How do I change the Zoom volume output?

This article will teach you how to change the volume output in Zoom. Whether you find the volume too loud or too quiet, there are various ways to adjust the sound in Zoom to meet your needs.
Being able to control the volume in Zoom is important for having a good experience on calls and meetings. You don’t want the audio blasting or so quiet that you can’t hear others. We’ll cover solutions for both desktop and mobile to help troubleshoot any volume issues.
Read on to learn how to modify the volume slider, system volume controls, microphone settings, and more in Zoom. With the right adjustments, you can get the ideal sound levels for your Zoom calls.
Check Your Zoom Audio Settings
The first step is to open the Zoom app and click on your profile picture in the top right corner. This will open the settings menu.
Go to the “Audio” tab in the left sidebar. Here you can check your microphone, speaker, and overall volume levels.
Make sure the correct microphone is selected as the input. Test your mic by speaking into it and watching the blue microphone bar move when sound is detected.
Adjust the “Microphone Volume” slider until your voice sounds clear without peaking or distorting the mic.
Select the correct speakers as your output device. Test the speakers by playing a test sound and adjusting the “Speaker Volume” slider.
You can also toggle “Automatically adjust microphone volume” on/off and enable “Suppress background noise” if needed.
Check that nothing is muted and volumes are set to audible levels. Your audio settings are displayed at the bottom of the Zoom window when you are in a meeting.
Adjust the Volume Slider in Zoom
The easiest way to adjust the volume in Zoom is by using the volume slider within the Zoom app. Here’s how to access it:
- Open the Zoom app and join or start a Zoom meeting.
- Click your profile picture then click “Audio Settings.” This opens the Audio Settings menu.
- In the Audio Settings menu, locate the “Speakers” or “Output Volume” section.
- Drag the volume slider left to decrease the volume or right to increase it. The volume level percentage will be displayed.
- Click “X” to close the Audio Settings menu.
The Zoom volume slider allows you to control the sound output volume only for Zoom, without affecting the volume of other apps on your device [1]. This is useful if you need to turn up or down only the Zoom audio feed.
Note that if multiple Volume sliders appear in Zoom’s Audio Settings, try adjusting the one with the “bobbing” green bar, as this controls Zoom’s master output volume [1].
Change System Volume Controls
You can adjust the overall volume for Zoom calls and meetings by changing your system’s volume controls. This will alter the master volume that applies to all audio playback on your device.
On Windows, open the Volume Mixer by right-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray and selecting Open Volume Mixer. You can also press Windows key + R and type “mmsys.cpl sound” to launch the Volume Control Panel.
On Mac, open System Preferences > Sound. The Output tab allows you to adjust the volume slider for your selected speaker or headphone output.
Changing these system-wide volume controls will turn the volume up or down for Zoom as well as any other applications playing audio on your device. This can be useful if you find the volume in Zoom specifically is too loud or too quiet compared to other programs.
One downside to this approach is that you may have to re-adjust the system volume again for other tasks that need a different audio level. Still, it provides a quick way to universally turn the volume up or down as needed.
For more granular adjustment of the volume in Zoom only, you can also change settings within the Zoom application itself, covered in the following sections.
Adjust Volume in Zoom Settings
To adjust the volume output in Zoom, you can open the Zoom settings and go to the Audio tab. Here are the steps:
- Open the Zoom desktop client and click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- In the Settings menu on the left, click “Audio”.
- Under the “Audio Settings” section, use the slider next to ” Speaker volume” to adjust the volume level.[1]
- You can test the volume output using the “Test Speaker” and “Test Mic” buttons.
- If needed, you can also adjust the “Suppress background noise” and “Echo cancellation” options.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
Adjusting the volume in the Zoom Audio settings allows you to directly control the output volume for Zoom calls and meetings. This provides more granular control than just using your system volume.
[1] Zoom Help Center, “Getting Started with PC and Mac”
Change Default Microphone Volume
You can adjust the default microphone volume level in Zoom’s settings so it is set to your preferred level every time you join a meeting. This prevents having to adjust the volume slider each time.
On Windows or Mac, open the Zoom app and click on your profile picture in the top right. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu. On mobile, tap the gear icon to access Settings.
Go to the “Audio” tab in Settings. Under “Microphone” you will see a volume slider. Drag this to adjust the volume level of your microphone for Zoom calls. Setting it closer to 100% will increase the sensitivity and volume picked up from your mic.
Test your adjusted volume by starting a test meeting. Make sure the volume sounds good on your end, and ask any participants to confirm the volume is at a good level on their end as well. Make further tweaks if needed.
Now whenever you start or join a Zoom meeting, your mic will automatically be set to this customized default volume instead of 50%.
Source: https://community.zoom.us/t5/Meetings/Microphone-keeps-switching/m-p/16597
Turn On Original Sound
One way to increase the volume output in Zoom is by enabling the Original Sound feature. This setting minimizes audio compression and preserves the original audio quality for a louder, clearer sound.
To enable Original Sound in Zoom on desktop:
- Open the Zoom app and click your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
- Navigate to the “Audio” tab on the left side.
- Check the box next to “Enable Original Sound” under the “Advanced” section.
On mobile, open the Zoom app and tap on the gear icon. Go to Meetings > Audio and toggle on “Original Sound.”
With Original Sound enabled, the audio from Zoom will be closer to the source audio volume and sound quality, boosting the loudness compared to standard compressed audio (Source). This can make it easier to hear other participants.
Use a Headset or External Microphone
One of the best ways to improve your Zoom audio quality is by using an external microphone or headset. The built-in microphone on your computer or mobile device is convenient, but can pick up background noise and may not provide the best sound clarity.
An external microphone is designed specifically for clear voice audio and can help ensure your voice sounds professional on Zoom calls. Popular options include USB microphones, wireless lavalier mics, and shotgun mics. These specialized mics will capture better audio quality and reduce ambient noise in your environment.
According to this article, some of the best external mics for Zoom meetings include the Shure MV5, Blue Yeti USB Mic, and PowerDeWise Lavalier Mic. Consider key factors like sound quality, background noise reduction, and ease of use when selecting an external microphone.
You can also improve audio by using a headset with a built-in microphone. Headsets position the mic closer to your mouth so it picks up less ambient sound. Over-ear noise-cancelling headsets are ideal for blocking out external noise during Zoom calls.
Investing in a good external microphone or headset can make a big difference in how clearly your voice is heard in Zoom meetings. This can help ensure you sound clear and professional when speaking remotely.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are experiencing issues with audio in Zoom such as low volume, echo, or choppy sound, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Check your Zoom audio settings. Make sure the correct microphone and speaker are selected. Also check that you are not muted and the volume sliders are turned up.
Adjust the volume on your computer using your system volume controls. Increase the volume for the Zoom application or your microphone/speakers.
Go to the Zoom application settings and adjust the default volume for your microphone. You can also enable options like “Original Sound” to improve audio quality.
Try using a headset or external microphone which may provide better sound than built-in laptop mics. Make sure to select the headset/mic in your Zoom settings.
If you are getting echo or feedback, try muting yourself when not speaking or enable noise suppression. Also avoid using speakerphone which can cause echo issues.
Restarting your device and reconnecting to the Zoom call can often resolve temporary glitches. Make sure other programs aren’t disrupting the audio.
Check your internet connection stability. Choppy or distorted audio can be caused by insufficient bandwidth. Try closing other applications using bandwidth.
Conclusion
Adjusting your Zoom audio output volume is easy once you know where to look. The quickest way is to use the in-meeting volume slider in the Zoom toolbar. For more control, go to the Zoom Audio Settings and adjust microphone volume, speaker volume, and other audio options. You can even change the default volumes so they are set how you want each time you start a Zoom meeting. Outside of Zoom, be sure to check your system volume controls to get your audio levels just right. With the right settings, you can optimize your Zoom audio for clear communication during meetings.
The key steps covered were: using the Zoom volume slider, changing system volume controls, adjusting audio settings in Zoom, modifying default microphone volume, enabling original sound, connecting external audio devices, and troubleshooting tips. Follow these guidelines to take control over your Zoom audio output volume.