Skype has become the standard for desktop calling. Since it's been owned by Microsoft for years, it's even baked right into Windows 8 (including an inferior Modern app) and Windows 10. However, Skype isn't perfect.

One issue you might notice is that your computer's volume suddenly drops whenever you receive a Skype call. The person you're speaking to is still at normal volume, but everything else becomes quiet. This is due to a setting in Windows that you've probably never noticed. Here's how to fix it.

Type Sound into the Start Menu to open the Sound entry of the Control Panel. Click the Communications tab on the top, and you'll find the option that creates this behavior. By default, Windows is set to reduce all sounds by 80 percent whenever you're using the computer to make calls. This also applies to any other communication tools you use to make calls on your PC, like Google Voice or RingCentral.

You can set Windows to reduce sounds by 50 percent instead of 80, or disable the volume reduction altogether. If you receive a lot of calls, the sudden quiet does help you to notice that you have a call coming in. However, if you want to watch a video or do anything in the background during a call, you won't be able to hear it with the reduction.

Looking to power up your Skype usage? Check out the best tips to make you a more efficient Skype user.

Did you know about this Windows setting? Do you like the volume reduction when calls come in, or do you prefer to adjust everything manually? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credit: Jozsef Bagota via Shutterstock