If you’ve noticed your microphone volume automatically going up or down on Windows 11, you’re not alone. Many users have experienced this frustrating issue where Windows or certain apps keep adjusting the mic level — even after you manually set it.
It can make your voice too quiet during a meeting, too loud during a recording, or completely inconsistent during a live stream. Fortunately, there’s a simple and reliable fix using a lightweight utility called MicLockTray, available free on GitHub.
In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know — why this problem happens, how to fix it permanently using MicLockTray, and additional troubleshooting steps if you want to ensure no other app tampers with your audio settings.
1. Understanding the Problem: Why Windows Adjusts Mic Volume
Before jumping straight to the fix, let’s first understand why your microphone keeps adjusting automatically.
Windows 11 — and even earlier versions like Windows 10 — have built-in audio management features that can auto-regulate input levels. This usually happens when the system detects background noise or when apps request control over your microphone.
Here are some common reasons:
- Communication apps (like Zoom, Skype, or Discord) often request to automatically control microphone gain to improve voice clarity.
- Windows “communications” feature lowers volume when it thinks you’re on a call.
- Driver or sound software utilities (like Realtek HD Audio Manager) sometimes override user-defined levels.
- Third-party background apps that manage voice inputs (e.g., game overlays, voice assistants, streaming tools) can alter gain in real-time.
While this behavior is meant to optimize your audio quality, it often does the opposite — causing unwanted volume dips or spikes.
The best way to stop this entirely is to lock your microphone volume so no app or process can change it. That’s where MicLockTray comes in.
2. What Is MicLockTray?
MicLockTray is a small, open-source freeware utility developed by Dillacorn and hosted on GitHub.
It’s designed for one specific purpose — to lock your microphone volume at a target level (for example, 100%) so that no other app or Windows process can change it automatically.
Why MicLockTray Is So Useful
Let’s pause for a moment to see why this little utility is such a game changer.
- It’s completely free and open-source.
- No installation is needed — just download and run the
.exefile. - It works silently in the background from your system tray.
- Uses almost no system resources.
- Works perfectly on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Essentially, MicLockTray acts like a guard for your microphone input. Once you set a target volume, it ensures that level remains fixed — no matter what other applications try to do.
3. How to Download MicLockTray from GitHub
Now that you know what the tool does, let’s download it step by step.
GitHub might feel a bit confusing if you’ve never downloaded software from it before, so let’s break it down clearly.
Step-by-Step Download Guide
- Visit the official MicLockTray GitHub page here:
👉 https://github.com/dillacorn/MicLockTray - Once the page opens, look for a section or button called “Releases” on the right-hand side or under the repository name.
- Click on Releases to open the list of available versions.
- Always download the latest release to get the most updated and stable version.
- Scroll down until you find a file named:
MicLockTray.exe - Click on it to download the executable file to your computer.
Since it’s a standalone tool, you won’t need to extract or install anything else.
4. How to Install and Use MicLockTray
Let’s move on to setting it up — this part only takes a few seconds.
Once the .exe file is downloaded:
- Locate the file (probably in your Downloads folder).
- Double-click it to run.
- Windows SmartScreen may show a warning like “Windows protected your PC”.
- Click on More Info → then Run Anyway.
- Don’t worry — this is a standard warning for unsigned freeware.
- The program will start and sit quietly in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar).
If you see a small microphone icon, that means MicLockTray is active.
That’s it! The app doesn’t show any intrusive window or ads — just a tiny tray icon that ensures your mic volume stays consistent.
5. Setting a Target Volume (Step-by-Step)
Now comes the key part: locking your desired microphone volume.
Here’s how you can do it easily:
- Right-click the MicLockTray icon in your system tray.
- Select Set Target Volume from the menu.
- A small box will appear asking for your preferred level.
- Enter the percentage you want — for most users, 100% is ideal for full mic clarity.
- Click OK to confirm.
From this moment on, MicLockTray will continuously monitor and enforce that exact volume level, blocking any attempts from other programs or system processes to change it.
So, if Zoom or Discord tries to reduce your microphone input, MicLockTray will immediately restore it to your chosen percentage.
Pretty handy, right?
6. Additional Fixes to Prevent Auto Adjustment
While MicLockTray does most of the heavy lifting, it’s worth checking a few more settings to make sure Windows itself isn’t interfering.
Let’s go through a few optional (but recommended) steps.
1. Disable Communications Auto-Adjustment in Windows
- Press Windows + R, type
mmsys.cpl, and press Enter. - Go to the Communications tab.
- Select Do Nothing.
- Click Apply → OK.
This prevents Windows from automatically lowering volume during voice calls.
2. Check App Permissions
Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
Ensure only the apps you actually use have microphone access enabled.
Disabling unwanted apps here can prevent random adjustments caused by background software.
3. Turn Off Automatic Gain Control in Communication Apps
Many conferencing or recording apps have their own mic control. Here’s how to disable it in popular tools:
- Zoom:
Go to Settings → Audio → uncheck Automatically adjust microphone volume. - Discord:
Go to User Settings → Voice & Video → disable Automatically determine input sensitivity. - Skype:
Go to Settings → Audio & Video → turn off Automatically adjust microphone settings.
Once done, your mic level will stay completely stable across all platforms.
4. Update Audio Drivers
Outdated or buggy audio drivers can sometimes trigger strange microphone behavior.
To update manually:
- Press Windows + X → select Device Manager.
- Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click your microphone → choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers.
If updates are available, install them and restart your PC.
5. Set a Fixed Input Level in Sound Settings
- Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar → Sound settings.
- Under Input, click your microphone device.
- Adjust the input volume manually to your desired level (e.g., 100%).
- Keep MicLockTray running to ensure it stays locked.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Let’s answer a few common questions users have about this issue and MicLockTray.
Q1. Is MicLockTray safe to use?
Yes. MicLockTray is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. You can even inspect the source code yourself to verify it doesn’t contain malicious components.
Q2. Will MicLockTray run automatically when I restart my PC?
No, not by default. You can easily make it start automatically by placing a shortcut in the Windows Startup folder.
Here’s how:
- Press Windows + R, type
shell:startup, and hit Enter. - Copy your
MicLockTray.exefile (or its shortcut) into this folder.
Now, it will start every time you log into Windows.
Q3. Can I use MicLockTray on Windows 10 or older versions?
Yes, it’s fully compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Older systems may also work, but Windows 8 and below haven’t been officially tested.
Q4. Does it interfere with streaming or recording software?
No. It simply prevents the mic volume from changing automatically — it doesn’t affect sound quality, filters, or drivers.
Q5. What if I still face the problem even after installing it?
Try combining MicLockTray with the “Do Nothing” setting under Communications and check if any third-party audio enhancement utilities are installed.
Also, verify that no voice-assistant apps (like Cortana or NVIDIA Broadcast) are controlling the microphone gain.
8. Final Thoughts
Automatic microphone adjustments can be one of the most annoying Windows quirks — especially if you rely on your PC for professional audio tasks like teaching, streaming, or recording podcasts.
Thankfully, MicLockTray offers a free and straightforward solution to keep your mic level exactly how you want it. It’s lightweight, reliable, and doesn’t require complex setup or background services.
By combining MicLockTray with a few system tweaks — like disabling communications volume control and turning off auto gain in apps — you’ll ensure that your microphone always delivers consistent, crystal-clear audio.
If you haven’t already, grab the tool from GitHub and give it a try:
👉 https://github.com/dillacorn/MicLockTray
Once configured, you’ll never again have to worry about your microphone volume mysteriously lowering itself mid-meeting or randomly spiking while gaming.
Disclaimer:
This article provides a general troubleshooting guide for Windows users. MicLockTray is an independent open-source tool hosted on GitHub. Always download software only from official sources and verify checksum or version information where possible. The author of this article is not affiliated with the developer of MicLockTray.
Tags: Windows 11 Microphone Issue, Fix Auto Mic Volume, MicLockTray, Windows Audio Settings, Microphone Volume Keeps Changing, GitHub Freeware Tools, Voice Input Troubleshooting
Hashtags: #Windows11 #MicrophoneFix #MicLockTray #AudioControl #WindowsSettings #PCTroubleshooting #GitHubTools
