Mute Windows 7 Media Center without Muting the Entire Computer
Once of my biggest annoyances with with Windows Media Center is that the mute button mutes the entire Windows 7 system, not just Media Center. I often have Media Center running in windowed mode on a second monitor while I’m doing work. Usually a sporting event or something where I can passively follow along without having to hear the audio. It would be nice to be able to just mute Media Center if I want to quickly watch a video on YouTube or something. Well, there is a solution. It’s just not the most perfect solution, but it works for me.
To mute individual applications you can use the Volume Mixer. To open the Volume Mixer, click on the Volume icon in the system tray, then click on Mixer. The Mixer is located just below the volume slider.
When you open the Volume Mixer, you’ll see all the application with audio that you have open. You may have to expand the window or move the slider at the bottom to see all of them. This will, of course, work for other apps besides Windows Media Center.
To mute Windows Media Center click on the little speaker icon below the volume slider.
Now I can watch my sporting event or other program and still be able to hear other audio or even listen to music through Pandora in the background.
If anyone comes across a solution they like better, like a Media Center plug-in or third party app, I’d love to know about it!
Category: Digital Media, Media PCs, Windows Media Center
