Volume Mixer Won't Open on Windows, 7 Solutions

Volume Mixer Won't Open on Your Windows PC and Having Problems with Sound Settings? Many Windows users find themselves facing this problem from time to time. But don't worry, this problem is short-lived, because in this tutorial, we will walk you through some of the best solutions to fix the Volume Mixer not opening problem.

What are the causes of the Volume Mixer not opening?

Volume Mixer is a unified control for changing volume levels for all default or system software and third-party apps that use system audio. Therefore, by accessing Volume Mixer, users can manage the volume levels for different programs according to their needs.

The error of not opening the audio settings is self explanatory, clicking on the icon Open Volume Mixer via the speaker placed at the bottom right on the desktop somehow does not open the master volume slider as it should. This is a common problem reported by many users and can occur on any version of the Windows operating system.

How to fix with Volume Mixer not opening on Windows 10

Now let's try to understand, in detail, the various methods with which you can solve the error with audio settings not opening on your Windows 10 PC.

Method 1: restart Windows Explorer

Restarting Windows Explorer can help Windows troubleshoot sound problems on your PC and should fix the volume mixer not opening issue.

1. To start the Task Manager, press i at the same time Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
2. Search and click Windows Explorer in the card Processes.
3. Restart the Windows Explorer process by right-clicking on it and selecting Restart.

Once the process is done, try opening Volume Mixer to check if the problem is resolved.

Method 2: run the troubleshooter

The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter is pre-installed on Windows systems. It can help you troubleshoot any hardware devices connected to your computer, including the volume mixer not opening issue. You can use the troubleshooter as follows:

1. Press the keys together Windows + I to start the window Settings.
2. click on Update and security.
3. click on Resolution of the problems from the left pane.
4. In the right pane, click Additional troubleshooting.
5. In the new window that opens, click on the option titled Audio playback, then click Run the troubleshooter.

Final report: we used Windows 10 Pro to explain the process. The images may vary slightly depending on the version of Windows on your computer.

The troubleshooter will automatically detect hardware problems, if any, and fix them.

Restart your PC to verify that the Volume Mixer not opening issue is resolved. If not, try the next solution.

Method 3: update the audio driver when Volume Mixer doesn't work

Updating the audio driver will fix minor bugs with the device and is a great way to fix the volume mixer not opening issue. You can do this from the control panel as follows:

1. To start the dialog Run, press the buttons at the same time Windows + R.
2. Now open Device management typing devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and pressing Submit.
3. Expand the section Sound, video and game controllers.
4. Locate the audio device currently running on your computer. Right click on it and select Update Driver.
5. Then click Automatically searches for an updated driver. This allows Windows to automatically search for available audio device driver updates. If Windows detects any relevant updates for the audio driver, it will will download and will install automatically.
6. Come out of Device management e restart the PC.

Check if you are able to fix Volume Mixer not opening on Windows 10.

Method 4: Reinstall the audio driver if the audio settings don't work

If updating the audio driver does not solve the problem, you can always uninstall and reinstall the audio driver. Let's see how to do it:

1. Launch the dialog Run and open the window Device management as in the previous method.
2. Expand the section Controller audio, video e games double-clicking the arrow next to it.
3. Locate the audio device Currently in use. Right-click and select the option Uninstall device from the indicated menu.
4. Do click on button OK.
5. After removing the drivers, go to Action > Detect hardware changes within the same window.
6. The Windows operating system will reinstall the audio drivers.
7. Click the speaker symbol located on the right side of the bar of the applications.
8. Select Open Volume Mixer from the list provided and check if you are able to open it or not.

Method 5: Verify that the Windows Audio service is still running

The Windows Audio service takes care of all functions and processes that require audio and use audio drivers. This is another integrated service available on all Windows systems. If disabled, it can cause a multitude of problems, including sound settings not opening on Windows 10. Therefore, you need to make sure that the sound service is enabled and working properly. To do this, follow the given steps:

1. Open the dialog Run as indicated above.
2. To boot Management Skills typing services.msc as shown. Then, press Enter.
3. Find the service Windows Audio scrolling down the list of services displayed on the screen. All services are listed in alphabetical order.
4. Right-click on the icon Windows audio service and choose Property.
5. The window will appear Property Windows audio.
6. Here, click on the drop-down bar Startup type.
7. To stop the service, click Stop.
8. Then click starts to restart the service.
9. Finally, click the button Apply.
10. To close Service Manager and check if the problem persists.

If your problems with Volume Mixer have not been resolved until now, we are going to talk about more complex methods below.

Method 6: Volume Mixer Won't Open? Disable the sndvol.exe process

sndvol.exe is an executable file of the Windows operating system. It is safe to disable or uninstall it if it creates errors, such as Volume Mixer not opening problem. You can terminate the sndvol.exe process as:

1. To boot Task Manager as explained in 1 method.
2. Identify the process sndvol.exe in the card Processes.
3. arrest him by right-clicking on the process sndvol.exe and selecting End activity.
4. Go out from the Task Manager application.

Method 7: run the SFC scan

System File Checker or SFC is a very useful tool that scans the damaged files and repairs them. To perform an SFC scan, simply follow these instructions carefully:

1. Look for Command Prompt in the bar Windows search. Right-click on Command Prompt in the search result, then select Run as administrator.
2. To perform an SFC scan, run the following command: sfc / scannow. Type and press the key Submit.

The SFC command will start scanning your computer for corrupt or missing system files.

Final report: make sure you do not interrupt this procedure and wait for the scan to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How do I get the volume icon back on the screen?

1. Scegliere Property after right-clicking in the bar of the uses.
2. In the system tray, look for the button Customize and click on it.
3. When the new window pops up, go to the icon Volume > Show icon e notifications.
4. Now do it click su OK to exit the Properties window.

You will find the volume icon in the system tray.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has been helpful and you have been able to Fix Volume Mixer Not Opening on Windows 10. Let us know which method worked best for you. If you have any questions / comments about this article, feel free to post them in the comments section.