How To Quickly Change Audio Output Using Hotkeys On Windows?

To quickly change audio output using hotkeys on Windows, you can use either of these two methods:

1. NirCmd: This is a freeware tool that allows you to create shortcuts for various Windows functions, including audio output switching. Follow these steps:

   • Download NirCmd from https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html.

   • Extract NirCmd to a convenient location on your computer.

   • Create a shortcut to NirCmd with command-line arguments for each audio output device, for example:

     • nircmd.exe setdefaultsounddevice "Speakers"
     • nircmd.exe setdefaultsounddevice "Headphones"

   • Assign hotkeys to each shortcut in the shortcut properties.

   • Click the new speaker icon in the system tray, expand notifications, and go to Settings to view the default devices and change them if needed.

2. SoundSwitch: This is a free, audio switch utility designed specifically for Windows. Here's how to set it up:

   • Download SoundSwitch from https://soundswitch.aaflalo.me.
   • Install and run the program.
   • From the interface, select all the audio output devices you want to switch between.
   • Set a hotkey combination for each device you want to switch to, like Ctrl + Shift + F1 for Headphones, for instance.
   • Click "Close" to save the changes.

With either method, you can use the assigned hotkeys to quickly switch between audio output devices. Keep in mind that NirCmd provides more customization and flexibility, while SoundSwitch is designed specifically for easy audio output switching.