Volume Control Not Working: How to Fix It in Windows 10

Volume Control Not Working in Windows 10 is reported by users in which particular problem with the sound system on their device keeps repeating.

‘Volume control is not working in Windows 10’ is the difficulty they face on their machine. Along with this particular issue, some users are also lamenting about these subsequent problems related to Volume switch:

• The volume switch is not showing in Taskbar- Volume icon is not existing in the Taskbar.
• Windows 10 sound slider is not working – If you are attempting to control Volume from the Taskbar, it is not running at all.
• Volume mixer won’t open – You are incapable to open Volume Mixer.
• The volume icon is not running – You can not change the Volume by ticking on the Volume symbol.
• Volume button with multimedia keys is not operating – If you are incapable of increasing or decreasing directly with the multimedia keys from your keyboard.
• Volume control is not initiating – You can not access the Volume control now by clicking on the Volume icon.
• The Volume control program is not installed – When you are trying to change the Volume, there is an error note stating ‘Volume Control Program is not installed’.
• Volume control greyed (disabled) –If the Volume control icon is greyed (disabled), you will not access the Volume controller.

If you are encountering any of these preceding problems, go for these fixes. These fixes will help you out. But before going ahead for the solutions, attempt these initial workarounds.

Initial Workarounds

• Restart the computer and verify if your sound device is working without the failure.
• If you are using an outside speaker, inhibit the connection of the speaker. It’s better to unplug the speaker and attach it with the computer again. If it is feasible, check your speaker by plugging it to another computer. Tick if your problem has solved.
• Temporarily disable your antivirus and verify if your volume control is working correctly or not.

In these primary workarounds didn’t operate out for you to go for certain fixes.

Fix 1- Update your sound card driver

Updating the sound card driver can fix the problem. Follow steps to update the sound card driver-

• Hold the Windows key and type “Device Manager” in the search box.
• Then, you have to tick on the “Device Manager“.
• Right-tap on the driver you are using as your current sound system and tap on “Update driver“.
• Tap on the option “Search automatically for updated driver software“.
• Reboot the computer.

Consider if updating the sound driver has resolved your problem or not. Go for the following fix if your difficulty continues.

Fix-2 Automate the Windows Audio service

You can set the Windows Audio settings to begin automatically.

• Press Windows key and type “services“.
• Tap on the “Services” in the high search result.
• Scroll down and double tick on the “Windows Audio” service.
• In the Windows Audio Properties window, tap on “Stop” to stop the windows audio service temporarily and then
• In the Windows Audio Properties window, tap on the drop-down of the “Startup type:” and select “Automatic“.
• Tap on “Apply” & “OK” to save the changes.

Now, close the Services window. Reboot computer and check still facing the equivalent problem with Volume control or not.

Fix-3 Kill SndVol.exe process from Task Manager

You can end the procedure SndVol.exe in the Task Manager and restart the computer. It will continue your SndVol.exe process on the computer.

• Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open the Task Manager window.
• Now, find “SndVol.exe” in the list of the processes running on your device, right-click on it and click on “End Task“.
• Close Task Manager window. Now, reboot your computer.

After rebooting check if the difficulty with Volume Control persists or not, if the problem is still there, go for the fix.

Fix-4 Uninstall and Reinstall sound card driver

Follow easy steps to uninstall the sound card driver-

• Only by pressing the Windows key and the ‘R‘ key you can open the Run window.
• Type “devmgmt. msc” and then click on “OK“.
• In the Device Manager utility window, tap on the section “Sound, video and game controllers“.
• Right-tap on the sound card driver you are using, tap on “Uninstall device“.
• The card will uninstall the sound card driver from the computer.

Method 1

• Shut down the computer.
• Unplug the power cable from the computer.
• Press the power for 30 seconds on the cabinet.
• After that, attach the power cable to the computer, and switch it ON.

Windows will install the uninstalled driver during the booting procedure. You will have sound card driver working fine.

Method 2 – Install the sound card driver manually

• Open the Device Manager.
• Tap on the “Action” and then click on the “Scan for hardware changes“ in the Device Manager window.
• Check for the sound card driver.

Method 3- Sometimes the driver may be hidden in the Device Manager

• Tap on “View” of the Device Manager.
• Tap on “Show hidden device“.
• Check if you can control the sound card driver.

Restart the computer to save changes. Review if you are facing the same problem again.

Fix -5 Enable the Startup of the Audio drivers

Windows has a characteristic with which you can be selective about which drivers to allow at your computer's startup. Manage the startup of the audio settings with Task Manager.

• Hold Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open the Task Manager window.
• Go to the "Startup" tab.
• Locate "Audio Manager" in the list of items. 
• Check "Status" of the Audio Manager. If it is "Enabled", you can skip this fix.
• If you understand the "Status" is "Disabled" then, right-click on it and click on "Enable ".

Close the Task Manager window. Reboot the computer. After rebooting test if the problem with Volume control continues or not. If the problem is still there, go for the fix.

Fix-6 Restart Windows Explorer process from Task Manager

Some users reported that the issue was solved for them as the rebooting of Windows Explorer from the Task Manager window. You can try to fix on your device by following certain easy steps.

• Hold Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open the Task Manager window.
• Right-tap on the “Windows Explorer” to Tap on “Restart“.

Windows Explorer should get restarted. Close Task Manager window. Verify if you are encountering the same problem with the Volume control. Go for the next solution if you are still facing the problem.

Fix-7 Run Troubleshooter

If your problem continues unsolved, follow specific steps to run the “Playing Audio” troubleshooter which will find any problem-related to Bluetooth driver.

• Hold Windows Key+ I to initiate the Settings. Click on the “Update & Security“.
• Now, click on “Troubleshoot” on the left pane and then on the right pane click on “Playing Audio“.
• The troubleshooter will try to find errors and attempt fixes to solve your problem related to the audio driver, volume control.

After troubleshooting, reboot the computer. If still your difficulty is not fixed, then perform for the next fix.

Fix-8 Perform SFC scan on your computer

Sometimes some corrupt files or system errors on the hard drive can cause the problem you face with the Volume Checker. To control the corrupt Windows files and system errors on the hard drive, you can apply System File Checker to complete a system scan. Follow certain steps-

• You have to initiate the Run window. To do so, press Windows key+R.
• Type “cmd” to press the ‘Enter‘ key from the keyboard.
• Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter.

Wait till the process is finished. After rebooting the computer, check whether the error is still appearing or not. If the issue is still occurring, go for the next fix.

Fix-9 Change the Font size on your system

According to some users, there is a unique solution which has fixed the problem for them. They changed the font size on the computer, and the problem is fixed. You can try this on the device.

• Hold Windows key+I to initiate Settings window and tap on “System“.
• Go to the right side of the Settings window, below the “Scale and layout” option, tap on “Change the size of text, apps and other items” and choose any of the size other than the present one.

Restart the computer. After rebooting, volume control on the device should be working fine.