Booster Volume

Why Is My Volume So Low?

Low volume has four possible locations: the file itself, the application playing it, the operating system, or the hardware. Identifying which one takes about two minutes and saves you from changing settings that were never the problem.

Narrow it down

  1. Is it only this file?

    Play something else — a different video, a different song. If everything else is fine, the recording is quiet at the source. No system setting fixes that; boost the file with the tool below.

  2. Is it only this application?

    On Windows, open the Volume Mixer and check the app's own level. Many applications also have an internal volume control that is independent of the system.

  3. Is it only this output device?

    Switch between speakers and headphones. Audio settings are per-device, so an enhancement enabled for one does nothing for the other.

  4. Is it everything, everywhere?

    Then it is system-wide: a master limit, a ducking setting, or a driver issue. Go to your platform page below.

The mistake that wastes the most time

People almost always start in the layer they know best. A developer reinstalls the audio driver; a musician goes hunting for an equalizer; someone else buys new headphones. Each is a reasonable action taken in the wrong place, and none of them touches a file that was simply recorded at a low level.

Changing one thing at a time and testing between changes is slower for about ninety seconds and faster after that. It also leaves you able to undo what you did, which matters when the eventual fix turns out to be a single checkbox somewhere you have not looked yet.

Boost the file

Boost a quiet fileAmplify a file with limiting, locally in your browser.

Drop an audio or video file here, or choose one. It is processed on your device and never uploaded.

Processed on your device — nothing is uploaded. Loud audio can damage hearing: lower your system volume before boosting, then raise it gradually.

Platform-specific fixes

Frequently asked questions

Why is my volume at 100% but still quiet?

Almost always something downstream of the master slider: per-app volume, a hearing-safety limit, communications ducking on Windows, or simply a quiet source recording.

Can low volume mean hardware failure?

It can. A gradual decline usually means debris in a grille or mesh. A sudden change on one channel suggests a cable or connector fault. Consistent quietness on every device points to the headphones or speakers themselves.

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