Forum Discussion
Which window is playing that ad sound, and why can't I find it?
I keep hearing an ad or video playing sound somewhere on my computer, but I can't figure out which browser tab or window it's coming from, even after checking the ones I have open. Is there a way to quickly identify which app or tab is making noise, like through Task Manager or Windows' volume mixer, so I can close or mute it without having to click through everything one by one?
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Volume Mixer is the quickest place to start. While the sound is playing, press Win+R, type sndvol, and press Enter. Watch which app’s audio meter moves, then mute it to confirm the source. Task Manager doesn’t have an equivalent “currently playing audio” column.
If it’s a browser, look for the speaker icon on its tabs, including tabs in other browser windows. Chrome’s media-controls button, when shown beside the address bar, can also list playing media without opening every tab. Right-click the noisy tab to mute it, or close it.
Volume Mixer generally identifies the browser, not the exact tab. A minimised window or background tab can keep playing, which explains why you hear something without seeing the video.
