Windows 11 26H2 is finally bringing more hidden audio controls to Settings

• Windows 11 26H2 adds exclusive mode and hardware acceleration controls directly to the Sound settings for supported audio devices.
• Communications audio settings are moving into Settings, making it easier to control how Windows 11 adjusts other sounds during calls.
• All sound devices get new filters and management controls, including options to show or hide disabled, disconnected, and unplugged devices.
• Microsoft is also improving audio troubleshooting with volume activity indicators, jack information, clearer warnings, and other visual changes.

Microsoft is making some welcome changes to Sound Settings on Windows 11 26H2. The changes first appeared in the Insider build 26340.9354, and they fix something that has bothered me for a while. The operating system still sends you to the legacy Control Panel for some basic audio settings, even though most system configuration has moved to Settings.

The updated “Sound” settings page now includes controls for hardware acceleration and exclusive mode. The company is also adding controls for communications audio, making it easier to manage default devices, and giving the “All sound devices” page a more useful design.

There are also some visual changes. The volume sliders can now show audio activity while sound is playing, and Microsoft has added clearer information and warnings throughout the audio settings.

Exclusive mode is finally available in Sound Settings

One of the most useful additions is the ability to configure exclusive mode directly from the “Advanced” section of an audio device’s properties. Previously, you had to open the legacy Control Panel to change this setting.

Exclusive mode allows an application to take exclusive control of an audio device. This can be useful for certain audio applications, but it isn’t something every user needs to change.

The important part is that the setting is now in the same place as the rest of the device’s configuration. You won’t have to leave Settings just to find it.

Hardware acceleration gets its own setting

Microsoft is also adding a hardware acceleration option to the “Advanced” section of an audio device’s properties.

The option only appears when the audio device supports hardware acceleration, so you won’t necessarily see it on every computer.

Again, this isn’t a new audio capability. Microsoft is making the control easier to access. You’ll see that pattern throughout this update.

Windows 11 can adjust other sounds during communications

Windows 11 already has a feature that can lower the volume of other sounds when it detects communications activity. For example, you may want music, system sounds, or another application to become quieter while you’re on a call.

Windows 11 26H2 adds controls for this behavior directly to Settings.

This setting previously felt disconnected from the rest of the audio configuration. Bringing it into the Sound settings section makes more sense and gives users a clearer place to look when they want to change how the system handles communications audio.

Default communication devices are easier to understand

Microsoft is also changing how the operating system displays the option to set an audio device as the default communication device.

The option will now always appear in the device’s “Properties.” If the device is already the default communication device, Windows 11 will simply make the option unavailable.

Hiding a setting because it doesn’t apply at that moment can make it look like the feature doesn’t exist. Keeping it visible makes the current state much clearer.

The volume sliders now show audio activity

There is also a visual change to the volume sliders in Sound settings.

When audio is playing, the sliders can now display audio activity on the side of the control.

It’s a nice touch, particularly when you’re troubleshooting an audio problem. You can see that the system is detecting activity instead of staring at a static volume slider and wondering whether anything is happening.

I wouldn’t call this the most important change in the update, but it does make the page feel more responsive.

All sound devices page gets a better design

Microsoft is also making the “All sound devices” page more useful. You can now change default devices directly from the page instead of having to open individual device properties.

The page also lets you filter between input and output devices.

Microsoft is adding controls to show or hide devices that are:

• Disabled
• Disconnected
• Unplugged

This could make a noticeable difference on computers with several audio devices.

A typical computer can have speakers, headphones, a monitor with HDMI audio, a webcam microphone, a Bluetooth headset, a USB headset, and other devices that Windows remembers. The list can get messy quickly.

Being able to filter the list and hide devices you don’t need should make it easier to find the device you’re actually looking for.

Audio properties show more hardware information

Microsoft is also adding jack information to the input and output audio properties pages for devices that need it.

This should be useful on devices with several physical audio connections because Windows 11 can provide more information about which jack is associated with the device.

It’s another small improvement, but it adds useful information without requiring users to dig through another interface.

Microsoft is making a few other audio changes

The same update includes several smaller changes. Microsoft has updated the text used when allowing audio devices to make the option clearer.

A new banner also appears when mono audio is enabled. The banner explains that some audio properties don’t take effect while mono audio is active.

That should prevent some confusion when someone changes an audio setting and doesn’t see the expected result.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I don’t have much to complain about with these changes. Microsoft is finally cleaning up some of the inconsistencies in Sound settings instead of just giving the page another visual refresh.

The new volume activity indicator is a nice addition, but the more useful changes are the ones that bring exclusive mode, hardware acceleration, and communications settings into the Settings app. These are options that have been sitting in the old audio interface, so moving them to the same place as the rest of the sound controls makes sense.

I also like the changes to All sound devices. Being able to filter input and output devices and choose whether disabled or disconnected devices appear should make the page easier to manage, especially if you have several audio devices connected to your computer.

Microsoft still hasn’t finished moving every Control Panel setting into Settings, but this is a case where the company is actually making the Settings app more useful instead of just changing how it looks.