icon to mute it.
   

Method 2: Via Sound Settings

This option can also be accessed through Windows Settings in case the volume icon is inaccessible from the System Tray.

1. Press Win+I to launch Settings and navigate to System > Sound > Volume mixer.
   
2. In this section, all applications currently generating sound will be displayed. Lower the application’s slider to 0 to mute it, or click the volume icon for immediate muting.
   
3. Should an application not appear in the list, open and play audio from it first to make it visible.

Once you adjust the volume, Windows will remember this level for the next time you open the application. To revert changes, you must revisit either the Sound Settings or the System Tray again.

Method 3: Mute/Unmute Browser Tabs

If the previous methods are insufficient, and you simply want to mute specific browser tabs without disabling all audio, follow these steps:

1. Most browsers allow you to right-click on the tab and choose Mute site or Mute tab.
   

Method 4: Using the EarTrumpet App

As a Windows utility, EarTrumpet offers an enhanced user interface for volume management, allowing convenient sound control across applications. It is available for download from the Microsoft Store.

Download: EarTrumpet

1. On its first launch, EarTrumpet will add a new volume icon to your system tray. Click it to access the volume control for all other applications.
   
2. From there, adjust the sliders to set the volume or mute the apps altogether.
   
3. By right-clicking on EarTrumpet’s volume icon and selecting Volume Mixer, you will see a similar interface that floats.
   

Method 5: Using NirSoft SoundVolumeView

NirSoft’s SoundVolumeView is software designed to manage and control the sound levels of all open applications and system sounds from a unified window. It also enables users to create shortcuts for various volume control actions, allowing for rapid adjustments directly from the desktop.

Download : SoundVolumeView

1. No installation is required for this program; simply unzip the file and double-click on SoundVolumeView.exe to launch it.
2. Right-click on any application to access its volume control options. Click on Mute to silence it or choose from other control preferences.
   
3. Additionally, NirSoft’s SoundVolumeView allows you to establish sound profiles, which can be incredibly handy. You can save different volume settings for various scenarios, such as gaming, work, or movie watching. To do this, adjust application volumes, select File, and then click Save Sound Profile.
   

Although Windows provides limited options for sound control, it does allow for easy muting and unmuting of application volume. For more advanced features, using external applications may be necessary.

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