Windows 11 Input Device volume automatically lowering every time

Anonymous
2023-03-20T16:22:20+00:00

On Windows 11 every time I connect my headset to the PC (usually I use speakers, but put on a hs if I have a call) Windows automatically turns it down to 50-ish level which makes me really quiet. So I open Settings>System>Sound and adjust the general input volume to 100 + I adjust the specific mic volume to 100 in device details.

I kept seeing that volume drop right in the middle of a call, so I went to the advanced device setting and forbid exclusive control. Now Windows can't change the device volume but it still lowers the System>Sound input section volume all the time. How do I prevent this from happening? This is really annoying.

As a footnote, I wanted to say that this stuff is really getting out of hand. We have an old-style advanced settings window where we can adjust the mic level. Now we have new style Sound settings where we can adjust device input volume and on top of that, we have an overall system input volume (the one I have problems with). Add to that every piece of software has its own input settings often with an auto-adjust option. So it's as thick as 4 levels of volume controls and 3 of those can auto-adjust. 2 levels do it without the user's consent. This is just ridiculous.

Upd:
To clarify

  • End software is not the issue, I made sure of that
  • Exclusive control is disabled
  • Disabled audio enhancements
    -"Do nothing" under "When Windows detects communications activity" is selected
  • Settings > System > Sound > My headset microphone is set to 100 manually but drops on activity
  • Settings > System > Sound > Input section overall Volume slider keeps dropping during conversations

So it doesn't solve the problem, auto-adjusting still occurs. If that might help, I'm using Arctis 7 wireless headphones, so I constantly turn them on and off, not if it can affect settings somehow.

For context, here is what it looks like when I'm talking - see video

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

61 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-17T01:24:12+00:00

    Hello, this happened to me too. By the way, I tried to fix it for my gaming and communication purposes. All the necessary settings under "Properties" were already disabled, but the gain level still kept adjusting automatically (though I still recommend doing this). However, I discovered the issue on my PC when I checked the 'Permissions' settings.

    Here's how I fixed it under "Microphone Permissions":

    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Navigate to System.
    3. Select Privacy and Security.
    4. Click on Microphone.
    5. Look for "Let apps access your microphone" under Microphone Access (the wording may vary depending on your version of Windows).
    6. This part can be tricky: find the app that might be automatically controlling the gain level while testing your microphone. If you can't find it, try turning apps off one by one while testing your mic under Properties > Levels to see if it still automatically lowers.

    In my case, I turned off the XBOX app.

    Now, the microphone no longer adjusts its gain automatically.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-12-20T19:21:29+00:00

    Having this exact same issue, I don't have Chrome installed on my system, I'm using Firefox, and even when its not open my mic behaves like this, exactly as in your video, its a blue snowball ice usb mic, if anyone has any further ideas please help, really feels like I tried everything to fix this...

    oh and this also happens on my webcam mic if I enable it, so it happens on all USB mics seems like

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2024-12-15T07:34:36+00:00

    I face this issue,

    Could be these steps may help

    On Chrome URL

    type "chrome://flags/"

    Goto > "Allow WebRTC to adjust the input volume" = DISABLE (set to disable)

    HALLELUJAH

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-12-11T18:11:18+00:00

    BRO REALLY THANK YOU, YOU ARE MY HERO NOW <3

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2024-11-27T16:42:41+00:00

    NONE of these settings appear in my Settings dialog of sound. Absolutely infuriating.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments