4 Fixes When the Windows 11 Volume Slider Is Stuck on the Screen

Key Takeaways 

• Once you have ruled out common hardware causes, such as a faulty keyboard or stuck keys, you should update your drivers.
• The built-in audio troubleshooter is also an excellent fix.

Basic Fixes:

• Restart the computer: A reboot forces all services and processes to shut down, fixing glitches and temporary bugs.
• Run a malware scan: Malware often triggers abnormal computer behavior, software, and hardware issues. You can use the built-in Windows Defender scan to remove the virus.
• Check for available updates: Update your operating system. Windows updates often come with bug fixes and, in most cases, will resolve minor Windows issues.
• Check for stuck volume key on your keyboard: If the slider key is stuck, the volume slider may not disappear from the screen, leading to the problem.
• Restart Windows Explorer: When you restart Windows Explorer, the computer resets explorer.exe, the process responsible for managing the user interface elements.

Fix 1: Disable and Re-enable Audio Device

An option to fix the non-disappearing volume slider is to disable and re-enable the audio device. This fix is very effective because it resets all related processes, including those connected to the volume slider. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and click Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Sound, video and game controllers category, right-click on your Audio Device, and click Disable device.

Step 3: Confirm your choice.

Step 4: Right-click on your Audio Device, and click Enable device.

Step 5: Confirm the solution works or move to a different fix.

Fix 2: Reset Audio Settings to Default Values

When you reset audio settings, you may fix the stuck volume slider problem because the reset will resolve conflicting configurations, remove corrupted settings, and clear software interference.

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.

Step 2: Click System on the left pane, then click Sound on the right.

Step 3: Scroll down and click Volume Mixer.

Step 4: Click the Reset button.

Step 5: Lastly, confirm the fix works or move on to a different solution.

Fix 3: Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 11 comes with a built-in audio troubleshooter. This utility effectively scans the system for all errors related to sound. It will fix the problem or provide troubleshooting recommendations. You may run this tool using the steps below.

Step 1: Launch Windows 11 Settings by pressing Windows + I.

Step 2: Click the System option on the right pane, then select Troubleshoot on the left.

Step 3: Click Other troubleshooters.

Step 4: Click the Run button for the Audio troubleshooter.

Step 5: Follow the wizard to complete the process and confirm that the volume slider problem is fixed.

Once the troubleshooter is complete, check for volume-related problems. If there are, proceed to other fixes.

Fix 4: Reinstall your Audio Device

If re-enabling does not work, you should try reinstalling the device. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and click Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Sound, video and game controller category, right-click on your Audio Device, click Uninstall device, and confirm your choice.

Step 3: Restart the computer, and the device should automatically be reinstalled. Once done, confirm that the fix was successful.