{"id":1762455,"date":"2022-09-16T19:28:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T19:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1762455"},"modified":"2025-04-25T14:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T18:24:06","slug":"how-to-disable-exclusive-mode-in-windows-sound-settings","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/how-to-disable-exclusive-mode-in-windows-sound-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Disable Exclusive Mode in Windows Sound Settings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we will show you how to disable Exclusive Mode in Windows. Follow the sections below to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. What is Exclusive Mode in Windows?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  2. How to disable Exclusive Mode<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What is Exclusive Mode in Windows?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before showing you how to disable Exclusive Mode, you need to learn what it is and how it works. When you open a software app that uses audio, such as an internet browser, or a media player like Spotify, it takes control of your audio playback device. This means that if you launch another app that requires the use of your audio driver, it likely will not play back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, if you\u2019re running into an issue with no audio playing back in your DAW, the first, and most simple thing is to check and see if Exclusive Mode is enabled or not.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to disable Exclusive Mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Exclusive Mode requires you to go to the device\u2019s additional settings within the Sound Settings<\/em> panel. It\u2019s always good practice to disable it on both the Input and Output devices. Follow these steps to disable Exclusive Mode.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Right-click the Speaker<\/strong> icon on the Windows toolbar, and select Open Sound settings<\/strong>.<\/li>
    2. Click Device properties<\/strong> located underneath Choose your output device<\/em>, then click Additional device properties<\/strong> located underneath Related Settings<\/em>.<\/li>
    3. In the Line Properties <\/em>window, click the Advanced<\/strong> tab, then uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device<\/em>.<\/li>
    4. Click Apply<\/strong>, then click OK<\/strong>.<\/li>
    5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for your input device.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Advanced<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Disable Exclusive Mode in the Advanced Line Properties tab.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1769317,"template":"","categories":[3,1,4],"tags":[142653,54722,54726,277141,35491,133283,88806,116298],"storecat":[],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[33542],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n