After first burying this feature at the bottom of a test version, at the end of January, Microsoft announced that it was officially testing a new application volume control component for Windows 11. A welcome option… already available for five years.
The new volume mixer is officially in testing at Microsoft. On Thursday March 2, the developers of Windows 11 unveiled a new test version (build 25309) of its operating system via the Windows Insider program.
In the change log, Microsoft teams officially announce a new feature: a new interface to separately adjust the volume of any running software, application or game. And much faster than today.
An idea inspired by another software
Concretely, this new panel consists of a vertical list of volume bars placed next to the icon of the corresponding application. In addition to adjusting the volume, it also seems possible to click on this miniature logo to completely mute the sound.
This volume mixer takes the aesthetic codes of Windows 11 and is integrated into the quick access panel of the Windows taskbar. As with sound output today, just click on the arrow next to the main soundbar. It can also be displayed via a new keyboard shortcut: Win + Ctrl + V (used by PowerToys for copy/paste without formatting).
A welcome new tool that simplifies these day-to-day settings, since today you have to go to the volume mixer settings page… unless you have installed the unofficial software EarTrumpet. This tool developed by two former Microsoft employees looks exactly like this new sound control panel. Microsoft therefore seems to have been inspired by this very popular program for five years already.
A function already tested earlier
This new volume mixer has already appeared earlier. As of January 2023, another version of the Insider program (build 25281) allowed it to be used, even if it was hidden behind an experimental option. This is often a sign that Microsoft is testing features that are not sure to stick.
We are therefore more likely to believe it this time, although the changelog specifies that this new panel is not available to all members of the Insider program: the Windows team plans to monitor feedback from testers before rolling it out to all developers.
To follow us, we invite you to download our Android and iOS app. You can read our articles, files, and watch our latest YouTube videos.
