How do I turn up the volume on YouTube?

This article will explain how to increase or adjust the volume while watching YouTube videos. Controlling the audio level is important for an optimal viewing experience whether using the website, mobile app, or other platforms. We will cover basic volume settings within YouTube as well as more advanced techniques like keyboard shortcuts and equalizers. The goal is to provide readers with a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and maximizing volume control when watching YouTube videos on any device.

Check Volume Controls

The first step to increase the volume on YouTube is to check your device’s volume controls. Make sure the volume on your computer, smartphone, or speakers is turned up sufficiently. Check the volume icons in the system tray or menu bar to ensure volume is at an audible level.

YouTube also has its own built-in volume controls. Look for the volume icon on the bottom right of the video player. Click and drag the slider to the right to increase the volume on that specific YouTube video. Maximizing the volume levels on both your device and the YouTube player is important to getting the loudest sound. According to the Filmstro blog, YouTube normalizes audio between -12db to -20db, so increasing volume to those levels will maximize loudness.

Adjust System Volume

To increase the overall system volume on your Mac, first check the volume slider in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Click and drag the slider to the right to raise the volume to the maximum level. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Option+Shift+Volume Up to quickly turn the volume up.

On an iPhone, open the Settings app and go to Sounds & Haptics. Make sure the “Change with Buttons” switch is turned on, then use the physical volume buttons on the side of the iPhone to increase volume to maximum. You can also swipe down from the top right to open Control Center on iPhone and adjust the volume slider.

For any device, go into the main system settings and ensure volume is set to 100% or the maximum allowable level. This establishes the upper volume limit that specific apps and videos will abide by.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts to easily increase or decrease the volume on YouTube videos. Here are some common keyboard shortcuts for changing YouTube volume:

Up Arrow: Increases YouTube volume by 5%
Down Arrow: Decreases YouTube volume by 5%

Shift + Up Arrow: Increases YouTube volume by 10%
Shift + Down Arrow: Decreases YouTube volume by 10%
0-9: Sets YouTube volume to 0% – 100%

M: Mutes/unmutes YouTube volume

These keyboard shortcuts work on PC, Mac, and Linux computers when watching YouTube videos in a browser. On mobile devices, you can tap the screen to bring up volume controls while watching a YouTube video.

Using keyboard shortcuts is a quick and easy way to adjust the playback volume on YouTube without having to maneuver your mouse. Give it a try next time you want to turn up or down the sound!

Source: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7631406?hl=en

Adjust YouTube Volume

You can adjust the volume directly within the YouTube video player. When watching a YouTube video, look below the video player for the volume slider. Drag the circle icon left or right to decrease or increase the volume. You can mute the video entirely by clicking the mute button on the far left of the slider.

On desktop, the mute button is shaped like a speaker icon. Clicking it will mute/unmute the video. On mobile devices, the mute button is shaped like a bell icon. Tapping it will mute/unmute the video.

Adjusting the volume within the YouTube player only affects the volume for that specific video, it does not change the overall system or device volume. This gives you granular control over the loudness of each video.

If you want videos to start muted by default, you can enable this setting in YouTube’s settings. On desktop, click your profile picture > Settings > Playback settings and toggle “Mute audio by default” on. On mobile, tap your profile picture > Settings > General > Mute audio by default.

You can also quickly mute a noisy video by pressing the “M” key on your keyboard while the video is playing. Press “M” again to unmute.

Check Browser Settings

The volume settings in your web browser can affect the playback volume of YouTube videos. Both Firefox and Safari have options to control volume and mute sounds.

In Firefox, you can adjust the volume under Preferences > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Sound. Make sure the setting for “Block websites from automatically playing sound” is disabled or set to “Allow audio and video” (1).

Safari has a similar setting under Safari > Preferences > Websites > Auto-Play. Uncheck “Stop media with sound from automatically playing” to allow audio and video to play (1).

You can also try toggling the mute button in your browser’s toolbar to make sure audio isn’t muted. This mute control is independent of your system volume.

Additionally, some Reddit users report volume differences between Chrome and Firefox/Safari for YouTube (2). This may be due to differences in how the browsers handle audio, so you could try using Chrome to see if it improves the volume.

Checking your browser settings is an easy way to rule out any muted or lowered volumes that could be impacting your YouTube video playback.

(1) https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254265002
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/10nird6/youtube_sounds_different_between_chrome_and/

Update Drivers

It is important to keep your audio drivers up to date in order to ensure that your computer is outputting sound properly and at adequate volume levels. Outdated drivers can cause issues with sound quality, connectivity with speakers and headphones, volume control, and more. By updating to the latest audio drivers from your sound card or chipset manufacturer, you can unlock the full potential of your system’s audio capabilities.

According to Avast, updating drivers can fix problems like no audio output, stuttering audio, connection issues with headphones or speakers, and problems adjusting volume. Modern audio drivers contain optimizations and improvements that older drivers lack. Updating drivers often increases the maximum volume ceiling that your system can output.

Use External Speakers

If the volume on YouTube videos seems low even after adjusting your computer, browser, and YouTube settings, try using external speakers or headphones. External speakers can provide louder and higher quality sound compared to built-in laptop speakers. Quality headphones like over-the-ear headphones can also make YouTube videos significantly louder.

According to audio experts, the standard target level for YouTube videos is around -14 LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) (Source 1). This translates to a moderate volume that won’t be as loud as some users may prefer. By using external speakers or headphones designed for music, movies, or gaming, you can increase the volume further than what laptop/TV speakers allow.

Just make sure to still be mindful of volume levels for hearing safety. But in general, external speakers and headphones give you more power and control over audio levels. So if built-in speakers aren’t loud enough for your liking, quality external speakers and headphones can make a significant difference.

Adjust Equalizer

One way to boost the overall volume on YouTube is to use an equalizer to adjust the audio frequencies. An equalizer allows you to turn up or down specific frequency ranges, which can help make the audio louder and clearer.

There are a few different ways to access an equalizer for YouTube:

Install a browser extension like Audio Equalizer for YouTubeTM. This will add an equalizer button directly on YouTube that you can use to boost highs, mids, and lows.

Use the built-in equalizer in your music or video player app. Apps like VLC media player have equalizers you can use for any audio or video.
Install an system-wide equalizer that works with all audio. Options like Equalizer APO for Windows allow enhancing audio from any source.

To make YouTube louder overall, try boosting the mid and high frequencies slightly. Increasing midrange frequencies from 500Hz to 4kHz can increase vocal clarity. Boosting high frequencies above 8kHz can add more presence and definition. Avoid over-boosting bass below 250Hz as this can make audio muddy.

Adjust the equalizer increments slowly and test the audio to prevent distortion. Using a quality pair of headphones makes it easier to fine tune the sound. With the right equalizer adjustments, you can significantly boost YouTube audio for a louder, clearer listening experience.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several ways to control the volume when watching YouTube videos. The most direct method is to use the volume slider in the YouTube player itself, either on desktop or mobile. You can also adjust the volume via your computer’s system volume mixer or keyboard shortcuts. Checking your browser and OS settings may reveal additional volume controls for YouTube. As a last resort, using external speakers or an equalizer can help boost quiet videos. The goal is finding the right balance to clearly hear the video without blasting the volume unnecessarily high.

Controlling the loudness of YouTube clips allows you to comfortably watch videos at home or in public. With all of the options covered here, you should now understand the various volume controls available and how to better manage the audio level of YouTube content. Just remember there are solutions beyond the main YouTube slider, from system-wide tools to video-specific workarounds. Now you can troubleshoot and fix even the quietest videos to optimize your viewing experience.