How to Disable or Mute Stereo Mix in Windows

Stereo Mix is a virtual recording input that some audio drivers add to Windows. It captures whatever your computer is playing, so a meeting app, recorder or game chat that picks it up can send music, notification sounds or the other side of a call back out. This guide shows how to disable Stereo Mix completely or just mute it, on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Before you start

• Everything here is done locally in Windows sound settings. No account, download or online service is needed.

• Stereo Mix only exists if your audio driver provides it. Many systems with Realtek audio have it, but some computers never show it.

• Close or pause apps that are currently recording or in a call, so the change is picked up when you reopen them.

• On a work or school computer, sound device settings may be controlled by your organization. If an option is greyed out or reverts, contact your administrator.

• Decide whether you need to disable or mute. Disabling hides Stereo Mix from apps entirely. Muting keeps it available but silent, which is useful if you sometimes record system audio on purpose.

Step-by-step instructions

Disable Stereo Mix in the Sound control panel (Windows 10 and 11)

The classic Sound control panel works the same on both versions and is the most direct method.

• 1. Press Windows key + R, type mmsys.cpl and press Enter. You can also reach it in Windows 11 through Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings, or in Windows 10 through the Sound Control Panel link in Sound settings.

• 2. Open the Recording tab.

• 3. Right-click Stereo Mix and choose Disable.

• 4. If Stereo Mix was marked as the default device, right-click your real microphone and choose Set as Default Device, then also choose Set as Default Communication Device.

• 5. Click OK to close the window.

To reverse this later, right-click an empty area of the Recording tab, select Show Disabled Devices, then right-click Stereo Mix and choose Enable.

Turn off Stereo Mix in Windows 11 Settings

• 1. Open Settings and go to System > Sound.

• 2. Under Advanced, select All sound devices.

• 3. In the Input devices list, select Stereo Mix.

• 4. Next to Audio, click Don't allow. Click Allow to restore it.

In Windows 10, the equivalent page is Settings > System > Sound > Manage sound devices, where you select Stereo Mix under Input devices and click Disable. Exact labels can differ slightly between Windows builds.

Mute Stereo Mix without disabling it

• 1. Open the Recording tab in the Sound control panel as described above.

• 2. Double-click Stereo Mix to open its Properties.

• 3. On the Levels tab, click the speaker icon next to the slider so it shows as muted, or drag the slider to 0.

• 4. On the Listen tab, make sure Listen to this device is unchecked. When it is checked, Windows plays the input back through your speakers, which can cause echo or feedback.

• 5. Click OK.

Avoid disabling your sound card in Device Manager to get rid of Stereo Mix. Stereo Mix is not usually listed there as a separate device, and disabling the audio driver turns off your speakers and microphone as well.

Check the output

• In the Recording tab, Stereo Mix should be listed as Disabled when disabled devices are shown, or be missing from the normal list.

• If you muted it instead, play some audio and watch the level meter next to Stereo Mix. It should stay flat, while the meter next to your microphone still moves when you speak.

• Open the microphone or input menu in the app you use for calls or recording and confirm that your actual microphone is selected, not Stereo Mix or a generic default that points to it.

• Make a short test recording or use the app's own microphone test while audio is playing. You should hear your voice but not the system sound.

Common problems and next steps

Stereo Mix does not appear at all. Right-click inside the Recording tab and enable Show Disabled Devices. If it still does not show, your current audio driver does not provide it, and any system audio being captured is coming from somewhere else.

Stereo Mix comes back after an update. Audio driver or Windows updates can reinstall devices with their default state. Repeat the disable steps and recheck which device is set as default.

Other people still hear your computer sound. Some meeting apps capture system audio themselves, for example through a share computer sound option during screen sharing. Turn that option off in the app; it is separate from Stereo Mix. Also check that no other virtual audio device is selected as the input.

The app still uses the wrong input after the change. Many apps remember a specific device. Choose your microphone again in the app's audio settings and restart the app so it reloads the device list.

You need to record system audio again later. Re-enable Stereo Mix or unmute it, then select it only in the recording app that needs it, keeping your microphone as the Windows default so calls are not affected.