Microsoft has completly revamped volume control settings on Windows 11 22H2. You can easily manage system volume from the quick settings menu. Even now it’s easier to switch and choose sound output devices. Yes, you can even mute system volume by clicking on the speaker icon in the quick settings menu. But, instead of the mouse, it’s easier to mute system volume using Keyboard Shortcut.
These days almost all Laptop Keyboard comes with a dedicated Mute button. But, if you have built a custom PC, then your Keyboard might lack such an option. Or, you can find the Mute button in Function Keys. Like, on my Keyboard F4 is the system volume mute key. And, I have to press Fn + F4 to mute the output sound on Windows 11.
However, if your keyboard lacks such a shortcut key, you still have options. You can create a custom keyboard shortcut to Mute System Volume. Here are multiple ways to do so.
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Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Mute System Volume
Method 1: Create a Keyboard Shortcut for the Volume Mixer
In Windows, you can trigger any application using a Keyboard Shortcut. So, we will first create a Volume Mixer desktop shortcut. And, after that, we will assign a keyboard shortcut to access it. Once, the Volume Mixer gets open you can press End Key to Mute the system volume.
Yes, in Windows 11 Microsoft integrated Volume Mixer inside the Settings App. But, we will access the old Windows 7 Volume Mixer using Custom Desktop Shortcut.
- Right-click on the Windows 11 desktop and from the context menu, select New > Shortcut.
- Create a Shortcut Window will now get open. It will ask you to “type the location of the item”. Here we will enter the following volume mixer location.
C:\Windows\System32\SndVol.exe -T 76611119 0
- Next, It will ask you to Enter the name of the Shortcut. You can type “Mute Volume” and Click on Finish.
- You will now see a Mute Volume shortcut on the desktop with a speaker icon. Do Right-click on it and then click on properties.
- Shortcut Settings page will get open. In the shortcut key field, enter your desired custom Keyboard Shortcut. And, click on ok.
e.g. – I have pressed the End Key, so now my custom keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + Alt + End.
Note: Make sure the Shortcut key you enter doesn’t conflict with Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Now press the Keyboard Shortcut you created to open Volume Mixer. And, once it gets open, press the End key to Mute. (Make sure you’re not on a desktop else the Keyboard shortcut will not work. Use both shortcuts while any app is open.)
So, that’s how you can Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Mute Windows 11 System Audio.
Method 2: Use AutoHotKey to Create a Mute Shortcut
If you don’t want to rely on Volume Mixer to mute system volume. Then, with the help of AutoHotKey, you can create a custom shortcut to manage Windows Audio. AutoHotkey is a free and open-source custom scripting language for Windows. It was initially designed to create custom keyboard shortcuts. Now, it also allows creating fast macro-creation and software automation. You can do so much with AutoHotKey. For now, let’s create custom volume controls shortcut keys with it.
- Download the latest version of AutoHotKey (2.0) from its official website.
- Run the AutoHotKey setup file and do install it on your Windows 11 Computer.
- Once, AutoHotKey gets installed, open it and do click on New Script.
Alternatively, you can right-click on the desktop and then click on New > AutoHotKey Script.
- Enter “Mute” in the AutoHotKey Script name and select the “Minimal for v2” option. Click on Create.
- You will now see an AutoHotKey file with the Mute name on your desktop.
- Right-click on it and click on Show More Options. After that, click on Edit Script.
- Notepad will get open, now copy and paste the following script into Notepad. And, after that, click on File > Save.
#8::Volume_Down
#9::Volume_Up
#0::Volume_Mute
- That’s it, now right-click on the Mute Script and click on Open.
- Now, you can mute Windows 11 system volume by pressing Windows + 0 key. Similarly, you can use the following shortcuts.
Volume Down - Windows + 8
Volume Up - Windows + 9
Volume Mute - Windows + 0- Yes, you can change these shortcuts by replacing 8,9,0 with other numbers. You can check all syntax by opening the Help page of AutoHotKey. Go to AutoHotKey > Help files (F1) > Usage and Syntax > List of Keys.
Add Mute Script to Startup Folder.
Every time you restart Windows, the Mute script will get terminated and shortcut keys will not work. So, by movies Mute AutoHotScript to the Startup folder you can fix this issue. Also, don’t uninstall AutoHotKey software.
- To open Startup Folder, Press Windows + R key. Once the run window gets opened type the following line in it and click on ok.
shell:common startup- The startup folder will get open in File Explorer. Now, move the Mute AutoScript file to that folder.
That’s it, now your custom shortcuts will work without any hassle. So, that’s how you can Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Mute System Volume.
Method 3: Create Keyboard Shortcut using 3RVX
3RVX is a free and open-source Skinnable volume controller and OSD Tool. That supports various hotkeys controls. With this simple tool, you can create a keyboard shortcut to Mute System Volume.
- Download the latest version of the 3RVX setup file from its official website.
- Once the setup file gets downloaded, run it as administrator and install 3RVX on your Windows PC.
- Open 3RVX App, and you will see a speaker icon in the system tray. Do right-click on it and click on Settings.
- 3RVX settings window will get open. From the General tab enable the “Run on Windows Startup” option. Click on Apply.
- After that, click on Hotkeys and click on the + icon.
- In the Action field, do select the “Mute” option from the drop-down menu. And, click on Keys.
- Now do press the Shortcut key that you want to set to Mute the Volume. I have pressed Windows + 0 key.
- Click on Apply. That’s it, now you can press the shortcut key that you have set to Mute the Output Audio.
Okay, so these were the three free methods to create a custom shortcut to mute the output audio of Windows. Yes, still there are a few other apps available that you can use. But, these are the free apps that you can try. Or, you can use Windows native feature to create shortcuts. If you know any other better method, let me know in the comment section.