Where to find the volume controls in Zoom
Your volume controls in Zoom are in the meeting toolbar at the bottom of your screen. Look for the microphone icon on the left side of the toolbar — next to it is a small up arrow or chevron. Click that arrow to open a menu with your microphone volume slider.
If you are using Zoom on a computer, you will also see speaker volume controls. The speaker icon (which plays sound from other participants) is usually to the right of the microphone icon. Click the arrow next to it to adjust how loud other people sound to you.
On a mobile device, the controls are similar but more compact. Tap the microphone icon to mute or unmute, and look for a speaker icon to control incoming audio volume. Some phones also let you use the physical volume buttons on the side of the device during a Zoom call.
Key Takeaways
- The microphone volume slider is accessed by clicking the small arrow next to the microphone icon in your meeting toolbar.
- The speaker volume slider controls how loud other meeting participants sound to you, separate from your own microphone level.
- On Windows and Mac, you can also adjust Zoom's audio settings in the Settings menu under Audio to change default levels before meetings start.
- If you cannot see the toolbar, move your mouse over the meeting window or tap the screen on mobile to make it appear.
- Physical volume buttons on your phone or keyboard volume keys may also work during a Zoom call, depending on your device.
Adjusting microphone volume during a meeting
When you click the arrow next to the microphone icon, a slider appears. Drag it to the right to increase how loud your voice sounds to others, or to the left to decrease it. The slider shows a percentage — 100% is full volume, and 0% is silent (though muting with the microphone button itself is faster if you want to turn off sound completely).
If people tell you they cannot hear you well, check this slider first before assuming your microphone is broken. A slider at 30% or 40% often sounds too quiet to others even if it seems fine to you. Drag it to 80% or higher for a meeting where people are having trouble hearing you.
The microphone volume slider only affects how loud you sound. It does not change how loud you hear yourself. If you want to hear your own voice in the meeting (which most people turn off), that is a separate setting in the Audio settings menu.
Controlling how loud other people sound to you
The speaker icon in your toolbar controls incoming volume — how loud the other participants sound. Click the arrow next to it to open a slider. Drag it right to make others louder, or left to make them quieter.
This is useful if one person is speaking very quietly or if background noise in your location is making it hard to hear. You can adjust the speaker volume without affecting your microphone, so others will not notice the change you made.
On some Zoom plans, you can also adjust the volume of individual participants. Right-click or long-press on a participant's video or name to see if an audio adjustment option appears. This lets you turn one person up or down without changing everyone else.
Changing audio settings before a meeting starts
If you want to set default volume levels that apply to all your meetings, go to Settings in Zoom. On Windows and Mac, click your profile picture in the top right, then select Settings. On mobile, tap Settings at the bottom of the screen.
Look for the Audio section. Here you can choose which microphone and speaker Zoom uses, and on some versions you can set a default microphone volume. These settings apply to future meetings unless you change them during a call.
Testing your audio before a meeting is also possible in Settings. Zoom will play a tone and record a few seconds of your voice so you can hear how you sound. This is more reliable than guessing whether your volume is set right.
What to do if the toolbar is hidden
The meeting toolbar sometimes disappears when you are not moving your mouse or touching the screen. On a computer, move your mouse toward the bottom of the meeting window to make the toolbar reappear. On a phone or tablet, tap anywhere on the screen.
If the toolbar still does not appear, you may be in full-screen mode. Press Escape on a computer or look for a full-screen button (usually in a corner) on mobile to exit full-screen view.
Using your device's physical volume buttons
On most phones and tablets, the physical volume buttons on the side of your device control Zoom's speaker volume during a meeting. Press the up button to make others louder, or the down button to make them quieter.
These buttons do not control your microphone volume — only how loud you hear others. If you need to adjust your microphone, use the slider in the toolbar instead.
On some Android devices, the volume buttons may control system volume rather than Zoom volume. If that happens, use the speaker slider in the Zoom toolbar instead.
Troubleshooting volume problems
If your microphone volume slider is all the way up but people still say they cannot hear you, the problem may be your microphone itself, not the volume setting. Check that Zoom is using the correct microphone in Settings — sometimes Zoom defaults to a built-in microphone when you have a better one plugged in.
If you cannot hear other people even with the speaker slider turned up, first check that you have not muted the speaker by accident. The speaker icon will show a line through it if it is muted. Also confirm that your device volume is not turned down at the system level — check your computer's volume in the taskbar or your phone's physical volume buttons.
On a Mac, Zoom audio sometimes gets blocked by system permissions. Go to System Preferences, then Security & Privacy, then Microphone, and make sure Zoom is listed and checked. Do the same for Camera if video is not working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adjust volume for just one person in a meeting?
On some Zoom plans, yes. Right-click or long-press on a participant's name or video tile to see if you get an audio adjustment option. This only changes what you hear — others will not know you turned that person up or down.
Does adjusting my microphone volume affect how loud I hear myself?
No. The microphone slider only changes how loud you sound to others. If you want to hear your own voice (called "hearing yourself"), that is a separate toggle in the Audio settings menu, and most people leave it off.
Why does my volume reset after every meeting?
Zoom usually remembers your volume settings between meetings. If they keep resetting, check that you are not using a guest account or a temporary session. On some work Zoom accounts, an administrator may have locked certain settings.
Can I use keyboard volume keys to control Zoom?
On most computers, your keyboard volume keys control system volume, not Zoom specifically. During a Zoom call, they will adjust your overall device volume. Use the Zoom toolbar sliders if you want to change only Zoom's audio without affecting other programs.
What if I cannot find the speaker volume slider?
On some Zoom versions, the speaker icon may not have a separate slider. Instead, use your device's system volume controls — the volume buttons on your phone or the volume slider in your computer's taskbar or menu bar.