What is volume key shortcut?
What are volume keys?
Volume keys are special function keys located on most computer keyboards that allow users to quickly adjust the audio volume output without having to go through system settings. They typically have icons like speaker symbols or up/down arrows printed on them to indicate their functionality.
On a Windows PC, the common volume keys include F11 to decrease volume, F12 to increase volume, and F10 to mute/unmute. Pressing the volume keys triggers system commands to raise or lower the volume, similar to clicking on the speaker icon in the system tray. Many laptops require pressing the Fn key along with the F11/F12 keys to activate the volume control since they share keys with other functions.
Volume keys provide a convenient way to control the sound level without interrupting workflow to change settings manually. Their placement on the keyboard allows users to easily adjust audio for music, videos, games, and other applications as needed. However, some keyboards may not have dedicated volume keys, in which case external programs or keyboard remapping may be required to enable volume control shortcuts.
Common volume key shortcuts
Many keyboards have dedicated volume keys or key combinations to control the system volume. The most common volume key shortcuts are:
- Fn + F6 – Mute/unmute audio
- Fn + F7 – Volume down
- Fn + F8 – Volume up
- F10, F11, F12 – Volume down, mute, volume up (on some keyboards)
The Fn key plus F6, F7, F8 combinations are found on most laptops and many desktop keyboards. Pressing them will adjust the master system volume up, down or toggle mute on/off. The Function key acts as a modifier to activate the special volume functions of the F keys.
Some desktop keyboards have dedicated volume keys at F10, F11 and F12 for volume down, mute and volume up respectively. This provides easy access without pressing the Fn key.
The exact shortcuts may vary across keyboards, but Fn plus the top F keys and/or dedicated volume keys in the function key row are very common. Check your keyboard legend to find the specific volume key shortcuts.
Adjusting the Volume
Volume keys allow you to easily turn the system volume up or down on Windows devices like desktops, laptops, and tablets.
To turn the volume up, press the Fn + F9 keys at the same time. This will increase the volume incrementally with each keypress. According to Digital Citizen, the F9 key is commonly used for raising volume, though some devices may use other function keys like F10 or F11.
To turn the volume down, press the Fn + F7 keys at the same time. This will decrease the volume incrementally with each keypress. The F7 key is the most common volume down shortcut, though F6 or others may be used on some keyboards.
The mute shortcut is commonly Fn + F8. Pressing this will toggle mute on and off. The mute state typically activates an audio icon onscreen to indicate the sound is off.
The exact volume key shortcuts may vary depending on the device manufacturer. Refer to your keyboard’s documentation to verify which keys serve as dedicated volume controls.
Mute/Unmute with Volume Keys
One of the most common uses of dedicated volume keys is to quickly mute or unmute your device’s audio output. This can be done through keyboard shortcuts that use the volume keys.
On Windows devices, holding the Ctrl + Shift keys while pressing the volume down key will toggle muting on or off (source). Specifically, Ctrl + Shift + Volume Down will mute the audio, while Ctrl + Shift + Volume Up will unmute it. This provides a quick and easy way to mute your system audio if needed.
Similar shortcuts exist on other operating systems as well. For example, on Mac OS, holding the Option key while pressing Volume Up toggles muting (source). So the Option + Volume Up shortcut can mute and unmute the audio.
These mute/unmute shortcuts are very useful for quickly silencing audio when needed without having to dig into software settings. The ability to instantly toggle muting on and off simply by pressing dedicated keys makes volume keys a valuable tool for managing system audio.
Volume controls on different devices
The keyboards on different devices handle volume control in slightly different ways. Here’s an overview of using volume keys on the most common operating systems and devices:
On Windows computers, most keyboards have dedicated volume keys, often indicated by icons like a speaker or volume bars. Pressing these keys raises or lowers system volume. Many Windows keyboards also have a mute key to instantly mute audio.
Windows laptops often require pressing the Fn key plus F2/F3 to raise or lower volume, and Fn+F1 to mute. Some laptops have dedicated volume keys that work on their own without the Fn key.1
Mac keyboards have sound control keys for raising, lowering, and muting volume. Press F12 to raise and F11 to lower volume. F10 is the mute toggle key.2
On Linux, volume control shortcuts depend on the desktop environment, but often involve Fn+F11/F12 or special multimedia keys. Mute is typically Fn+F10.
Desktop computers usually have dedicated volume keys since space is less constrained. Laptops require more use of the Fn key due to their compact layout.
Customizing Volume Shortcuts
You can customize the default volume key shortcuts on your keyboard in the system settings to better suit your needs. Both Windows 10 and 11 allow you to change the default shortcuts to increase/decrease volume or mute.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > System > Sound and scroll down to “Keyboard shortcuts for volume.” Click on the dropdown next to the shortcut commands like “Decrease volume” to change the key combo. For example, you could change Decrease volume from F9 to Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow if that’s easier for you to press (Source).
Similarly in Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Sound and scroll down to “Keyboard.” Under “Change keyboard shortcuts for volume,” click on the shortcut keys and press your desired new shortcut to customize it. Mute could become Ctrl + Shift + M, for instance (Source).
This allows you to set volume controls that are more natural or convenient based on your keyboard layout and personal preference.
Hardware limitations
Some older keyboards may lack dedicated volume control keys. This is especially true of keyboards made before the early 2000s, when dedicated multimedia keys became more common.
Certain budget keyboards also tend to omit volume control keys to save costs. So there are limitations in terms of which keyboards have the hardware capability for volume control shortcuts.
Additionally, while most modern keyboards have volume controls, the specific keys can vary. For example, some have a dedicated numeric keypad with volume controls, while others integrate the shortcuts into the F1-F12 keys. The placement of the volume control keys is not always standardized across keyboards.
There can also be limitations in terms of the functionality provided by different volume key hardware. Some keyboards may allow muting/unmuting but not direct volume up/down control. The volume increment on each press of a volume key can vary as well.
Overall, having dedicated and easy-to-access volume keys on a keyboard is subject to hardware limitations. Not all keyboards are created equal when it comes to hardware access to volume control shortcuts.
Software limitations
In some cases, volume keys may not work properly due to software issues rather than hardware problems. Some common software-related causes include:
Driver conflicts – Outdated, buggy or incompatible drivers can prevent volume keys from being detected properly. Reinstalling or updating audio drivers may resolve this.
App control – Some applications take exclusive control of volume levels and override system volume controls. Closing the app may restore normal functionality.
OS issues – Volume keys may stop working due to Windows bugs, outdated versions or corrupted system files. Updating Windows or restoring system files can help.
Keyboard software – Specialized keyboard software like Logitech’s SetPoint may override built-in volume controls. Changing settings in the keyboard software could enable volume keys again.
Shortcut conflicts – If other shortcuts are assigned to the same key combo as volume control, it may prevent the volume function from working properly.
Accessibility settings – Enabled accessibility services like ToggleKeys can block volume control shortcuts. Disabling unnecessary accessibility services may resolve this.
While software issues are often easier to troubleshoot than hardware failures, pinpointing the exact cause can still be challenging at times. Methodically testing different solutions and isolating variables is key to resolving volume key problems due to software limitations.
Troubleshooting Issues
Some of the most common issues that can cause volume keys to not work properly include outdated drivers, keyboard connectivity problems, and corrupted system files. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to try if your keyboard volume keys have stopped working:
First, check for driver updates. Outdated keyboard drivers can prevent the volume keys from registering properly. Visit your laptop or keyboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver update. For Windows keyboards, you can also check for updates in the Device Manager [1].
If the keyboard is external or wireless, try disconnecting and reconnecting it or inserting the wireless USB receiver into a different port. This can reset the connection and get the volume keys working again. Also check for low battery on wireless keyboards [2].
Finally, corrupted system files can sometimes break volume key functionality. Running the System File Checker tool in Windows can scan for and replace corrupted files, potentially fixing volume key issues in the process.
Alternatives to hardware keys
If your device’s hardware volume keys are broken or not functioning, there are some alternative options to control the volume.
On-screen volume controls
Many Android devices allow adjusting volume through on-screen sliders in the Settings app. Open Settings and go to Sound & vibration > Volume to find these controls. Some devices also have quick settings tiles or pop-ups to change volume levels without accessing Settings. Apps like Volume Control add an on-screen volume slider overlay as well.
External devices
You can change volume using buttons on wired headphones, speakers, or other audio devices connected to your phone. Volume can also be controlled from Bluetooth headphones, car stereos, and other wireless audio devices paired to your phone.
Voice commands
Using voice commands is another option for volume control. Google Assistant and other voice assistants allow adjusting volume through voice prompts like “turn volume up/down”. Some accessibility services also have voice control features to change system volume.