How to Fix Another App Controlling Your Sound Issue on Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Sometimes, when you try to play sound on your Windows 11 PC, you might see a message saying that another app is controlling your sound. This can be frustrating because it prevents you from adjusting the volume or hearing audio properly. Fortunately, this issue is usually easy to fix.

This guide will walk you through simple and clear steps to resolve the problem. You don’t need to be a tech expert to follow along.

By the end of this article, you will know several methods to regain control of your sound settings on Windows 11.

Let’s start with some quick checks before moving to the solutions.

Quick Note: What to Check Before Fixing the Issue

Check your audio devices: Make sure your speakers or headphones are properly connected and turned on.
Restart your PC: Sometimes, a simple reboot can clear temporary audio conflicts.
Close unnecessary apps: Some programs may take exclusive control of your sound. Closing them can help.
Update Windows: Keeping your system updated ensures you have the latest bug fixes.

Once you have verified these basics, you can proceed with the detailed steps below.

Step 1: Check Which App is Controlling Your Sound

Windows sometimes blocks other apps from changing sound settings if one app has exclusive control. To see which app might be controlling your sound:

Right-click the Speaker icon in the taskbar (bottom-right corner).
Select Open Volume mixer.
Look for any app with volume control active and playing audio.

If you find the app, try closing it to release control over the sound.

Step 2: Turn Off Exclusive Control in Sound Settings

Some apps take exclusive control over your audio device, which can cause conflicts. Disabling this can solve the problem.

Right-click the Speaker icon again and select Sound settings.
Under Advanced, click More sound settings. This opens the classic Sound control panel.
In the Playback tab, select your active audio device (usually Speakers or Headphones) and click Properties.
Go to the Advanced tab.
Uncheck the box that says “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.”
Click Apply and then OK.

This stops apps from grabbing exclusive control and helps prevent the sound issue.

Step 3: Restart Windows Audio Services

Windows Audio services manage sound playback. Restarting them can fix glitches causing the issue.

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
Type services.msc and press Enter.
In the Services window, scroll down and find Windows Audio.
Right-click Windows Audio and select Restart.
Also, find Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and restart it the same way.

Restarting these services refreshes audio components and often resolves control conflicts.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause sound problems. Updating or reinstalling them can help.

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Sound, video and game controllers category.
Right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek, Intel) and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.
If updating doesn’t help, right-click the device again and select Uninstall device.
Restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

Keeping drivers current ensures compatibility and smooth audio performance.

Alternative Method: Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 11 has a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix audio issues automatically.

Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Find Playing Audio and click Run.
Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows diagnose and fix problems.

This is a quick way to identify and resolve common sound problems without manual steps.

FAQs

Why does Windows say another app is controlling my sound?

Some apps can take exclusive control of your audio device to provide better sound quality or features. When this happens, other apps cannot change volume or playback until control is released.

How can I find out which app is controlling my sound?

You can check the Volume mixer or Task Manager for apps playing audio. Closing those apps usually fixes the problem.

Is it safe to disable exclusive control of audio devices?

Yes, disabling exclusive control prevents apps from taking full control of your sound device, which can improve compatibility but may reduce some app-specific audio features.

Will updating audio drivers fix this issue?

Often, yes. Outdated drivers can cause conflicts. Updating ensures your audio hardware works well with Windows 11.

What if the problem happens again randomly?

It could be caused by certain apps starting automatically and taking control. You can check startup programs or adjust settings to prevent this.

When Nothing Works

If you’ve tried all the steps above and still face the issue, consider the following:

Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, Microsoft releases fixes in updates that resolve audio bugs.
Reset Windows Sound Settings: Use the Reset option in the Sound Settings panel.
Create a new user account: Problems may be related to your user profile.
Contact Microsoft Support: Visit the official Microsoft audio troubleshooting page for advanced help.

Conclusion

The “Another app is controlling your sound” message can be annoying, but it’s usually easy to fix. Start by identifying and closing apps that may be using your audio. Then, disable exclusive control in sound settings to avoid conflicts.

Restarting audio services and updating drivers further improve your chances of resolving the issue. Windows troubleshooting tools offer a helpful alternative if manual steps are challenging.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can regain control over your sound and enjoy a smooth audio experience on Windows 11.