Why Is My Laptop Audio Either Loud Or Quiet? Windows 10/11

In Windows, the audio level ranges from 1 to 100%. All the audio services in Windows are configured to operate within this range. Therefore, when the audio level is set too low, it may sound quite even when turned up. Similarly, when set too high, it may be loud even when your volume control is set to its minimum.

This issue is uncommon in laptops. It might generally be because laptop speakers are directly attached to the motherboard. Here, we will discuss in-depth details about why it happens and how to resolve it using different simple methods. So, let’s dive into the topic.

Why Is My Laptop Audio Either Loud Or Quiet?

It is because of malfunctioning in the dedicated sound card, malware in Windows audio drive graph isolation, the conflict between Windows applications, hardware, or constant switching of your audio default deceive. Unfortunately, all these issues are common in laptops that lead to loud or quiet audio. 

USB Sound Cards: This might be the main reason for using an external sound card like a USB sound card with your laptop. Faulty USB sound converters often make this error.

Audio Drive Graph Isolation: If your Windows drive graph isolation has high processor usage or no resources, it might lead to this audio issue.

Sound Enhancements: Windows enhancements often get bugs and perform functions automatically, leading to sudden audio increases or decreases.

Windows Communication Settings: Communication settings are always used with phones connected to your computer. These settings are useless in this era, as we all use smartphones now. These Windows communication settings might be affecting the audio levels.

Application Audio Conflict: If you are a multitasker and work on many applications simultaneously, you must share audio with each application. It might create audio resource conflicts between applications.

No Default Device: This issue might arise if your Windows change your default device or headphone. Constantly changing the output device leads to sudden, weird changes in your laptop audio.

Windows Audio Drive Graph Isolation

Windows audio drive graph isolation is the Windows application that allows third-party applications to run their audio. It acts as an audio engine that powers other applications and manages the audio resources. Windows mostly uses it to control special effects.

If audio drive graph isolation is affected by any issue, this has to be resolved as soon as possible; otherwise, it won’t be able to provide audio services, and you may face audio issues. Over RAM and CPU usage often create errors in this application. First of all, check the CPU usage by the following method:

• Press the “CTRL+ALT+Del” key simultaneously to open the Windows task manager.
• Now go to the “Performance” tab. Here, you will find both Memory (RAM) and CPU. 

• Analyze both one by one. If both have high graph values, you must remove running programs and applications taking these resources.
• To remove applications, go to “Processes” and see which applications are taking more RAM and GPU. 

• Right-click on the applications and select “End Task” from the file.

Repair Windows Files Using SFC Scan 

SFC is a Windows feature that allows you to scan, detect, and repair any Windows-damaged files. You can use SFC repair methods if you have audio services and other related files. Here’s how you can scan and repair,

• First, open the start menu and type “Command Prompt.” Right-click on it and “Run as administrator.”
• Once you are in the command prompt, type “SFC /scan.” (There must be a space after SFC.)

• It will ask for different options; type “SFC /scannow.”

You just have to wait until Windows scans and repairs your files. This process can take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the damaged files. You will get one of the three following results,

• Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations (There is no damaged file).
• Windows Resource Protection found and repaired corrupt files (some damaged files are now repaired).
• Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but could not fix some (Now you must reinstall Windows).

Repair Windows Files Using DISM Scans

DIMS means “Deployment Image Servicing and Management.” If the SFC scan cannot repair the damaged files, you must use DISM scans, which are more powerful than SFC scans. Here’s how you can perform the DISM scans using the command prompt:

• Go to the Windows start menu, search for the command prompt, and open it as administrator. 
• Enter “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth” into the command window and enter. 

 

• Don’t forget to place space after online and cleanup-image to execute the command without issue. 

The DIMS process will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. If the progress bar seems stuck somewhere around 20%, don’t exit the window; it will automatically restore after some time.

Turn Off Communication Settings

Audio Communication settings in Windows are used to communicate with other devices. If the audio isn’t working properly in Windows 10, this could be the problem. Follow these steps to disable the communication settings,

• Right-click on the Windows taskbar’s sound icon and click “Sound” to open sound settings.

• Here, go to the “Communication” tab, select “Do nothing” from the options, and press “OK.”

Set Audio Default Device

If you are using multiple audio devices and have not selected any audio default device, then your Windows will keep switching between these devices; as a result, your laptop’s audio will either be too loud or too quiet. So, let’s set a default audio device first:

• Go to the start menu and search “Sound settings,” and click open them.
• Once in the settings window, click “Sound control panel” to open sound settings.

• Click the “Playback” tab to view all your output audio devices. Select any device you want to make default and click the “Set as default” button.

Disable All Sound Enhancements

Windows sound enhancements are programs designed to enhance the audio quality of your audio hardware attached to your laptop or PC. These enhancements conflict with sound drivers and sound engines. You can avoid it by disabling enhancements. Follow these steps to disable:

• Go to the Windows search bar, search “Sound settings,” open sound settings, and select “Sound control panel.”
• From the sound control panel, go to the “Playback tab” and then right-click on your “Default audio device” and select “Properties.”

• Go to the “Enhancement tab” and select “Disable all sound effects.” 

Check Volume Mixer

Volume mixer is a fantastic feature in Windows operating systems that allows users to control the volume of various applications. But often, we turn the volume mixer to zero and forget about it. Be sure to increase the volume of all applications, including your browser, in the Volume Mixer to avoid audio output issues.

• To open the volume mixer, right-click the volume/sound icon in the taskbar and select “Open volume mixer” from the context menu.

• Raise the volume of each application you are currently utilizing.

Use a Dedicated Sound Card

Your device’s onboard sound chip or the headphone jack could also be problematic. In both cases, you have to repair or replace them. It is possible to replace the headphone pin but not the sound chip. The best solution, in this case, is a USB-dedicated sound card. 

In addition to fixing your laptop’s audio issues, a USB sound card can improve the quality of your sound. It is because they are cheap and easy to install. Also, if you face any issue with the onboard audio chip or headphone jack, dedicated sound cards will help solve this problem by bypassing them entirely.

Conclusion

Here, we have collected verified methods to solve your laptop’s too-loud or quiet issues. All these methods are simple and with step by step guides. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 have similar interfaces and settings, so all these methods apply to both operating systems. We hope this article helped you to resolve this issue.