Headphones started being quiet in discord last night

Troubleshooting: Resolving Low Audio Volume in Headphones on Windows 11 During Voice Chat and Media Playback

If you’ve recently experienced a significant decrease in headphone volume during specific applications such as Discord and YouTube on your Windows 11 system, you’re not alone. Many users have encountered scenarios where system audio appears normal in some respects but is noticeably quiet during voice communication and media playback. This guide aims to help diagnose and resolve such issues effectively.

Understanding the Issue

In this particular situation, the user reports using a Bayer Dynamic MMX 300 Pro headset on Windows 11. Standard test tones and notification sounds are at expected volume levels, indicating that the hardware and basic system sound settings are functioning properly. However, during voice chat in Discord and some YouTube videos, the audio is markedly quiet—even when the volume is set to maximum. Interestingly, some videos seem slightly louder but exhibit poor audio quality, suggesting potential issues with audio processing or configuration.

Common Causes and Troubleshooting Steps

Verify Volume Mixer Settings
Access the volume mixer by right-clicking the speaker icon in the taskbar and selecting ‘Open Volume Mixer.’
Ensure that the volume levels for Discord, YouTube via browser, and system sounds are not muted or set very low.
Adjust individual sliders as needed to maximize audio output for the affected applications.
Check Application and System Sound Settings
Within Windows Settings, navigate to Settings > System > Sound.
Under ‘Output,’ confirm that your headphones are selected as the default device.
Click on ‘Advanced sound options’ or ‘App volume and device preferences’ to verify per-application volume levels.
Make sure that Discord and your browser (Microsoft Edge) have appropriate output devices assigned.
Inspect In-Application Settings
For Discord:
Open User Settings > Voice & Video.
Check the output device and volume levels.
Disable any noise suppression, echo cancellation, or auto-voice gain features temporarily to see if they influence volume.
For YouTube and Browser Audio:
Confirm that the browser’s tab is not muted or at low volume.
Test playback in different browsers to identify if the issue persists across platforms.
Update Drivers and Applications
Verify that your audio drivers are up to date. Visit the manufacturer’s website or use Windows Update to ensure proper driver versions.
Confirm that Discord is current; although no updates are available, reinstalling or resetting settings may help.
Consider updating Microsoft