Solve Windows 10 volume bar stuck on the screen with these 4 steps
Some users have stated in forum posts that their volume bars get stuck at the top left of the screen when they press volume keys. The volume bar can get stuck at 0% or 100% maximum audio. Thus, users will either get stuck with no audio or max volume. These are a few potential resolutions for fixing stuck volume bars.
Check out these solutions for the stuck volume bar
- Restart Windows and Adjust the Volume via the Audio Device’s Properties Window
- Unplug the Keyboard
- Reinstall the Sound Drivers
- Open the Playing Audio Troubleshooter
1. Restart Windows and Adjust the Volume via the Audio Device’s Properties Window
One way users have fixed a stuck volume bar at 0% is to restart Windows and then raise audio via the sound device’s properties window. The volume bar disappears from the top left of the desktop after restarting Windows. Then users can restore the audio from the Levels tab on the audio device’s properties window. Follow the guidelines below to do that.
- First, restart Windows to get rid of the stuck volume bar.
- Thereafter, right-click the Speakers icon on the system tray and select Sounds.
- Select the Playback tab shown directly below.
- Then right-click the active audio device and select Properties.
- Select the ‘Levels’ tab on the properties window.
- Then drag the volume bar right to raise the audio. Note that the audio bar will drop down again if users do not restart Windows first.
2. Unplug the Keyboard
The stuck volume bar can be due to the volume keyboard key getting stuck. Some (desktop) users have confirmed they’ve fixed the issue by unplugging their keyboards and then plugging them back in again about a minute later. Of course, this resolution won’t be any good for laptops; but it works for desktops nonetheless.
3. Reinstall the Sound Drivers
The stuck volume bar can also be due to audio drivers. Some users have stated that they’ve fixed the issue by uninstalling sound drivers. This is how users can uninstall audio drivers in Windows 10.
- Right-click the Start button and select Run.
- Enter ‘devmgmt.msc’ in Run’s Open box and click OK to open Device Manager.
- Double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand that category.
- Right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device.
- Press the Uninstall button to confirm.
- Users can reinstall the audio drivers by selecting the Scan for hardware changes option.
- Then restart Windows.
4. Open the Playing Audio Troubleshooter
- Some users have also said that the Playing Audio troubleshooter can come in handy for fixing stuck volume bars. To open that troubleshooter, enter ‘Control Panel’ in Run and click OK.
- Then click Troubleshooting to open the Control Panel applet shown below.
- Click View all on the left of the window.
- Then click Playing Audio to open the window in the snapshot below.
- Click Advanced to select the Apply repairs automatically option.
- Press the Next button.
A stuck volume bar in Windows is often a keyboard hardware issue. If the above resolutions don’t fix it, users should consider returning laptops or desktops, which are still within warranty periods, to their manufacturers for repairs. Alternatively, desktop users can also get new replacement keyboards if they can’t get warranty repairs.
RELATED ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT: