How to Add per-App Volume Mixer Hotkeys on Windows 11

Windows 11 does not include a built-in keyboard shortcut to adjust the volume of individual applications. Many users want to lower a noisy browser tab or boost a voice call without opening the Volume Mixer dialog. This article explains how to add per-app volume mixer hotkeys on Windows 11 using a free third-party tool called EarTrumpet. You will learn how to install EarTrumpet, assign custom keyboard shortcuts to specific apps, and control audio levels entirely from the keyboard.

Overview of Per-App Volume Control and Hotkey Options on Windows 11

The Windows 11 Volume Mixer accessed from the taskbar lets you adjust audio levels per application, but it requires mouse clicks and does not support keyboard shortcuts. EarTrumpet is a free open-source application available from the Microsoft Store that replaces the standard volume icon. It displays a list of all running audio sources and allows you to change each app’s volume with a slider. EarTrumpet also exposes its functions through a command-line interface and a Windows Runtime API, which AutoHotkey can call. For users who prefer a simpler setup, the EarTrumpet preview channel includes a built-in hotkey configuration panel. No Windows 11 update or registry tweak can add per-app volume hotkeys natively. EarTrumpet is the only reliable method as of the latest Windows 11 version 23H2.

Method 1: Using EarTrumpet with AutoHotkey for Custom Hotkeys

This method requires two installations: EarTrumpet from the Microsoft Store and AutoHotkey from its official website. The AutoHotkey script sends volume adjustment commands to EarTrumpet for the most recently active application. You can modify the script to target a specific app by its process name.

Step 1: Install EarTrumpet from the Microsoft Store

1. Open the Microsoft Store
   Press the Windows key and type “Microsoft Store.” Select the app from the search results.
2. Search for EarTrumpet
   In the Store search bar, type “EarTrumpet” and press Enter. Select EarTrumpet by File-New-Project from the list.
3. Click Install
   Wait for the download and installation to finish. EarTrumpet will add its icon to the system tray near the clock.
4. Disable the default Windows volume icon
   Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Scroll to Notification area and click Turn system icons on or off. Set Volume to Off. This prevents conflict between two volume controls.

Step 2: Install AutoHotkey

1. Go to the AutoHotkey website
   Open your browser and navigate to autohotkey.com. Click the Download button for AutoHotkey v2 (the current stable version).
2. Run the installer
   Open the downloaded file and follow the setup wizard. Accept the default installation path.
3. Launch AutoHotkey
   After installation, restart your computer. AutoHotkey runs in the background and waits for scripts.

Step 3: Create the AutoHotkey Script for App Volume Hotkeys

1. Open Notepad
   Press Windows + R, type “notepad”, and press Enter.
2. Paste the following script
   Copy and paste the code below into the Notepad window. This script maps Ctrl+Alt+Up to increase the volume of the active app by 5 percent and Ctrl+Alt+Down to decrease it by 5 percent.

   #Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
^!Up::
{
Send "^{Volume_Up}"
Sleep 50
Run "eartrumpet.exe /volume +5"
}
^!Down::
{
Send "^{Volume_Down}"
Sleep 50
Run "eartrumpet.exe /volume -5"
}

3. Save the file as a .ahk script
   Click File > Save As. In the Save as type dropdown, select All Files. Name the file AppVolumeHotkeys.ahk. Save it to a folder you can find, such as Documents.
4. Run the script
   Double-click the .ahk file. The AutoHotkey icon appears in the system tray. Test the hotkeys by opening any app that plays audio, then press Ctrl+Alt+Up or Ctrl+Alt+Down.

Step 4: Make the Script Start with Windows

1. Open the Startup folder
   Press Windows + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter. The Startup folder opens.
2. Create a shortcut to the script
   Right-click in the folder, select New > Shortcut. Browse to the location of AppVolumeHotkeys.ahk. Click Next and then Finish.
3. Restart your computer
   The script will now load automatically every time you sign in to Windows 11.

Method 2: Using EarTrumpet Preview with Built-in Hotkey Mapping

EarTrumpet offers a preview version that includes a hotkey configuration tab. This method does not require AutoHotkey. You can assign keyboard shortcuts to each app’s volume slider directly from the EarTrumpet settings window.

Step 1: Install EarTrumpet Preview

1. Open EarTrumpet settings
   Click the EarTrumpet icon in the system tray and select the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the volume popup.
2. Switch to the Preview channel
   In the Settings window, go to the Updates tab. Under Channel, select Preview. Click Check for updates. EarTrumpet will download and install the preview version.
3. Restart EarTrumpet
   The app will restart automatically after the update. If not, right-click the system tray icon and choose Exit, then launch EarTrumpet from the Start menu.

Step 2: Assign Hotkeys to Apps

1. Open the Hotkeys tab
   Click the EarTrumpet system tray icon, then click the gear icon. Select the Hotkeys tab in the Settings window.
2. Add a new hotkey mapping
   Click Add. In the Application field, type the name of the app you want to control, for example, “Spotify.exe” or “chrome.exe”.
3. Choose a keyboard shortcut
   Click the Hotkey field and press the key combination you want to use, such as Ctrl+Alt+Shift+1. Select the Action: Volume Up, Volume Down, or Mute. Click OK.
4. Repeat for other apps
   Add separate hotkeys for each app you want to control. You can also assign a single hotkey to toggle mute for a specific app.

Common Issues When Setting Per-App Volume Hotkeys

EarTrumpet does not appear in the system tray after installation

Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Scroll to Notification area and click Turn system icons on or off. Find EarTrumpet in the list and set it to On. If the icon still does not appear, restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager.

AutoHotkey script does not change app volume

The script in Method 1 uses a generic command that adjusts the volume of the most recently active app. If the target app is not the active window, the hotkeys may affect the system volume instead. To fix this, modify the script to target a specific process name. Replace the line Run "eartrumpet.exe /volume +5" with Run "eartrumpet.exe /volume +5 /process:chrome.exe" to control Google Chrome exclusively.

EarTrumpet hotkey tab is missing or grayed out

The built-in hotkey feature is only available in the Preview channel. Verify you are on the Preview channel by going to Settings > Updates. If the tab is still missing, uninstall EarTrumpet, reinstall it from the Microsoft Store, and switch to Preview again.

EarTrumpet with AutoHotkey vs EarTrumpet Preview Built-in Hotkeys

Item	EarTrumpet + AutoHotkey	EarTrumpet Preview Built-in Hotkeys
Installation complexity	Requires installing two separate apps	Single app installation
Customization	Full scripting control; can target any app by process name	Limited to predefined actions: Volume Up, Down, Mute
Hotkey assignments	Any key combination supported by AutoHotkey	Limited to simple combos like Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Number
Learning curve	Moderate; requires editing a text file	Low; all settings in a graphical interface
Stability	Stable; AutoHotkey is mature software	Preview channel may have bugs or missing features

With EarTrumpet installed and configured, you can now control individual app volumes without touching the mouse. For most users, the built-in hotkey mapping in the Preview channel offers the simplest path. If you need to target a specific app that is not the active window, the AutoHotkey script gives you full control. As an advanced step, you can extend the script to include a mute hotkey for the active app by adding ^!M::Run "eartrumpet.exe /mute" to the .ahk file.