In another episode of "Microsoft doesn't know what to do with the Windows interface", many users discovered that the classic volume mixer was "retired" and replaced by a rather uncomfortable menu within the Settings section in Windows 11. The good news is that the original executable is still kept in the operating system folder. If you want to know how to restore the classic volume mixer in Windows 11, this open-source app will help you.
Microsoft makes a change in Windows. Microsoft says that "it's the best thing for the user". Users find the change awful and ask for it to be removed. Microsoft says "it can't be done". Users prove otherwise.
Sounds familiar? Of course it does. We've been trapped in this perverse dance for more than 25 years that seems to have no end. Today we're already satisfied with implementing any solution (regardless of what Microsoft thinks about it), and this time it's about the volume mixer in Windows 11. Microsoft replaced the traditional tool with controls buried in a menu within the Settings section, but the original executable hasn't gone anywhere. If you prefer to restore the classic volume mixer, keep reading.
How to restore the volume mixer with Classic Volume Mixer
With the presence of the .exe file in the System32 folder (we're talking about sndvol.exe), any user can create shortcuts or pins in the taskbar to access the old mixer, but what Classic Volume Mixer does is offer a more convenient way to run it, placing an icon in the system tray. Its developer recommends creating a copy of Classic Volume Mixer directly in the startup folder. To do this, open the run box (Win+R), type shell:startup, and drop the executable into the window that just opened. The next time you restart your computer, an icon representing the classic volume mixer will appear.
The only detail is that now there are two speaker icons in the tray, and as far as I've been able to find out, it's impossible to hide the volume control in Windows 11. Finally, SmartScreen has some things to say about Classic Volume Mixer, but on its official GitHub profile we find the latest VirusTotal scan with a perfect score.
Official site and download: Click here
