Change volume in Zoom using the speaker icon in the meeting controls
During a Zoom meeting, you can adjust your speaker volume without leaving the call. Look at the bottom of your screen for the meeting controls — a row of buttons including mute, video, and share screen. On the right side of that row, you'll see a speaker icon with an upward arrow next to it. Click that arrow to open a volume slider, then drag it left to lower volume or right to raise it.
This controls only what you hear from other participants. It does not affect how loud you sound to them, and it does not change your system volume for other apps. The volume setting resets when you leave the meeting, so you'll need to adjust it again in your next call if you want the same level.
If you're on a phone or tablet, the speaker icon appears in the same meeting controls at the bottom. Tap the arrow next to the speaker icon to see the volume slider, then drag it to your preferred level.
Key Takeaways
- The speaker icon with an arrow in your meeting controls opens a volume slider that adjusts only what you hear during the call.
- Volume changes in Zoom do not affect your computer's system volume or how loud you sound to other participants.
- Your volume setting resets when you end the meeting, so you'll adjust it fresh in each new call.
- On mobile devices, the same speaker icon in the meeting controls works the same way as on desktop.
- If you cannot see the meeting controls, move your mouse or tap the screen to make them appear.
Find the meeting controls if they're hidden
When you're in a Zoom meeting, the control buttons sometimes disappear after a few seconds of inactivity. If you don't see the speaker icon at the bottom of your screen, move your mouse or tap the screen to bring the controls back. They should appear when ready.
On desktop, the controls stay visible longer if you hover your mouse over the bottom of the screen. On mobile, tap anywhere on the screen to reveal them. Once the controls appear, you'll see the speaker icon on the right side of the row.
Adjust volume before the meeting starts
You can also set your speaker volume in Zoom's settings before you join a call. Open Zoom and click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings. Click Audio in the left menu. Under "Speaker," you'll see a slider labeled "Speaker volume." Drag it to your preferred level, and Zoom will use that setting when you join your next meeting.
This preset volume is a starting point — you can still adjust it during the meeting using the speaker icon in the controls. The preset does not override your system volume, so if your computer's overall volume is very low, Zoom's speaker volume will still be limited by that.
Use your computer's volume controls as a backup
If the Zoom volume slider doesn't seem to be working, check your computer's system volume. On Windows, click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar and drag the slider. On Mac, click the speaker icon in the top right corner of the menu bar and adjust the slider there.
System volume affects everything on your computer, not just Zoom. If you lower it to fix a Zoom meeting that's too loud, you'll also lower volume for other apps. For that reason, adjusting Zoom's speaker volume during the meeting is usually the better choice — it only affects what you hear in that call.
Mute other participants if one person is too loud
If one person in the meeting is much louder than everyone else, you can mute just that participant without affecting the others. Hover over their video or name in the participant list, and you'll see a mute icon appear. Click it, and you won't hear them anymore — but they can still hear you and everyone else can still hear them.
Only you see the effect of muting someone. The person you muted does not know they're muted for you, and other participants still hear them at normal volume. This is useful when one participant has a loud background noise or is speaking much louder than the group.
Check your speaker selection if volume seems stuck
Zoom might be sending sound to a speaker you're not using. In the meeting controls, click the arrow next to the speaker icon. At the bottom of the volume slider, you'll see a list of available speakers — your computer's built-in speaker, external speakers, headphones, or other audio devices. Make sure the correct speaker is selected. If you recently plugged in headphones or a Bluetooth speaker, Zoom may have switched to that device automatically.
If you select a different speaker and the volume still seems wrong, try unplugging and replugging the device, or restarting Zoom. Sometimes a speaker device needs a moment to reconnect properly after being selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my Zoom volume affect how loud I sound to other people?
No. The speaker volume slider controls only what you hear from other participants. To change how loud you sound to them, they would need to adjust their speaker volume, or you would need to change your microphone settings — which is a different control in the meeting settings.
Why does my volume reset every time I start a new meeting?
Zoom treats each meeting as a separate session. The volume you set during one call does not carry over to the next one. If you want the same volume every time, set your preferred level in Zoom's Settings under Audio, and that will be your default starting point for all future meetings.
Can I control volume for just one person while keeping others at normal level?
Yes. Mute the loud participant by hovering over their name or video and clicking the mute icon. Only you will hear the mute — they and everyone else will still hear them normally. This does not affect the overall meeting volume for other participants.
What if the speaker icon doesn't appear in my meeting controls?
The controls sometimes hide after a few seconds. Move your mouse or tap the screen to bring them back. If the speaker icon still does not appear, try restarting Zoom or checking that your audio device is properly connected to your computer.
Should I adjust Zoom volume or my computer's system volume?
Adjust Zoom's speaker volume during the meeting if you only want to change what you hear in that call. Use your computer's system volume if you want to change volume for all apps at once. Since system volume affects everything, Zoom's speaker slider is usually the better choice for a single meeting.