Quick fix: Open mmsys.cpl → Communications tab → set When Windows detects communications activity to Do nothing. This stops Windows from auto-ducking music/system volume during Teams calls or other VoIP detection. Apply.
You’re listening to music. A meeting starts; music volume automatically drops to 20%. You want music to keep playing at full volume regardless of communications activity. The auto-duck is global by default.
Affects: Windows 11 with VoIP/meeting apps.
Fix time: 2 minutes.
What auto-duck does
When Windows detects a process using the audio capture API in a way that suggests a call (Teams, Zoom, Skype, Discord voice), it reduces the volume of other audio streams. The reduction is 80% by default. Some users want this; others don’t.
Method 1: Disable via mmsys.cpl
- Press Win+R, type
mmsys.cpl, press Enter. - Click the Communications tab.
- Set to Do nothing.
- Click OK.
Method 2: Set per-app duck behavior
- For specific apps, the Volume mixer (Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer) lets you check whether the app is on the communications stream.
- Some apps have their own “don’t duck” setting (e.g., Spotify in Settings).
Method 3: Disable via registry
- Open regedit.
- Navigate to
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Multimedia\Audio. - Set UserDuckingPreference =
3(DWORD; 3 = do nothing, 0 = mute, 1 = reduce 80%, 2 = reduce 50%).
Verification
- Start music. Trigger a meeting or open Teams. Music continues at full volume.
If none of these work
If ducking persists, a vendor audio app (Realtek Audio Console, Nahimic) may have its own ducking that overrides Windows’ setting. Check the vendor app’s audio settings for similar toggles.
Bottom line: Communications tab in mmsys.cpl has the global toggle. “Do nothing” = music continues regardless of call activity.