How to set a different volume for each app on Windows
Short answer
Windows does have per-app volume: open the Volume mixer from Settings > System > Sound, or right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar. Each app playing sound gets its own slider. The catch is that it sits a few clicks away and splits output, microphone and device choices across screens. AppRig keeps per-app sliders, mute, mic and output device together in one tray panel.
The manual way
Windows has had per-app volume for years. On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer, or right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and open the volume mixer from there. On Windows 10, right-click the speaker icon and choose Open Volume mixer. Every app with sound gets its own slider, so you can turn down a game or a browser without touching the master volume.
The same Settings page also lets you send an app to a different output device, such as music to speakers and a call to a headset. On Windows 10 that lives under App volume and device preferences.
It all works. The friction is reach: it is a few clicks deep each time, the microphone level lives on a different page, and switching devices means more menus. If you adjust levels many times a day, that adds up. The free open-source EarTrumpet app is a popular fix if you only want per-app sliders in the tray.
The faster way with AppRig
AppRig’s Mixer puts the master output, your microphone and a slider for every app playing sound into one tray panel. Live level meters show which app is actually making noise, scrolling over a tile nudges its volume, and clicking the speaker icon mutes it. The output and input device names are clickable, so switching default devices is one click.
Each app also has a button to route it to a specific output device, and AppRig saves those routes in the same place Windows keeps its own per-app sound settings, so the two always agree. Extras include an optional logarithmic slider for finer control at low volume and a setting that keeps Bluetooth headphones from clipping the start of each sound.
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Common questions
Does Windows remember the volume I set for each app?
Usually, yes. Windows saves per-app levels in its sound settings and restores them the next time the app plays audio. Some apps, especially games, browsers and voice chat apps, set their own volume when they start and override it, which can look like Windows forgot. If one app keeps resetting, check its own audio settings first.
Why is an app missing from the Volume mixer?
The mixer lists apps that have an open audio session, so an app usually appears only once it has started playing sound. Play something in the app, then reopen the mixer. If it still does not show, the app may be sending audio to a different output device than the one the mixer is showing, so check the device picker at the top.
Can I send different apps to different speakers or headphones?
Yes, Windows supports this natively. In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer and expand an app to pick its output device. In Windows 10 it is under Settings > System > Sound > App volume and device preferences. A new route usually applies the next time the app starts playing audio, so restart the app if it does not move.
Is there a quicker way to reach per-app volume than Settings?
A tray mixer keeps it one click away. AppRig's Mixer shows the master output, the microphone and a slider for each app playing sound, with live level meters, scroll-to-adjust and click-to-mute, plus per-app output routing. The free open-source app EarTrumpet is another popular option if you only want a per-app volume flyout.
Related questions
AppRig does this and more, all in one local-first Windows app. See what AppRig does →