- 1). Look at your speakers and locate the volume control, if applicable. Not all speakers have these, but if present, the control will usually be on the right, front speaker. Turn the volume clockwise to increase volume.
- 2). Check the program you are using to play the audio files. There is usually a slider on the bottom that allows you to control volume. Sliding the marker toward the right will increase volume. This applies to software and browser embedded players as well.
- 3). Click "Start," "Control Panel" and click "Hardware and Sound." In the new window, click "Adjust system volume" under the "Sound" heading. You should see separate controls for each audio-enabled application running. Slide the marker for the appropriate program up increase volume. If the overall "Speakers" setting is too low, this will also increase it at the same time.
This procedure applies to Windows 7 and Vista. For earlier versions, there may only be one controller, accessible from the "Volume" tab of the "Sound menu" under "Control Panel." - 4). Look for a speaker icon in the system tray, usually in the lower right corner of the screen. Click or double-click to access. Some sound card drivers install their own proprietary audio controls, which may also affect volume. Windows also puts a speaker icon on the system tray, so you might end up just re-opening it. However, verify there is not another icon or that the Windows icon has not been replaced by a manufacturer-proprietary one by clicking it. Look for volume controls and adjust accordingly.
- 5). Look into alternative programs. Some software allows amplification of the audio output. The free VLC Player, for example, purports to increase audio up to 400%.
- 6). Invest in new speakers. If all else fails, perhaps the speakers are just too low-powered. This might well be the case with integrated laptop speakers. Look for higher-wattage speakers and plug them into the audio-out port.
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