How-To

How to Adjust Volume Balance Levels on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Published March 22, 2023

When you connect a pair of speakers or headphones to your Windows 11 system, the balance levels may be off. For example, if you connect Apple AirPods to a Windows 11 pc, you might need to adjust to get the best sound.

One of the problems could be that the volume balance between each earbud isn’t accurate. Perhaps the left AirPod is producing more volume than the right one. And this can happen with bookshelf speakers too.

Whatever the reason you need to adjust volume balance levels on Windows 11, the process is straightforward from the Settings app.

How to Adjust Volume Balance Levels on Windows 11

There are two ways you can adjust the balance levels. One is via the Settings app, and the other is through the classic Control Panel. We’ll show you how to do it via Settings first.

To adjust volume balance levels on Windows 11 using Settings, use these steps:

1. Press the Windows key to launch the Start menu and click Settings. Alternatively, you can press Windows key + I to open Settings directly.
2. Click System in the left panel.
3. Click Sound from the options on the right.
4. Select the speakers you want to adjust the balance.
5. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Volume slider in the Output settings section.
6. Now, use the Left channel and Right channel sliders to change the balance levels for your audio.

How to Adjust Volume Balance Levels on Windows 11 Using Control Panel

While the Settings app is a straightforward method for adjusting volume balance levels, you can also use Control Panel if it is more familiar.

To adjust balance levels via Control Panel:

1. Launch Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Click System on the left.
3. Click Sound in the left panel.
4. Scroll down the options on the right and click More sound settings near the bottom of the list.
5. When the Sound window displays, select the headphones or speakers you want to manage balance levels and click Properties.
6. Click the Levels tab at the top.
7. Click Balance next to the audio output source’s main volume slider.
8. Now, use the L and R sliders to adjust balance levels on Windows 11.
9. Click OK after making volume balance adjustments.
10. Click Apply and OK to close out of the Speaker Properties

Managing Sound on Windows 11

Once you complete the above steps, the volume balance in your connected headphones or speakers will reflect your settings. You might need to adjust volume balance levels on Windows 11 if you need volume louder in a specific ear, your speakers are fritzing out, and other reasons.

Windows includes more ways to manage your system volume. For example, you can manage system sounds or disable the Windows 11 startup sound if it annoys you.

Regarding sound input options, you might want to learn about using a microphone on GeForce Now. Also, if you aren’t a fan of native sound controls on Windows, check out the EarTrumpet app for Windows, which makes using audio controls a snap.