Solved Help: Speakers not getting sound
- Thread starter heyyou
- Start date
I discovered a solution to this low volume issue different from the above posts.
My Surface Pro 3 has all the current Windows 8.1 updates. I started to experience speaker volume issues several months ago. Depending on the audio source sometimes the volume was fine, but other times I could barely hear anything. For example, the Netflix "app" worked fine, but Netflix on a browser had barely audible volume. But for most audio programs the volume was so low I could barely hear it. I checked all the volume controls and nothing seemed to help. But then, while I was poking around to see what could be the issue, I discovered the following:
I have Google Chrome installed. The standard mode for Chrome is a browser on the Windows Desktop. But, if you pick the settings icon (upper right), at the bottom of the pop-up list is an option to "Re-launch Chrome in Windows 8 mode". This makes Chrome full screen with a row of Google icons at the bottom left of the screen. But...on the right side at bottom is a digital clock. If you pick the clock a pop-up appears with a volume slider! This volume control was set to "zero". When I slide it to the right (full volume) it solved my volume issue for all other program volume issues! I don't think this volume control is accessible from the standard desktop Chrome browser mode.
Anyway my volume issue is solved...!
My Surface Pro 3 has all the current Windows 8.1 updates. I started to experience speaker volume issues several months ago. Depending on the audio source sometimes the volume was fine, but other times I could barely hear anything. For example, the Netflix "app" worked fine, but Netflix on a browser had barely audible volume. But for most audio programs the volume was so low I could barely hear it. I checked all the volume controls and nothing seemed to help. But then, while I was poking around to see what could be the issue, I discovered the following:
I have Google Chrome installed. The standard mode for Chrome is a browser on the Windows Desktop. But, if you pick the settings icon (upper right), at the bottom of the pop-up list is an option to "Re-launch Chrome in Windows 8 mode". This makes Chrome full screen with a row of Google icons at the bottom left of the screen. But...on the right side at bottom is a digital clock. If you pick the clock a pop-up appears with a volume slider! This volume control was set to "zero". When I slide it to the right (full volume) it solved my volume issue for all other program volume issues! I don't think this volume control is accessible from the standard desktop Chrome browser mode.
Anyway my volume issue is solved...!
Last edited:
Good question...I did a little experimenting. I think this is what I found so far.
The Google slider doesn't seem to appear in the mixer unless you are in the Chrome Windows 8 Mode.
In the Chrome Windows 8 mode the mixer shows the Google slider but it doesn't work.
You have to go to the Chrome Windows 8 mode to adjust.
It might default to the "zero" level after a restart...need to try more experimenting.
Clearly something not right with Chrome & Windows 8 volume interaction...
The Google slider doesn't seem to appear in the mixer unless you are in the Chrome Windows 8 Mode.
In the Chrome Windows 8 mode the mixer shows the Google slider but it doesn't work.
You have to go to the Chrome Windows 8 mode to adjust.
It might default to the "zero" level after a restart...need to try more experimenting.
Clearly something not right with Chrome & Windows 8 volume interaction...
I've just tried myself under windows 8.1, and desktop or win 8 mode, chrome appears in the volume mixer and the volume slider in the mixer changes chrome volume, and when in windows 8 mode in chrome, the mixer slider changes the chrome slider and they correspond. This is what I just experienced at least.
My chrome volume slider in win 8 mode was set at zero when I checked it, but it wasn't overriding the windows volume mixer and audio was just fine. When I then moved the chrome slider in 8 mode from 0 to 100, the moment I clicked the slider the volume went to 0 and then went up to 100 as I moved it. So for me the slider in chrome seems to be the iffy one.
My chrome volume slider in win 8 mode was set at zero when I checked it, but it wasn't overriding the windows volume mixer and audio was just fine. When I then moved the chrome slider in 8 mode from 0 to 100, the moment I clicked the slider the volume went to 0 and then went up to 100 as I moved it. So for me the slider in chrome seems to be the iffy one.
I'll join the club. Dinner service beckons.
