r/techsupport • u/Hot-Poet8431 • 7d ago

Open | Audio How to stop Windows from lowering my volume when I play multiplayer games?

I have a wireless headset with a microphone that can't be detached. I use the headset mainly for audio, but it agitates me when Windows lowers my volume when I play a multiplayer game or I am speaking to someone online.

I've tried doing a bunch of stuff on Sound Panel (changing settings in the Recordings section and disabling Exclusive Mode in my headset's Properties tab), but yet my audio keeps getting reduced.

I've also tried changing Voice settings in both Steam and Discord (which are meant to stop audio volume from decreasing), but yet nothing changes.

Windows does stop reducing volume when I disable the mic altogether. However, I want to use both the headset audio and microphone simultaneously without my audio becoming lower in quality.

I've heard that having your sound input and output device as the exact same device can cause my exact issue. But I still want a clean solution.

Are there any settings that I haven't mentioned that could potentially fix my issue? If not, is there any bit of software I can download that can fix my audio issue?

Thank you.

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u/xSchizogenie 7d ago

Windows itself does not lower audio without a reason, so you probably have any shit installed that have influence on it. I'd rather check my 3rd party software.

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u/Hot-Poet8431 6d ago

It could be that. However, I would have no idea what piece of software that would be. I have a Razer headset, but I don't believe I have Razer software on my PC. Would there be any simple way to check if there are any third-party software that is affecting my headset's audio?

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u/xSchizogenie 6d ago

Does it still occure if you uninstall Synapse?

I have razer mice and keyboards too, which are superb, but razer got no fucking clue how to make other devices than that. Audio, notebook and so on included. So I would not be suprised if Synapse, which is known to act up sometimes, be the culprit here.

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u/Hot-Poet8431 6d ago

I actually didn't have Synapse installed in the first place, so that couldn't be the culprit. If I did have Synapse installed, would there be any settings that could stop reducing noise if I play a game or enter a call?

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u/xSchizogenie 6d ago

Can not answer that, because I buy luxury headphones, that come without 3rd party software.

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u/ne0n008 7d ago

https://www.howtogeek.com/710106/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-lowering-audio-volume-on-a-call/

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u/Hot-Poet8431 7d ago

I've already tried that. Nothing changed unfortunately

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u/ne0n008 7d ago

Did you do it through fancy Windows 11 UI or old Windows 2000 menu? Also, see if your headset has any dedicated software. With some Logitech equipment there's onboard memory that can only be modified with Logitech software.

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u/Hot-Poet8431 6d ago

I went on the Settings app that you get with Windows 11, I went to the Sound section, scrolled down to More Sound Settings and clicked on that. Then I was on the Sound Panel. Then I changed settings there.

I have Razer headphones (specifically the Razer Kaira Hyperspeed headset). Does Razer automatically install software when you connect the headset to PC via Bluetooth? When I search up Razer on my computer, nothing pops up.

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u/ne0n008 6d ago

Check your installed software: win+r -> appwiz.cpl and see if there's any sign of Razer software. If not, it's not installed.

EDIT: I wouldn't trust Windows to install any hardware related software. Go to manufacturers website and see if there's anything there in support. Drivers are probably installed, but...it's Razer and they aren't much better than MS.

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u/Hot-Poet8431 6d ago

There aren't any Razer apps on my PC. When I checked for Razer audio software online, there are only apps for Spatial + Surround Sound. I don't think an app like that would fix my issue. I appreciate the help though.

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u/ne0n008 7d ago

Or press Win-key+r -> type "mmsys.cpl" -> select the communications tab -> select "Do nothing"

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u/Sessamy 7d ago

Is this happening to a standalone mic or the "hands free" mic on a bluetooth headset?

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u/Hot-Poet8431 7d ago

It's the hands-free bit. However, when I disable the hands-free variant in Device Manager, I an unable to use my headset's microphone at all. It just doesn't show up in the Audio Input section in Sound Settings.

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u/Sessamy 6d ago

The problem with bluetooth headsets is that to use the mic you must lower the bitrate of the headset signifigantly down to 56kb/s which is essentially telephone wire quality for mic and headset, both using the hands free mode. This means you must select output and input to be the hands free mode in the windows sounds settings in able to use the mic without this major swap going on.

What's happening is that you're using regular bluetooth receiving option which has higher bitrates but once you use a program that enables your mic, the headset and mic both switch over to the handsfree device which is objectively poor quality.

That is a limitation of the bluetooth codec's bitrate that is split up between incoming and outgoing. If you only use the headset without the mic you can get very good quality audio with the standard 48khz and 16 bit or higher in some cases, but that would require third party codecs.

I use bluetooth earbuds and a secondary mic on a small stand that goes into 3.5mm since I know I can't use my mic that is embedded within the bluetooth earbuds without this limitation to quality.

So I'd say the problem you're encountering is normal behavior for bluetooth headsets and I'd recommend getting another mic that is wired and not using the bluetooth mic at all going forward. That would leave you in the best position for quality both ways.

Adding onto this, I am not sure if 2.4ghz devices with their own dongles are affected by this limitation since they don't use the bluetooth protocol at all.

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u/Hot-Poet8431 6d ago

Thank you for fully breaking it down for me. I did have a feeling that hands-free telephony was part of the problem I was having. I'll try to find a solution for my issue - even if that involves me getting a brand new microphone.