If your speakers or headphones sound louder on one side than the other, Windows 11 includes a built-in tool that lets you adjust the left and right audio balance. By default, it's always set to an even 50/50 split, but if your audio device isn't working as well as it once did or your hearing isn't as good on one side as the other, you can manually adjust this balance until you find the perfect fit. So follow along as we guide you through the steps.
Takeaways:
- Is there a way to manually change the sound coming out of different speakers on Windows 11?
- Change the balance of audio from individual sound devices on Windows 11.
Table of Contents
What's the point of Changing Audio Balance on Windows 11?
Audio balance controls are pretty handy to have, especially if one speaker produces louder sound than the other, your speakers are positioned oddly around your house, or your headphones just have uneven audio output.
This feature can also be helpful if you have different levels of hearing in each ear. Since an oddly high number of people naturally hear slightly better in one ear than the other, adjusting the left and right balance sliders can help compensate for that difference.
Slightly off topic, but there's also an option to play audio from multiple devices, which is something you might find quite handy as well.
How to Change Audio Balance Levels on Windows 11
The quickest way to adjust audio balance is through the Windows 11 Settings app. The feature is buried kinda deep, so it's easy to miss.
- Open Settings.
- Click System.
- Select Sound.
- Under the Output section, choose the speakers or headphones you want to adjust.
- Click Volume or open the device settings.
- Adjust the Left channel and Right channel sliders to change the balance.
By default, Windows typically sets both channels to the same level, usually 100. Lowering the Left channel reduces the volume coming from the left side, while lowering the Right channel reduces the volume coming from the right side.
For example, if your right ear hears better than your left ear, you can slightly lower the right channel or increase the left channel to make the audio feel more balanced. The best setting depends on your device and personal hearing preferences, so small adjustments may provide the best results.
Change audio balance using Control Panel
If you absolutely hate the Settings app and still prefer to do things via the Control Panel (me too), here are the steps.
- Open Control Panel.
- Click Hardware and Sound.
- Select Sound.
- Choose your speakers or headphones from the list.
- Click Properties.
- Open the Levels tab.
- Click the Balance button.
- Adjust the L and R sliders to change the left and right audio levels.
- Click OK.
- Click Apply, then click OK again.
Adjust Balance Separately for Each Audio Device
Windows 11 saves audio balance settings separately for each playback device. Which menas means your adjustments for one pair of headphones or speakers will not automatically apply to another pair.
For example, if you adjust the balance for Bluetooth earbuds, you may need to configure the settings again when switching to external speakers, a different headset, or another audio device.
This might sound annoying, but trust me! There's nothing worse than making a change that is universal when you semi-regularly switch between devices.
