Use your headphone's physical volume knob.
Volume controls show the volume meter on screen, but does not actually control volume
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Warming, Ben
0
Reputation points
The volume on my laptop is stuck at a certain level, but I cannot change it with the buttons or sliders. The volume box that pops up in the center bottom of the main display screen shows up, but it shows 0 and does not move. I still hear audio and I'm using Bose Quiet Comfort 45 bluetooth headphones that are not connected to any other devices. Laptop specs below
Dell Latitude 5440
13th gen Intel Core i7-1335U
16GB RAM
64-bit Windows 11 OS version 24H2 build 26100.7634
Latest security update was 1/27/26
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
4 answers
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JosephT71 9,210 Reputation points2026-01-29T18:13:51.2466667+00:00 -
Warming, Ben 0 Reputation points
2026-01-29T18:17:08.8966667+00:00 This does change the volume, but the windows issue persists; it shows volume at 0.
Thanks either way
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JosephT71 9,210 Reputation points
2026-01-29T19:18:09.41+00:00 You basically have to go into the registry and change the absolute volume bit.
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Solamillo Charity 20,260 Reputation points Independent Advisor2026-01-29T19:40:09.8033333+00:00 Thank you for the detailed information. I would suggest doing the regedit in the above post, then disabling exclusive mode.
Right-click the speaker icon - Sound settings
Click More sound settings
Under Playback, double-click Bose QuietComfort 45 Stereo
Go to the Advanced tab
Uncheck all three boxes:
Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device
Give exclusive mode applications priority
Allow hardware acceleration of audio with this device
Click Apply - OK.
If you're still having issues even then, you can try reinstalling your computer's OEM Drivers (Not updating them from the device manager).
If you don't know where to find them, please provide me the details below.
Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter.
In the System Summary section, please provide me the three things below.
BaseBoard Manufacturer
BaseBoard Product
BaseBoard Version
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Q&A Assist2026-01-29T17:36:31.8633333+00:00 AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn moreIt sounds like you are experiencing an issue where the volume controls on your laptop are not functioning properly, even though you can still hear audio through your Bose Quiet Comfort 45 Bluetooth headphones. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:
- Check Audio Settings: Ensure that the correct audio output device is selected in your sound settings. Sometimes, the system may default to a different output device.
- Update Audio Drivers: Outdated or incompatible audio drivers can cause issues with volume control. You can check for updates through Windows Update or the Device Manager.
- Use SndVol32: You can try running the SndVol32 program by typing
SndVolin the Run dialog (Win + R). This program provides a user interface for controlling volume levels. Make sure the sliders are not muted or set to zero. - Check for Conflicting Software: Sometimes, third-party audio software can interfere with the system's volume controls. If you have any audio enhancement software installed, consider disabling it temporarily.
- Restart Bluetooth Connection: Disconnect and reconnect your Bluetooth headphones to see if it resolves the issue.
- Windows Troubleshooter: Use the built-in Windows troubleshooter for audio problems. You can find this in Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot.
If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be worth checking for any known compatibility issues with your specific version of Windows 11 and your audio hardware, especially since you are using version 24H2.
References:
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Solamillo Charity 20,260 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-01-29T17:34:55.9966667+00:00 Hello there! I'm glad to help you today!
Please make sure that your Bose is the default device (The stereo one)
Right-click the speaker icon - Sound settings
Under Output, confirm:
Bose QuietComfort 45 Stereo
NOT “Hands-Free AG Audio”
Also, please try to reset audio enhancements.
Sound settings - select Bose QC45
Click Properties
Scroll to Enhancements
Set to Off
Also turn Spatial sound - Off
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Warming, Ben 0 Reputation points
2026-01-29T17:42:47.23+00:00 There is no enhancements selection in windows 11 because Microsoft has gutted all user interface. And to get to properties, you need to click "More sound settings" where there's a second properties button within the properties window General tab...
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