How to Stop Discord From Lowering App Volume on Windows

Quick Tips

• Disable attenuation in Discord’s settings to prevent it from automatically reducing the volume of other apps during calls.
• Adjust Windows sound settings to Do nothing. This stops Windows from lowering all sounds when a communication app is active.
• Allow applications to control this device in your playback device properties. This keeps other apps from hogging audio control.

Use Attenuation to Stop Discord from Lowering Volume

Step 1: Open Discord on Windows. Then, click on the gear icon at the bottom left to go to Settings.

Step 2: Select Voice & Video in the sidebar.

Step 3: Scroll down the main page to find Attenuation and slide it to 0%.

This should fix Discord lowering the volume of other applications on Windows.

How to Fix Discord Attenuation Not Turning Off

Sometimes, even after turning off the Discord Attenuation setting, the volume of other audio sources keeps lowering. Well, in most cases, it’s not Discord; it’s Windows.

Windows sound settings interfere with other apps to hinder the audio output. Here are three easy fixes.

Fix 1: Disable Windows Communications Activity

Step 1: Open Settings using Windows Search and go to Sound.

Step 2: Scroll down and click on More sound settings.

Step 3: In the Sound dialog box, go to the Communications tab.

Step 4: Select Do nothing > click on Apply > hit OK.

And there you have it. The lowering of volume in other apps should be resolved. However, if it didn’t, follow the next method.

Fix 2: Turn off Exclusive Control

Discord requires Windows sound access to have exclusive control over the sound output. This can sometimes result in the volume of the app being lowered.

Step 1: Open Settings using Windows Search > go to Sound.

Step 2: Scroll down and click on More sound settings.

Step 3: Right-click on the audio device > select Properties.

Step 4: Go to the Advanced tab.

Step 6: Now, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.

Step 7: Click on Apply > OK.

Fix 3: Check Sound Mixer/Audio Monitoring Apps

It is common for users to use audio monitoring apps to equalize the sound quality. If you fall into this category and the above two methods didn’t work, your audio mixing or equalizing software must be the culprit.

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