PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSome links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
EarTrumpet is the best free Windows volume mixer for most people. It adds a convenient system-tray mixer with a separate slider and output selector for every active app, without installing audio drivers or requiring a restart. Choose BetterTrumpet if you need saved profiles and automation, SoundSwitch if you mainly want keyboard shortcuts for changing headphones, speakers, microphones, or a dock, and Voicemeeter Banana if you need a virtual routing desk for streaming or complex recording. Windows 10 and 11 already include per-app volume and output controls, so a third-party utility is optional rather than mandatory.
Which free Windows audio app should you install?
The right choice depends on whether you need easier access to controls Windows already has, hotkey-based device changes, or a full virtual mixer. The table below separates those jobs before you install anything.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
| App | Best for | Per-app volume | Per-app output routing | Playback/recording hotkeys | Profiles and automation | Inputs and outputs | Drivers and reboot | Interface and license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Volume mixer | Occasional adjustments with no installation | Yes | Yes, through Settings | No dedicated global hotkeys | No saved profiles | Uses Windows devices | No extra driver or reboot | Built in; proprietary Windows component |
| EarTrumpet | Everyday tray-based mixing and app routing | Yes | Yes | No device-cycling focus | No profile system | Uses Windows devices | No extra driver or reboot | Free and open source; simple interface |
| BetterTrumpet | Power users who want reusable audio setups | Yes | Yes | Command-line controls available | Yes: profiles, persistent mute, media controls and automation | Uses Windows devices | No extra driver or reboot | Free and open source; more controls to learn |
| SoundSwitch | Instant switching among playback and recording devices | Not its primary purpose | Device switching and per-app rules | Yes, global hotkeys | Profiles and rules | Cycles Windows playback and recording devices | No extra driver or reboot | Free and open source; focused tray utility |
| Voicemeeter Banana | Streaming, Discord/game separation and virtual routing | Yes, inside the mixer | Yes, across virtual and physical paths | Can be controlled through its advanced configuration | Supports complex saved configurations | Five inputs, five outputs, two VAIO virtual I/O buses and an eight-channel recorder | Installs virtual audio drivers and requires a reboot | Simple donationware; advanced interface |
For a normal laptop, desktop, or gaming PC, start with EarTrumpet. It improves access without changing your audio architecture. Add SoundSwitch when the bottleneck is switching devices, or move to BetterTrumpet when you repeatedly rebuild different work, game, call, and speaker setups. Reserve Voicemeeter Banana for routing that the Windows mixer cannot express.
Windows already provides the basic controls
Before installing an app, open Windows’ own mixer. In Windows 11, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sound settings, then select Volume mixer. In Windows 10, open Settings > System > Sound > App volume and device preferences. Each running app gets its own volume control, and the page shows the output device selected for that app.
#1 Best Overall
- [Ultra-Lightweight Ear Buds Designed for Small Ears] Each earbud weighs only 3.7g and features a compact, ergonomic in-ear design made especially for small ears. Secure, low-profile, and comfortable for workouts, all-day wear or overnight sleeping.The ultra-slim profile sits flush in your ear with no hard edges poking or rubbing, so you can even sleep on your side without discomfort.
- [Immersive Stereo Sound with TOZO OrigX Technology] TOZO OrigX tuning delivers clear vocals, balanced mids, and natural stereo sound for music, podcasts, and videos.
- [Long Battery Life for Daily Use] Get up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, with up to 32 hours total using the charging case—ideal for workdays, commuting, and extended listening sessions.
- [Bluetooth 5.3 & Stable Connection] Bluetooth 5.3 provides fast pairing, stable wireless performance, and reduced dropouts as you move around home or office.
- [Deep Bass with Clear Vocals] High-performance drivers produce punchy bass while keeping vocals clean and detailed for everyday listening.
This built-in page is enough when you only occasionally lower a game under a call, mute a browser tab, or correct an app that selected the wrong headset. It also avoids third-party software and is the best first diagnostic because it shows whether Windows is receiving audio from the app at all.
The limitation is workflow. You must open Settings, locate the app, and navigate a relatively large page each time. Windows does not provide a polished tray mixer, reusable scenes, or a universal shortcut for cycling devices. Those are the gaps the utilities below address.
EarTrumpet: the best default recommendation
EarTrumpet is a free, open-source Windows tray mixer made by File-New-Project. It uses standard Windows audio APIs, so it does not insert a virtual driver into the audio chain. After installation, its tray icon opens a compact mixer with a slider for every active app.
What it does well
- Separate app levels: lower a game, browser, music player, or meeting app without changing the master volume.
- Per-app output selection: move one app to headphones while another remains on speakers. This is useful for sending a call to a headset while music continues through a monitor or receiver.
- Low-risk installation: no extra audio driver and no reboot are required.
- Familiar workflow: it exposes controls Windows already supports instead of replacing the Windows sound system.
How to route an app to another device
- Connect and enable the target device in Windows, such as a USB headset, Bluetooth headphones, monitor, or dock.
- Start the app whose audio you want to move. Windows generally lists only active apps in the mixer.
- Open EarTrumpet from the notification area.
- Find the app, adjust its slider, and choose the desired output device from that app’s device selector.
- Play audio for a few seconds. If the app does not move immediately, pause and resume playback or restart the app so it reopens its audio stream.
EarTrumpet is the strongest answer to questions such as how to control each app separately or how to send one app to headphones while leaving another on speakers. It is less suitable if you need persistent profiles, automated changes, or a hotkey that cycles every device.
Rank #2
- 【IP68 Waterproof Multifunctinal Smart Watch】Torjalph fitness activity tracker smart watch is IP68 waterproof technology ,you can wear it when swimming,handwashing,it's rain-proof which means that you perform multiple exercise modes outside without worrying about sweat or rain corroding your fitness smart watch,and this watch equipped with a 230 mAh large capacity battery magnetic charging ,and this sports activity tracker watch can be used 5-7 days If fully charged.
- 【Larger 1.83'' Full Screen Watch & Multi-dial Selection】1.83 inch full HD color touch screen smart watch for men / women provides excellent 240*284 resolution image quality ,This Bluetooth smart watch offers a better touch experience and remarkable immersion and ,more than 200 watch faces for you to choose from App"Da Fit ", you can change the dial style according to your mood to wear keeping the world on your wrist
- 【Accurate Activity Tracker Smart Watch 】sports watch activity tracker uses sweat and dust resistant breathable silicone strap, our Fitness Tracker Smart Watch for Android iOS Phones supports 12 sports modes,walking,running,bicycle,swimming,badminton,basketball,football,rope skipping. This bluetooth calls smart watch for men women is lightweight and stylish, bringing more convenient and relaxing sports experience while also providing more protection.
- 【Your 24 Hour Personal Daily Health Monitor】Fitness watch for women men full touch screen IP67 waterproof bluetooth smartwatch for Android iOS Phones with heart rate blood pressure monitor multifunction Andriod smart watch with steps counter sleep monitor sports fitness watch, monitoring blood oxygen saturation allows you to understand your physical condition in real time to track fitness progress ,to know your health status in time.
- 【More Functions Bluetooth Call Smart Watch】This fitness activity smart watch full screen for iPhone and Android phones includes a bunch of new features including:The bluetooth smart watch can hang up the phone, receive and display WhatsAPP /Text /Facebook /Twitter /Messenger reminder.Support sedentary reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer,weather information,music control, remote camera control compatible with Android 5.0 and above or iOS 9.0 and above smartphones.
BetterTrumpet: profiles and automation for power users
BetterTrumpet is a free, open-source mixer for Windows 10 and 11. Its FAQ states that it supports Windows 10 version 1803 and newer, as well as Windows 11, and is available as both an installer and a portable build.
Why choose it instead of a basic tray mixer?
- Reusable profiles: save different arrangements for work calls, games, speakers, or a headset rather than rebuilding sliders manually.
- Persistent hard mute: keep an app muted even when its volume state would otherwise be restored by Windows.
- Media controls: control playback without opening the player.
- Themes and undo/redo: customize the interface and recover from an accidental change.
- Command-line interface: connect audio changes to scripts, launchers, or other automation.
The extra capability comes with a denser interface and more decisions. Spend time naming profiles clearly and decide which device should be the fallback when a headset is disconnected. A profile that points to a device that is no longer present can leave an app silent until you select a valid output again.
A practical profile workflow
- Create a clean baseline with your normal speakers, microphone, and preferred app levels.
- Save it as a general profile before experimenting.
- Create a separate profile for a call, game, or recording session and assign each app to its intended output.
- Test the profile with every app running. Some applications create their audio session only after playback starts.
- Use the undo function immediately if a change affects the wrong session, then save the corrected profile.
Choose BetterTrumpet when remembering and restoring a setup is more important than having the smallest possible control panel. It remains less invasive than a virtual mixer because it does not require an additional audio driver or reboot.
SoundSwitch: the easiest device hotkeys
SoundSwitch is a free, open-source tray utility built around fast device changes. Its project documentation describes global hotkeys for cycling playback and recording devices, per-app rules, profiles, and configurable notifications. The documented default shortcuts are:
Rank #3
- [Low Noise High Fidelity] New bee guitar cord with 22AWG oxygen-free-copper center conductors provides enhanced signal transfer, the PVC insulation material and the high-density stranded copper double shield provide noise rejection for quiet operation
- [Ideal for Choice] New bee 1/4 straight and right angle metal connectors, ensures a secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. L shape great fro on stage guitar stands
- [Wide Compatible] Suitable for mixer, power amplifier, microphone, effector, decoder, equalizer, electoronic organ, electric guitar, electric bass and other electronic equipments. Widely used in the installation of smart home, karaoke speaker, professional stage audio, etc
- [Easy Disassemble] Making incidental repairs quick and easy! Very nice, flexible cable
- [Dont Hesite to Order] 24 hours customer services and professional technology team are standing by
| Action | Default shortcut | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle playback devices | Ctrl + Alt + F11 | Moves output to the next enabled playback device |
| Cycle recording devices | Ctrl + Alt + F7 | Moves input to the next enabled recording device |
| Mute microphone | Ctrl + Alt + M | Toggles the selected microphone mute state |
Set up a reliable switching sequence
- Enable only the playback and recording devices you actually use. Removing unused HDMI, virtual, or disconnected entries keeps the cycle predictable.
- Open SoundSwitch settings and review the hotkeys. Change them if another application already captures the defaults.
- Arrange or select the device order so the next press goes where you expect.
- Turn on notifications if you need confirmation while switching during a call or game.
- Use per-app rules or profiles when a particular program should always prefer a certain device.
SoundSwitch is the focused answer to the question of switching headphones, speakers, microphones, or a dock with one keystroke. It is not a replacement for a full per-app mixer: use EarTrumpet or BetterTrumpet when individual application sliders are your main requirement.
Voicemeeter Banana: advanced virtual routing
Voicemeeter Banana is the option for a streaming desk, multiple microphones, Discord/game separation, or other routing that needs several independent buses. VB-Audio lists version 2.1.2.2, dated December 12, 2025, with five inputs, five outputs, two VAIO virtual input/output buses, an eight-channel recorder, VBAN networking, and compressor, gate, and limiter processing. The download instructions require running setup as administrator and rebooting afterward.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat the virtual mixer adds
- Combine physical microphones, headsets, line inputs, and software sources in one console.
- Send different mixes to headphones, speakers, a stream, a recorder, or another computer.
- Use processing such as compression, gating, and limiting before a signal reaches an output.
- Use VBAN networking to exchange audio between compatible machines on a network.
Voicemeeter’s virtual drivers become new Windows playback and recording endpoints. That is powerful, but it changes the path every application uses. You must understand which Windows default device, application output, virtual bus, and physical output are connected; one incorrect assignment can produce silence, an echo, or a feedback loop.
Install and test without creating a feedback loop
- Download the current Banana package from VB-Audio and run setup as administrator.
- Restart Windows when the installer requests it. The virtual endpoints are not fully available until the driver is loaded.
- Choose a physical hardware output for the main bus before routing microphones.
- Set one test application to a Voicemeeter virtual input and confirm that its meter moves.
- Send that bus to headphones or speakers and verify you hear the signal once, not twice.
- Add a microphone only after playback works. Keep monitoring disabled on paths that would send the microphone back into itself.
- Save a known-good configuration before adding streaming, recording, or network buses.
The user manual calls the licensing model Simple donationware: all functions are available, while users are asked to pay when the software is useful or used professionally. Its complexity and reboot requirement make it excessive for simply lowering a browser or changing a headset.
Rank #4
- Digital Family Calendar: BSIMB digital calendar wall touch screen puts an end to your chaotic life. Designed for busy families, the digital calendar keeps you organised and in step with your family. Assign different colours and tasks to each family member to make family scheduling easier and more intuitive.
- Easy Setup and Auto-Sync: Plug in, connect to WLAN and auto-syn your electric calendar in minutes. Digital wall calendar compatible with Google calendar, iCloud calendar, Outlook calendar, Cozi calendar and Yahoo calendar. Add events directly on the device or through the ecalendar app. Electronic calendar stays current whether you're at work or traveling—no manual updates needed.
- All-In-One Home Assistant: Smart calendar builds habits and encourage independence with personalised chores. Display daily meal plan to reduce the daily ‘What's for dinner?’ stress. To-do lists keep track of everything you want. Turning chores into valuable achievements with stars and rewards, making life easier and more enjoyable.
- Manage Anytime Anywhere: BSIMB electronic calendar for family stay connected with the powerful ecalendar app. Access and manage your digital wall calendar anytime, anywhere with free features like stars & rewards, photo screensaver, chore charts, meals plans, to-do lists etc. Electronic planner paid features like Magic Import tailor advanced tools for users with special needs.
- Stay in Touch with Loved Ones: Share photos or videos from your phone to electronic wall calendar with app, instantly update your life moment, and keep in touch with your family, especially those who are far away; you can also surprise your smart calendar digital wall by sending him a wish card; it's also great for keeping tech-illiterate elders in touch with the youngsters.
How to choose by the problem you have
You want per-app volume in the tray
Install EarTrumpet. It is the shortest path from the Windows mixer’s controls to a practical daily workflow, with no driver changes.
You repeatedly switch complete setups
Use BetterTrumpet. Profiles and automation remove the repetitive work of assigning outputs and levels for calls, games, work, and speakers.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →You need a keyboard shortcut for headphones or a microphone
Use SoundSwitch. Its purpose is cycling playback and recording devices quickly, with visible notifications and configurable rules.
You need several independent mixes
Use Voicemeeter Banana only when virtual buses, processing, networking, or separate stream and monitor feeds justify installing a driver and rebooting.
You only change volume occasionally
Stay with Windows Volume mixer. A third-party utility is not automatically better if opening Settings a few times a week solves the problem.
Troubleshooting app audio
System sounds work but one app is silent
- Open Windows Volume mixer and confirm the app is not muted or set to zero.
- Check that the app’s selected output is a connected device rather than an unplugged headset or monitor.
- Close and reopen the app so Windows creates a fresh audio session.
- Restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services, then test again.
- Update the audio device driver if the app remains silent while other applications work.
These are Microsoft’s recommended recovery steps for the specific case in which system sounds work but an individual app does not.
Recommended Free Tools
A device does not appear in the list
- Reconnect the USB or dock device and check whether Windows detects it in Sound settings.
- Enable disconnected or disabled devices in the classic sound control panel if the hardware is hidden.
- For Bluetooth, confirm that the connected profile is an audio profile rather than a data-only connection.
- After installing Voicemeeter, reboot before diagnosing missing virtual endpoints.
The hotkey does nothing
Another application may already own the key combination. Change the SoundSwitch shortcut, confirm that SoundSwitch is running in the notification area, and test with a simple text editor or browser window. If a game runs with elevated permissions, run the utility at a compatible permission level or use a shortcut that the game does not capture.
The sound is delayed, doubled, or echoing
Virtual routing can introduce monitoring paths that play the same source twice. In Voicemeeter, inspect every bus and hardware output, mute duplicate routes, and avoid sending a microphone to a bus that is also feeding its own input. Bluetooth devices can add their own latency; switching to a wired output is the quickest way to determine whether the delay is caused by the device rather than the mixer.
Privacy, maintenance, and safety considerations
EarTrumpet, BetterTrumpet, and SoundSwitch use Windows’ normal audio-session and device APIs; they do not need a kernel-level virtual audio layer for their core functions. Voicemeeter is different because its virtual drivers become part of the operating system’s audio path. Install it only from VB-Audio’s official distribution, keep a working physical output available, and record your original Windows default-device choices before changing them.
Keep utilities updated when Windows changes its audio stack, but do not update during a live broadcast or important meeting. Export or note working profiles, hotkeys, and device order first. If a utility causes trouble, disable it from startup, restore a physical Windows output, and uninstall its driver through Apps or Device Manager before testing the built-in mixer again.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Final recommendation
Install EarTrumpet first if you want a free, open-source, tray-based volume mixer with per-app output routing. Choose BetterTrumpet for profiles, persistent mute, media controls, themes, undo/redo, and automation. Choose SoundSwitch when a single keystroke for playback or recording devices is the priority. Choose Voicemeeter Banana for genuine multi-input, multi-output virtual mixing, accepting its driver installation and required reboot. If none of those workflows applies, Windows’ built-in Volume mixer already handles separate app volume and output selection without installing anything.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
