volume controls

Follow these steps in Windows 10 to fix volume control issues when a microphone or headset is connected:

1. Check physical and app volume controls

• Use the hardware volume buttons or keyboard volume keys to raise/lower volume.
• On the taskbar, select the speaker icon and move the volume slider up.
• If using an app (browser, media player, meeting app), check its own volume or mute setting.

2. Verify the correct output device

• Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and open Sound settings.
• Under Output, make sure the correct speakers/headset are selected (not a disabled or wrong device).

3. Adjust microphone and speaker levels

• Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
• Under Input, ensure the correct microphone is selected.
• Select Device properties (or More sound settings → Recording tab → your mic → Properties → Levels) and adjust Microphone and Microphone Boost if needed.
• For speakers, in More sound settings → Playback tab → select your speakers/headset → Properties → Levels, make sure the volume is not at 0 and not muted.

4. Disable audio enhancements

• Right-click the speaker icon → Sound settings.
• Select your output device (Speakers/headset).
• Scroll to Audio Enhancements and set them to Off.

5. Reinstall audio drivers If the volume slider keeps jumping back or devices misbehave:

• Press Win + X → Device Manager.
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
• Right-click your audio device (for example, Realtek High Definition Audio or Surface Audio) → Uninstall device.
• Check Delete the driver software for this device (or Attempt to remove the driver for this device) and select Uninstall.
• Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the driver.
• After restart, run Windows Update and install all updates, including Optional updates.

6. Restart audio services

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
• Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
• Right-click each → Restart and ensure Startup type is Automatic.

If Windows does not detect the microphone or audio device at all, repeat the driver reinstall steps and then in Device Manager use Scan for hardware changes under Sound, video and game controllers.

References:

• Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories
• Fix microphone problems
• cannot increase volume even if trouble shooter updates it - Microsoft Q&A
• internal microphone on windows 11 not working - Microsoft Q&A
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• No audio with Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A