How to Make Sound Louder on Windows 10

If your Windows 10 PC sounds quieter than it should—whether for music, videos, or games—this guide shows you several built-in ways to boost the volume without installing extra software. You’ll learn quick settings tweaks, audio enhancements, and a few advanced tricks to get the loudest clean sound possible.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC or laptop with working speakers or headphones
Administrator access (for some settings changes)
Your audio device connected (built-in speakers, USB headset, etc.)

Step-by-Step

Check the master volume – Click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right). Make sure the slider is not at the minimum. Also, drag it up to 100% if it’s lower.
Adjust per-app volume – Right-click the speaker icon and select Open Volume mixer. Here you’ll see sliders for each app currently playing sound. Raise any that are low, and make sure the system and app sliders are all up.
Enable Loudness Equalization – Right-click the speaker icon and choose Sounds (or Playback devices). Go to the Playback tab, select your default device (e.g., Speakers), and click Properties. In the Enhancements tab, check Loudness Equalization (or Loudness on some systems). Click Apply and OK. This boosts quiet sounds and prevents loud ones from distorting.
Turn off audio enhancements that reduce volume – In the same Enhancements tab, if you see any enhancements like Bass Boost or Virtual Surround, try unchecking them. Sometimes they can lower overall volume. If you don’t see an Enhancements tab, your audio driver may not support it—skip to the next step.
Increase the audio level in the driver settings – Right-click the speaker icon, select Sounds, go to Playback, select your device, and click Properties. In the Levels tab, drag the slider to 100. Also click Balance and ensure both left and right are set to 100. If the slider is already at 100, move on.
Update or reinstall your audio driver – Outdated drivers can cause low volume. Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device, and choose Update driver → Search automatically. If that doesn’t help, right-click and select Uninstall device, then restart your PC—Windows will reinstall the driver.
Use the Windows 10 volume boost (if available) – Some sound cards have a Sound Blaster or Realtek control panel. Open it from the Start menu (search for “Realtek Audio Console” or “Sound Manager”). Look for a Volume or Main setting and increase it beyond 100% if the option exists. Not all systems have this.
Try the built-in Windows Sonic for Headphones – If you’re using headphones, right-click the speaker icon, select Spatial sound, and choose Windows Sonic for Headphones. This can make audio seem louder and more immersive. It’s not a true volume boost but often improves perceived loudness.
Use third-party volume booster (optional) – If the built-in options aren’t enough, you can use a free app like Equalizer APO with the Peace interface to apply a preamp gain. This is a more advanced solution that can boost volume beyond 100% safely. Download from the official source, install, and configure a preamp of +6 to +10 dB.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the per-app mixer – You might have the system volume at 100%, but a specific app (like a browser) could be at 20%. Always check the volume mixer first.
Enabling too many enhancements – Some enhancements, like Bass Boost, can actually reduce overall volume because they push the speaker to its limit. Try disabling them.
Using the wrong playback device – If you have multiple audio outputs (e.g., HDMI and speakers), the volume settings might apply to the wrong one. Make sure the device you’re actually using is set as default.
Ignoring the physical volume knob – Many laptops have a function key (like F11/F12) that controls volume. If it’s turned down, no software setting will help.

Tips

Keep the volume at 80-90% for daily use – Pushing it to 100% all the time can cause distortion and damage speakers over time.
Use the Loudness Equalization feature – It’s the simplest way to make quiet content (like YouTube videos) sound louder without clipping.
Check the audio source itself – Some streaming sites or apps have their own volume controls. Make sure those are maxed out too.
Consider external speakers or a headphone amp – If your built-in speakers are physically small, no software will make them truly loud. A cheap external speaker set or a USB headphone amp can make a huge difference.

Troubleshooting

If the volume is still low after following all steps:

Test with a different app or file – The issue might be with the specific audio file or app, not your system.
Restart the Windows Audio service – Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter. Find Windows Audio, right-click, and select Restart.
Run the audio troubleshooter – Go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters → Playing Audio. Run it and follow the prompts.
Check for driver conflicts – If you have both a graphics card with HDMI audio and a motherboard sound card, Windows might use the wrong one. Disable the unused one in Device Manager.
Try a system restore – If the volume was fine before and suddenly got quiet, a recent update or driver change might be the cause. Use System Restore to go back to a point when it worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is my volume suddenly quiet after a Windows update?
A: Updates can reset audio settings or install new drivers. Check the Enhancements tab and re-enable Loudness Equalization, and update your audio driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Q: Can I make my speakers louder than 100%?
A: Yes, with third-party software like Equalizer APO you can apply a preamp gain (e.g., +6 dB) to boost beyond the normal maximum. However, this can cause distortion if pushed too far.

Q: Does Loudness Equalization affect audio quality?
A: It compresses the dynamic range, making quiet sounds louder and loud sounds softer. It can slightly reduce the natural dynamics, but for most casual listening it’s a good trade-off.

Q: My headphones are quiet even at 100% volume. What can I do?
A: First, check if the headphones have an inline volume control. If not, try the Loudness Equalization enhancement. Also, consider a headphone amplifier or a USB sound card with a built-in amp.

Q: Is it safe to use third-party volume boosters?
A: Yes, if you use reputable software and don’t overdo the gain. Excessive boosting can damage speakers or cause hearing fatigue. Keep the preamp gain under +10 dB.

Q: Why does my volume reset to 50% after restart?
A: Windows may be set to automatically adjust volume based on communication activity. Go to Settings → System → Sound → Sound Control Panel → Communications tab and select “Do nothing.”

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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