Sometimes, you might find yourself cranking up your Windows 10 volume, only to find that the sound coming out of your speakers or headphones still isn’t loud enough. But fret not! Here are five methods you can use to increase your computer’s volume beyond its default maximum. Remember, though, that higher volumes can cause potential hearing damage, so be careful!
Method 1: Windows 10 Volume Settings
Windows 10 comes equipped with a plethora of settings you can fine-tune to get the most out of your system, and among these are the built-in volume settings. Adjusting these settings is one of the most straightforward methods to amplify the sound on your device.
Access Sound Settings: To begin, you’ll need to navigate to your computer’s sound settings. This can be achieved by clicking on the Windows logo on your taskbar and typing “Sound settings” into the search bar that appears.
Select the “Sound settings” option that appears in the search results.
Choose Your Preferred Audio Device: Once you are in the sound settings, you will find a drop-down menu under the ‘Output’ section labeled ‘Choose your output device.’
In this section, a roster of audio devices recognized by your system will be displayed. Choose the device you wish to amplify the volume for, usually your speakers or headphones.
Device Properties: After selecting your output device, click on ‘Device properties’ just below the drop-down menu. This will lead you to a new screen with more detailed settings for your selected device.
Adjust Volume: In the device properties screen, you’ll see a label marked ‘Balance.’ Besides, it is a slider that, by default, should be set to 100. You can click and drag this slider to the right to increase the volume output for your selected device.
Dragging the slider to the maximum will set your device’s volume to its maximum output, as allowed by the Windows system.
Method 2: Volume Mixer
The Volume Mixer in Windows 10 is a built-in utility that provides users with control over the volume levels of individual applications. This unique feature allows you to set different volume levels for different apps based on your preferences. For instance, you could increase the volume of a video conferencing app while keeping the system sounds at a lower level to avoid distractions. Here’s how you can harness this feature to increase volume levels:
Access Volume Mixer: Start by performing a right-click on the speaker icon situated within your system tray, which is usually located at the lower-right corner of your screen.
From the contextual menu that emerges, choose ‘Open Volume Mixer.’
This action will open the Volume Mixer window.
Select Application: The Volume Mixer displays volume control sliders for all active sound-enabled applications alongside the main device (speakers or headphones). Each application has its separate control, allowing for precise volume management on an app-by-app basis.
Adjust Volume: To increase the volume of a specific application, locate its corresponding volume slider in the Volume Mixer.
Click on the slider and drag it upwards to increase the volume. You can do this for each application independently, giving you full control over the sound levels of each app.
Method 3: Use Sound Enhancements
Sound enhancements are additional audio features provided by Windows 10 or your audio drivers, designed to improve the sound quality and volume of your audio output. One such feature is ‘Loudness Equalization,’ which balances the volume of different sounds in your device to deliver a consistent volume level. Here’s how to use this feature to increase volume:
Access Sound Settings: Similar to the previous methods, you’ll need to navigate to your system’s sound settings. Click on the Windows logo located on your taskbar, then type “Sound settings” into the search bar. Select the “Sound settings” option from the search results.
Select Device Properties: Within the sound settings window, within the ‘Output’ segment, you’ll come across a dropdown menu designated as ‘Select your output device.’ Select the desired device for which you want to increase the volume. Once selected, click on ‘Device properties’ found right below the drop-down menu.
Additional Device Properties: On the ‘Device properties’ screen, you’ll see a link that says ‘Additional device properties’ on the bottom right.
Upon clicking this, a new window will open, offering additional choices for the selected output device.
Enable Loudness Equalization: Within the new window, navigate to the ‘Enhancements’ tab. Here, you’ll see a list of sound enhancements that your device supports. Find and check the box next to ‘Loudness Equalization,’ then click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ to save your changes.
Method 4: Third-Party Software – Equalizer APO
Equalizer APO is a robust and popular third-party audio equalizing software that can significantly increase the volume levels on your Windows 10 device. It provides advanced audio control, allowing you to tweak various sound properties like volume, frequency, and balance for an enhanced auditory experience. Below is a comprehensive guide that outlines the steps for using this software to boost your system volume:
Download and Install Equalizer APO: To begin, the initial step involves downloading the software. Navigate to the Equalizer APO download page and click on the ‘Download’ button to acquire the installer. After the download is finished, launch the installer and follow the instructions to install the software on your system.
Configure Equalizer APO: After installation, a configuration window will open. Here, you can select the audio devices that you wish to control with Equalizer APO. Select the relevant device(s) and then click on ‘OK’ to save your settings.
Restart Your System: In order to enact the modifications performed by the software, restarting your computer is imperative. After the restart, Equalizer APO will be active and ready to use on the devices you’ve selected.
Adjust Preamp Settings: Open Equalizer APO’s configuration editor by searching for it in the Windows start menu. The configuration editor provides the option to alter different audio attributes. To enhance the volume, you can modify the ‘Preamp’ settings.
The preamp is essentially a volume control that can boost or reduce your audio output before it reaches your speakers or headphones. Increasing the preamp value will result in a louder volume.
Save and Test: After adjusting the preamp, save your settings and test your audio output. Tweak the settings as necessary until you attain the preferred volume level.
Method 5: External Hardware – Speaker or Headphone Amplifiers
Sometimes, even software solutions can’t provide the volume boost you need. In these cases, an external speaker or headphone amplifier can be the answer. These devices boost the audio signal before it reaches your speakers or headphones, resulting in louder and clearer audio.
Conclusion
There you have it! Five different methods you can use to increase your Windows 10 volume beyond 100%. Whether you choose to adjust your computer settings, download third-party software, or purchase an external amplifier, remember to use these tools responsibly to protect your hearing.