there is no change in audio volume using VOL+ VOL- button on keyboard. Either volume is full or mute.

Question

When I used VOL+ & VOL- button to change the audio volume there is either mute or full volume no adjustment in between.

Answer 1

If you change the volume using the volume slider on the bottom right of your Desktop, does the volume change correctly in graduated steps?

If it does, then the actions associated to the function keys on your keyboard are not controlled by Windows, the actions are controlled by the PC manufacturer.

Try pressing Fn + a function key to test of that changes the volume correctly.

If not, boot your system into BIOS and look for a setting to switch between Function Key and Media/Action Keys.

If that does not resolve the problem, what is the make (Dell, Asus, Lenovo... etc.) of your laptop?

Answer 2

The keyboard volume keys are only one of several volume controls in Windows. If pressing VOL+ / VOL– jumps between mute and full volume, adjust and verify the other volume controls and audio settings:

1. Use the taskbar volume slider
   • Select the Speaker icon on the right side of the taskbar.
   • Drag the volume slider to a level between 0 and 100 (for example, 30–50).
   • Then press VOL+ / VOL– again and see if it now changes smoothly instead of toggling between mute and full.
2. Check per‑app volume
   • Right‑click the Speaker icon and open Sound settings.
   • Scroll to the Volume mixer.
   • Make sure the System volume and the individual app’s volume are not set to 0 or 100 only; adjust them to a mid‑range value.
3. Check audio accessory volume
   • If using external speakers, a headset, or monitor speakers, adjust their physical volume control or their own software volume.
   • Some accessories maintain their own volume level independent of Windows; if that is set to very low or very high, keyboard volume changes can feel like only mute/full.
4. Test with another app
   • Some apps have their own volume control. Open a different app (for example, a browser or media player), set its internal volume to around 50%, then use VOL+ / VOL– and confirm the volume changes gradually.
5. Reinstall or reset audio configuration if needed
   • If the volume slider in the taskbar itself also jumps only between 0 and 100, reinstalling the audio driver and resetting sound settings can help:
     • Open Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers → right‑click the audio device → Uninstall device (optionally delete driver software) → restart.
     • After restart, run Windows Update and install all updates, including optional driver updates.
     • Open Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer and use Reset sound devices and volumes for all apps to the recommended defaults (if available).

If none of these steps change the behavior and the taskbar slider still only switches between 0 and 100, the issue is likely with the keyboard or its driver; testing with another keyboard can confirm this.

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References:

• Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories
• Troubleshoot audio problems in Windows Media Center
• Context cannot increase volume even if trouble shooter updates it - Microsoft Q&A
• Logitech G560 Speakers detect audio (volume bar moves) but no sound comes out - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• I have no sound on an new LG Gram laptop - Microsoft Q&A
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A