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I occasionally mute my Gmail notifier when I don't want to hear the alert sound for a little while but still want to see notifications (when watching a movie, for instance).
However, the Gmail notifier icon has disappeared from the Volume Mixer -- now I can't unmute it. I've tried exiting the notifier and opening a new one, but it still doesn't show up in the Volume Mixer.
I'm having this issue in general with other active applications, too. They're open and running, but don't consistently (or EVER) appear in the mixer.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Answer accepted by question author
Hi littlepais,
· Do you remember making any changes to the computer?
Check to see if the following steps help.
a. Click Start.
b. Click Control Panel and then on Sound.
c. Double click on Speakers.
d. Under advanced tab check the option "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". Click OK.
Regards,
Syed N – Microsoft Support
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What you would need to do is play some sound, any sound in the software(s) that is(are) missing in the Volume Mixer for which you are no longer able to adjust sound. Apparently the Volume Mixer only allows you to mute, unmute and adjust sounds for a software that it thinks is playing a sound. So if the software is not currently playing any sound, Windows thinks it doesn't need sound adjusting so it removes it from the Volume Mixer. And the only way to get it back into the Volume Mixer is to play a sound in the software.
So for browsers like Google Chrome, play a youtube video in it and while it's being played, open up Volume Mixer at the same time and you will see it re-appearing in the Volume Mixer. For Gmail Notifier, do something that will trigger the Gmail Notifier to play a sound and go to the Volume Mixer.
This very annoying problem first appeared in Windows Vista and is obviously still existing in Windows 7. And I have seen it is also appearing in Windows 8. Very typical of Microsoft - Always designs the software according to how THEY think it should be used NEVER think how it would be used by people.
Hope this helps.
I'm back because I'm experiencing this problem again -- and this time, re-checking the option to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" is not working.
I haven't made any changes to the system; definitely none that correspond with how the sound should function. Now, "Speakers" and "System sounds" are the only two programs that show up in my Volume Mixer, though I should also be seeing some more programs (like Gmail Notifier, Digsby, Google Chrome).
Thanks, Syed!
I didn't make any changes to the computer and the option you mentioned was already checked, but I re-checked it, and now Gmail notifier is back in my mixer.
I am also getting this problem and unchecking and checking "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" does not work.
I used to see entries in volume mixer for Firefox and Windows Live Messenger but both have disappeared (and yes I have the programs themselves open). Other applications (such as Steam, Solitaire) seem to work as expected.
This is a fresh install of Windows 7 (installed today) with all Windows Updates installed
