Have you ever put your headset on and attempted to play audio on your Windows 10 computer, only for the sound to fade away a few seconds later? While it might seem like this is a problem isolated to you, the reality is that many users suffer from the same issue.

Luckily, you can fix this problem. This guide will identify why your volume goes up and down on Windows 10, and what you can do about it.

Why Does My Volume Go Up or Down by Itself in Windows 10?

Many things can cause the Windows 10 automatic volume change problem, including a defective volume rocker on your headset or a driver glitch.

Here are a few common causes that may trigger this problem in Windows 10:

  • A faulty volume button on your headset can cause the volume function to act up. Check if a volume button is loose or broken to confirm.
  • Audio jack and plug wear and tear can also trigger unintended media inputs such as volume increase/decrease, play/pause, etc.
  • Third-party audio enhancement utilities conflicting with your system audio.
  • Outdated or corrupt Windows audio drivers can cause your system audio and its properties to malfunction.

Irrespective of the reason, troubleshooting this issue is relatively easy. Below, you'll find out how to fix this problem on your Windows 10 device.

1. Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter

audio troubleshooter on windows

Windows 10 comes with a dedicated audio troubleshooter that you can access from Settings. Run the audio troubleshooter, and it will find and fix audio-related issues automatically.

To run the Windows audio troubleshooter:

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Then, go to the Update & Security section.
  2. In the left pane, open the Troubleshoot tab. Then, in the right pane, scroll down and check if any troubleshooters are available. If not, click on Additional troubleshooters.
  3. In the Additional troubleshooter window that appears, click on the Playing audio option.
  4. Click Run the troubleshooter to launch the Windows audio troubleshooter. It will immediately scan your system for potential audio issues.
  5. If you have multiple audio devices connected, select the affected device and click Next.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fix. Once applied, connect your device and check if the Windows volume increasing and decreasing problem is resolved.

2. Disable Sound Effects and Audio Enhancement

disable audio enhancements on windows

Your Realtek audio driver comes with added enhancement features. It allows you to tweak the bass boost, headphone virtualization, and loudness equalization options. However, these enhancements can cause your system volume to change with no user input.

Disabling all such enhancements may help resolve volume-related issues on your system.

To disable audio enhancements:

  1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar (in the bottom right corner) and select Sounds.
  2. In the Sound window, open the Playback tab.
  3. Locate and right-click on the affected device, such as your headset, and select Properties.
  4. In the Properties window, open the Enhancement tab. Check the Disable all enhancements box.
  5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
  6. Reconnect your headset to the computer and check for any improvements.

Related: Nifty Sound Enhancements for Better Audio in Windows 10

3. Disable Automatic Communication Activity

screenshot showing list of options on windows sound troubleshooter

By default, Windows is configured to adjust the volume of different sounds when you receive or place telephonic calls. This handy feature may also cause your system to misinterpret incoming audio connections.

You can disable the communication activity option in Sound to prevent Windows from changing your system volume. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open Run. Type mmsys.cpl and click OK.
  2. In the Sound window, open the Communications tab.
  3. Select Do nothing and click Apply and OK to save changes. That should disable the communication activity detection feature on your Windows system.

Although effective, this is more of a workaround. But, if you don’t use your system to receive or place calls, you will not miss this feature as much.

Related: How to Make and Receive Calls In Windows 10

4. Check for Third-Party App and Hardware Conflict

disable discord attenuation on windows

Asus’s Armoury Crate and Discord are some common apps that can alter your audio settings. Close all such third-party apps you may have running and check if the audio controls continue to fluctuate.

Open the Asus Armoury Crate, and remove all the apps linked to your profile.

On Discord, go to Settings and open the Voice and Video tab. Next, scroll down to the Attenuation sections and drag the slider to 0% to disable attenuation.

Additionally, check your peripherals for hardware issues. Faulty devices, like a wireless mouse or headset adapter, can also trigger this problem.

5. Update Audio Device Drivers in Device Manager

updating driver on windows 10 device manager

An outdated or corrupted audio device driver can cause your system audio controls to malfunction. If you think the problem is due to a driver glitch, you can update it from the Device Manager.

To update the audio device driver:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open Device Manager.
  2. In the Device Manager, expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section. It will show the list of audio devices installed on your system.
  3. Next, right-click on the affected audio device and choose Update Driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for the drivers option. Windows will scan for new drivers available and install them automatically.

Alternatively, check your audio driver vendor’s website for driver updates that are not yet available in the Windows download catalog.

6. Roll Back Your Audio Device Driver

rolling back the driver on windows

Driver updates to your device usually bring performance improvements and bug fixes. However, new updates can also bring their share of problems. If you have recently updated your audio device driver, try a rollback to an earlier version.

To roll back the audio device driver:

  1. Type device manager in the Windows search bar and open the app from the search results.
  2. In Device Manager, expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section.
  3. Right-click on your device and select Properties.
  4. Open the Driver tab and click on Roll Back Driver. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the rollback.

7. Downgrade to Windows Generic Drivers

installing a generic driver on windows 10

If you identify the problem is because of the Realtek driver installed on your system, you can downgrade to a generic Windows audio driver. When you switch to a generic driver, Windows will remove additional audio enhancement features offered by Realtek.

To downgrade to generic Windows driver:

  1. Open Device Manager and expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section.
  2. Right-click on your Realtek audio device and select Update Driver.
  3. Select Browse my computer for driver.
  4. Then, choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
  5. In the driver window, select High Definition Audio Device and click Next.
  6. Click Yes to confirm the action to install the generic driver. Once installed, restart your PC and check for any improvements.

8. Reinstall Audio Device Drivers

uninatalling an audio device on windows 10

You can reinstall your sound drivers to fix any temporary glitches. Windows will automatically reinstall required drivers during restart.

To reinstall your audio device drivers:

  1. Press Windows key + X, and then click on Device Manager from the WinX menu.
  2. In Device Manager, expand Sounds, video, and game controllers.
  3. Right-click on Realtek High Definition Audio and select Uninstall Device.
  4. Click Uninstall to confirm the action. Once done, restart your PC. Windows will scan the system for missing drivers and install them automatically.

Now You Can Prevent Windows From Automatically Reducing System Volume

Volume controls on your Windows 10 PC can change automatically for several reasons. A faulty volume rocker on your headset, third-party app conflict, and an audio driver glitch are the common causes for this problem.

Since there is no single go-to solution, you can use the Windows audio troubleshooter, disabling audio enhancements and communication activity feature to fix the problem.