How To Stop Skype From Lowering The Volume Of Other Sounds?

Is Skype lowering the volume on other sounds? If so, you're not alone. It is an annoying bug that I bet a lot of Skype users are experiencing at this moment, but there might be a way to stop this from happening and allow you to have the sound at maximum volume on your computer again.

When using Skype for calls, the volume of the other applications on your computer is reduced by default, about 80% depending on your preference. Windows is responsible for this action and not Skype as it is programmed by default to turn down the volume of sounds from other apps anytime any communications activity is noticed or detected.

Skype calls are classified by Windows as a communications activity, hence the reduction in the volume of other sounds to prevent interference or noise disruption.

An easy fix for this is to simply turn up or increase the volume of your computer, but while this may seemingly fix the problem by making the background sound or sounds of your computer louder, it will also raise the Skype volume to an uncomfortable level. Another thing is that Windows can mess up and neglect to restore the original volume of the computer before the call when the call is over, and this can be a little annoying.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix that.

Try Modifying the Settings for Communications Activity

Fortunately, the default Windows settings for reducing sounds from other apps when it detects communication-related activities can be manually disabled or enabled. This can be done on any version of the Windows operating system.  To change the communication activity setting, simply follow these steps:

Windows 7

1. For Windows 7, you need to find the speaker icon on the bottom right of the screen of the computer. It usually represents all things sound-related on the system. Then right-click on it. For people using Windows 8, you have to first switch to desktop mode before finding the sound icon on the taskbar.
2. Then left-click on the “Sounds” option.
   
   
3. From the Sounds menu, go to the communications bar.
4. Under the communications bar, there are different choices that Windows provides for any communications activity that is detected, like a call on Skype. There are four options available. It can either remove all other background sounds, lower them to a certain degree, or do absolutely nothing about them. Any of these choices can be selected according to your preferences.
   
5. Click on “Apply”, then click on “OK”.
6. Reboot your computer. After restarting your computer, confirm that the sound reduction is no longer a problem. The sound from other apps or background sounds on your computer should no longer be affected by any communications activity, depending on whatever option you chose. This process ensures that Skype calls no longer tamper with the loudness of other sounds on your computer.

Windows 10

The steps for Windows 10 are similar to those used in windows 7 or 8. The only difference is how to find the Sound Control Panel.

1. Right-click on the sound icon on the taskbar.
2. Click on the “Open Sound Settings” option.
3. On the right side, you’ll find a list of related settings. Click on the “Sound Control Panel” option.
4. Go to the communications bar > Select “Do nothing” (or any preferred option) > “Apply” > “OK”
5. Once done, the problem should now be solved!

Another method is to disable applications from controlling sounds

Sound systems are usually able to give certain applications exclusive control over them to change or adjust their volumes. While this may seem like a useful feature, it is also flawed in that it allows applications like Skype to automatically reduce the sounds of other applications during a call.

To prevent this from happening, the option of exclusive control should be disabled. Here’s how:

• Click on the speaker icon and go to Advanced Options, then untick the two options under the heading “Exclusive Mode”. Save and exit.

Summary: Stop Skype From lowering the volume of other sounds

• Click on Start button and open Control Panel.
• Now click on Hardware and Sound.
• Click on Sound
• Now a window will open named as Sound. Here you will see all the sound devices connected to your computer.
•  Now go to Communications tab, here you should be able to see drop-down menu. From this menu select Do nothing option. This will prevent Windows from automatically reducing volume of other sounds when you are communicating via Skype.

Conclusion

There you have it! As long as you properly follow the steps above, resolving your volume issues should no longer be a problem.