How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer

This wikiHow teaches you how to raise your computer's volume. Both Windows and Mac computers have a combination of built-in hardware options and system settings that you can use to change the volume. If you're using a desktop Windows...
Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

  1. Use your computer's or speaker's volume buttons. All laptops come with a volume control button on one of the sides of the housing; pressing the "volume up" button (which usually has a + on or near it) will increase your computer's volume.
    1. Desktop computers typically use dedicated speakers, so you'll usually have to use the dial or "volume up" button on the speaker assembly if you have a desktop.
  2. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 1How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 1
    Try using the keyboard shortcuts. If your laptop has a volume icon on or above one of the function keys (e.g., F12) at the top of the keyboard, you may be able to press the right-most volume key to increase your computer's volume.
    1. On some computers, you'll need to hold down Fn while doing this.
    2. Desktop users typically won't be able to use keyboard shortcuts to adjust volume unless using a monitor with built-in speakers.
  3. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 2How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 2
    Use the "Volume" slider. If you have a laptop, you can adjust your computer's volume from within the taskbar: click the volume icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, then click and drag right the slider in the window that pops up.
    1. Again, desktop users usually won't be able to do this.
  4. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 3How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 3
    Open Start
    How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 4How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 4
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    1. The following steps are only necessary if you're having trouble adjusting or hearing your computer's audio using the above steps.
  5. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 5How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 5
    Open the Sound menu. Type in sound, then click Sound near the top of the Start window.
  6. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 6How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 6
    Click the Playback tab. It's at the top of the Sound window.
  7. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 7How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 7
    Select your computer's speakers. Click the "Speakers" option to do so.
    1. Depending on your computer's speakers, you may see the speakers' name or brand here instead.
  8. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 8How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 8
    Click Properties. This option is in the lower-right side of the window. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
  9. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 9How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 9
    Click the Levels tab. It's at the top of the pop-up window.
  10. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 10How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 10
    Drag the slider to the right. This will increase your speakers' output volume.
    1. If the slider is already at 100 percent, your computer's volume is as high as it can go.
  11. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 11How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 11
    Save your changes. Click OK at the bottom of both open Sound windows to do so. Your computer's volume should now be higher.
Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

  1. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 12How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 12
    Use your Mac's keyboard buttons. Pressing the F12 key at the top of your Mac's keyboard will increase the volume by one tick.
    1. If your Mac has a touch bar, open
      How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 13How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 13
      Finder to prompt the correct options to appear, then tap the "Volume Up" icon on the right side of the touch bar.
  2. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 14How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 14
    Use the menu bar's "Sound" menu. Click the Volume
    How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 15How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 15
    icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then click and drag the volume slider up to increase your Mac's volume.
  3. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 16How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 16
    Open the Apple menu
    How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 17How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 17
    . Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
    1. The following steps are only necessary if you're having trouble adjusting or hearing your computer's audio using the above steps.
  4. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 18How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 18
    Click System Preferences…. It's in the drop-down menu. The System Preferences window will open.
  5. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 19How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 19
    Click Sound. You'll see this speaker-shaped icon in the System Preferences window. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
  6. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 20How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 20
    Click the Output tab. It's at the top of the Sound pop-up window.
  7. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 21How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 21
    Click Internal Speakers. This option is near the top of the window.
  8. How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 22How to Increase Your Volume on a Computer Picture 22
    Increase your Mac's volume. Click and drag right the "Output volume" slider at the bottom of the window. This will increase your Mac's speakers' output volume.[1]
    1. If the "Mute" checkbox has a checkmark in it, click the checkbox to un-mute your computer.
    2. Closing this menu will save your settings.
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