Today’s Zoom meeting left you with a migraine.
It’s not because the call was stressful.
But because it was a noisy one…
There was an annoying echo here. A loud, background noise there.
You wanted to lower the volume until it’s only a murmur.
Or adjust it so it’s never too loud.
Keep reading to find out:
- 5 easy ways to adjust volume and audio quality settings for Zoom.
- 3 important factors that affect your Zoom’s audio experience and how to fix them.
- If it’s possible to decrease a Zoom’s volume without affecting your computer’s sound.
- And so much more…
How to lower the volume on Zoom – 5 steps
There will be times during a Zoom meeting when you’ll encounter volume troubles.
In fact, you’ll experience situations that will be too loud to handle.
And the problems aren’t always on your end.
If the meeting has many members, you’d have to consider every person.
Because each one can contribute to your volume woes.
But don’t despair…
Because there are simple ways to manage this situation.
Here are easy guides to control volume and audio settings on Zoom.
#1: Before a call/meeting
Step 1: Start Zoom and log in.
Step 2: Go to Settings. It’s the gear icon in the upper right corner.
Step 3: Choose Audio Settings.
Step 4: Here you can change the volume of your mic and speaker by using the slider.
If you wish to check your mic and speaker, you can do it at this point.
Step 5: Listen for the ringtone after clicking “Test Speaker.”
Step 6: If you don’t hear anything, click No and choose another speaker on the menu. Otherwise, click Yes.
Step 7: Talk into your mic for a few seconds after you click “Test Microphone.” An audio replay should follow.
Step 8: If you hear nothing, click No to change microphones until you hear the replay.
Step 9: Keep the “Automatically Adjust Volume” checked if you want your mic to do this.
Note: I recommend you do a test call before your meeting.
#2: While in a call/meeting:
Step 1: “Join With Computer Audio” and “Test Speaker & Microphone” will pop up after you join a meeting.
Step 2: Choose “Join With Computer Audio.“
Step 3: Select the upward arrow beside the mic icon to pull up a drop-down menu.
Step 4: Click Audio Settings.
Step 5: Change the volume of your mic and speaker using the sliders.
Step 6: You can control the volume anytime during the meeting. Follow 3-5.
#3: When screen sharing
- Adjust the volume of the media source.
- Modify your computer’s volume directly.
Let’s say you’re screen sharing a video or music in a Zoom call’s audio.
In this case, you need to tune down the volume from the source itself.
Or through the settings in your computer.
That said, it’s recommended that you change the volume of the video player.
Bear in mind that Zoom uses the sound of your PC at the outset.
So if you change your computer’s volume, it will affect Zoom’s as well.
#4: Adjusting your system’s audio quality
Method 1: Windows 11
- Right-click on the Speaker icon.
- Click Sound settings.
- Select System, and then Sound.
- Find Input and click on the mic you’re using.
- Go to the mic’s Properties.
- Under Format, access the dropdown for the quality options.
- Pick the highest Hz you can see there.
- Set the Input volume to 75.
Method 2: Windows 10
Follow steps 1-4 for Windows 11. Then continue with the steps below:
Step 1: Click on Device.
Step 2: Go to the Device properties window and select Additional device properties.
Step 3: The will open a Microphone Properties window.
Step 4: Find the Levels tab.
Step 5: Select Microphone and set it to 75.
Step 6: Go to the Advanced tab.
Step 7: Choose the highest possible Hz in the Default Format.
Step 8: Uncheck the following under Exclusive Mode:
- “Give exclusive mode applications priority.”
- “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.”
Step 9: Click OK when you’re done.
These changes will apply directly to your system and not just the Zoom app.
So, it can work in other apps as well.
Also, your settings will remain the same even after you reboot.
#5: Turning on original sound
Zoom works automatically behind the scenes to maintain a low bandwidth.
It does this to help systems with slow Internet catch up with their connection demands.
But this doesn’t come without a cost.
And in this case, the price is audio quality.
To get around it, you have to turn on Original sound.
Which is a Zoom feature that changes mono sound to stereo.
Moreover, it gives your audio 3x the normal bandwidth when turned on.
Here’s how to activate Original sound:
- To activate it, go to Zoom’s Audio Settings.
- Find Music and Professional Audio.
- Select all the boxes under it.
- Uncheck Automatically Adjust Volume for the microphone.
- Go into a Zoom call.
- Turn on the Original sound button in the call window.
You’ll have better audio quality immediately.
Remember that stereo notes the changes in how you move within your space.
This can reduce unwanted echoes and random loud noises.
You might also like: Can Teachers See Your Screen On Zoom? (How To Find Out)
Factors that affect your Zoom’s audio experience
There are a few other things that can affect your audio experience on Zoom.
Which even longtime Zoomers don’t notice.
But learning about these small issues can make big improvements to your calls.
And fixing them is easy peasy.
#1: Background noise
You know that humming or warping that you hear during a call?
That’s background noise.
Usually, a sensitive mic catches a lot of it.
So a soundproof room will guarantee a Zoom call without distractions.
That or a less sensitive mic.
Actually, Zoom suppresses background noise on auto mode.
But the reduction isn’t notable.
So you can adjust the setting yourself by following these steps.
- Go to Settings and click Audio.
- In the Suppress background noise portion, you can choose Low, Medium, or High.
To give you an idea, Medium will cancel out the noise from an electric fan.
Meanwhile, High will suppress the sound of keyboard typing.
#2: Echo
An echo happens when you’re using a laptop’s built-in speakers and mic.
Usually, with one or both of them in maximum volume.
Or with many active audio sources that are too close to each other.
Which is the reason that using a headset for Zoom calls is always advisable.
Sometimes, echoes can be constant.
To get rid of it, find the Echo Cancellation setting in the Audio tab.
Click Agressive to choke out that echo.
#3: Audio feedback loop
Echo’s cousin is Audio Feedback Loop.
This is when your voice repeats over and over without an end in sight.
And it takes place when external speakers and a mic are put close together.
What happens is the mic receives any sound that the speakers produce.
And sends back the signal to the speakers.
That again sends the audio output back to the mic.
As a result… loop.
So make sure that your speakers are a good distance away from your mic.
This should stop the chain from happening in the future.
Can you lower the volume of Zoom without lowering computer volume?
You can lower the volume of Zoom without affecting your computer’s volume.
In theory.
Here’s the usual way that Zoomers, or Zoom users, do that:
Step 1: While in a Zoom call, right-click on your PC’s speaker icon on the bottom right part of your screen.
Step 2: Go to Open Volume Mixer.
Step 3: You’ll find a slider for Zoom. Adjust the volume to your preference.
For a visual guide, check out this video:
However…
Many Zoomers complain that this doesn’t always work.
It could be because of their OS or a bug that prevents Zoom from appearing in the Volume Mixer.
So if this doesn’t work for you, check out Zoom’s support page.