topic How to stop volume from decreasing automatically when Spotify window is not active in Desktop (Windows)

How to stop volume from decreasing automatically when Spotify window is not active

keepawayfromlan — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:37:07 GMT

Hi,

I have installed Spotify version 1.0.74.380.g1fcff12aI in Windows 10 and whenever I switch from Spotify window to any other window (for example: chrome), volume starts to decrease automatically. So, whenever Spotify window is not active, the volume decreases and if I bring back Spotify window to the foreground the volume increases.

How can I deactivate this feauture? I' ve looked in the Settings and there is nothing relevant to it.

Thank you

Re: How to stop volume from decreasing automatically when Spotify window is not active

Sebasty — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 15:57:02 GMT

Hey @keepawayfromlan

This sounds like a setting from Windows itself that might cause that. I suggest you to look up both of these:

First setting

1. Click on the speaker icon on the taskbar (near the clock)

2. On the opened volume slider click the speaker (or headphones) icon. You should see a small window named "Speaker Properties".

3. Go to 'Enhancements' and tick the box saying "Disable all sound effects".
4. If there is any other setting for Dolby or something in other tabs, disable those too.

5. Click OK.

One more setting:

1. Search for Sound. You can also right-click on the speaker icon on Taskbar and select 'Sounds'.

You should see a slightly smaller window named 'Sound'.

2. Go to 'Communications' tab and set Windows to 'do nothing'.

3. Click OK.

It's generally advised to disable these settings anyway to keep optimal sound performance. 🙂

Note: If you have a soundcard that's not a usual one (dedicated card or even external), you might need to look into the 'control panels' or preference apps coming with them (Sonic Studio with Asus, for exaple). However, the Communications setting is universal and needs to be turned off anyway. 🙂

Hope that helps!

Re: How to stop volume from decreasing automatically when Spotify window is not active

julianderksen — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:08:43 GMT

Sebasty is pointing at the right place, and it is worth being specific about which setting it is. Sound settings, then the Communications tab, set to "Do nothing". Windows treats a lot of apps as a call, Discord and sometimes just a browser tab, and it drops everything else the moment they make a sound. If that is already on "Do nothing" for you, check exclusive mode on your output device next, because it looks identical and has a different fix. I wrote both up, including what changed on Windows 11 24H2: (Moderator edit: link removed) - full disclosure, that is my site, I make a small app for this. The settings fix is free and does not need it.