How to turn Change Adaptive Communication Sound Levels in Windows 11

Adaptive Communication Sound Levels in Windows 11 automatically lowers background music or game audio by up to 80% when you join a voice call in apps like Zoom or Discord. This built-in feature keeps conversations clear so you do not have to change your main volume slider manually every time.

Sound settings let you turn off this automatic volume drop if you prefer your music or games to stay at the same loudness during a chat. You can find and change this option with just a few clicks in the main Settings app ⚙️.

Option 1Using Windows Settings

You can disable adaptive sound through the Windows Settings ⚙️ app if you want your computer to stop changing your volume automatically during calls. Open Settings ⚙️ by pressing the Win and the I key together, then go to System and Sound to turn off the feature. This stops Windows from messing with your listening levels without your permission.

1. Open Settings. You can do this by pressing the Win and the I key together on your keyboard.
2. In Settings, click on System in the left-hand menu. Then, on the right side, click on Sound.
3. Look for the Output section. You will see a setting called Adaptive communication sound levels. Click the drop-down menu next to it.
4. Here’s what happens to other sounds when you’re on a call:

   • Mute all: All other sounds will be completely silenced.
   • Reduce by 80%: This is the default setting. Other sounds will become much quieter.
   • Reduce by 50%: Other sounds will be reduced by half.
   • Do nothing: Windows will not change the volume of other sounds.
5. Once you’ve made your choice, you can close the Settings ⚙️ window.

Option 2Using the Windows Registry Editor

You can disable adaptive sound using the Registry Editor (a tool storing Windows low-level settings) if the standard menu does not show the option. Press the Win and the R key together, type regedit, and press Enter to open the tool. Go to 🗝️HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoftcopy to find and change the right key to stop automatic volume shifts.

This method is useful when the standard Settings option is unavailable or if users prefer advanced tool usage. The Registry Editor's database holds these critical configurations for Windows.

1. First, you need to open the Registry Editor. Press the Win and type regedit. Then, click on Registry Editor when it appears in the search 🔍 results. You might be asked for administrator permission; click Yes.
2. Navigate to the following location in the Registry Editor. You can type this path directly into the address bar at the top.
   

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Communications

3. Look for a value named SmartVolume.UserDuckingPreference. If it doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it.

Summary

This guide shows you how to control how Windows 11 adjusts sound levels during calls, letting you choose whether other sounds are muted, lowered, or left alone.