# Windows keyboards: Make volume buttons more sensitive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780 "2012-03-05T03:47:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/1 "2012-03-05T03:47:52Z")
So [my keyboard](https://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000) has volume adjustment keys on top, like many keyboards do. Unfortunately, mine changes the volume in overly large increments. Even at the lowest two settings, it’s either “off” or “still too loud”… is there any way to make the control more fine-grained? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/2 "2012-03-05T03:50:49Z")
Use the vol control on the speakers. It is designed with a fine adjustment just like your home stereo. I keep my sliders on the Windows control half-way. Then adjust the amplified speakers to taste. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/3 "2012-03-05T03:50:57Z")
It says it has customizable hotkeys, which to me implies that there’s some kind of software that came with it that lets you change the bindings. Have you checked in that software? If it’s anywhere, it’s probably in there. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/4 "2012-03-05T04:05:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Use the vol control on the speakers. It is designed with a fine adjustment just like your home stereo. > > I keep my sliders on the Windows control half-way. Then adjust the amplified speakers to taste. The volume keys on my speakers don’t even work ☹ And even if they did, they’re hard to reach from where I sit. > [@Jragon](#): > > It says it has customizable hotkeys, which to me implies that there’s some kind of software that came with it that lets you change the bindings. Have you checked in that software? If it’s anywhere, it’s probably in there. First thing I checked, but nope ☹ IntelliType, the MS driver, sucks. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/5 "2012-03-05T04:22:15Z")
Remote Control for Windows. Sounds like it would do everything the OP wants and more. $30 seems pretty reasonable. > **[Amazon.com: Streamzap PC Remote Control : Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/Streamzap-USBIR2-PC-Remote-Control/dp/B00008XETO)** > > Product Description STREAMZAP PC Infrared REMOTE ACCSCONTROL UP TO 40FT From the Manufacturer A Remote Control for your PC! Finally, PC users can sit back on the couch and control their PC music and video from a... > [@](#): > > ``` > Skip songs, change volume, mute, pause, even load your favorite albums and playlists at the touch of a button; Controls Winamp, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, PowerPoint, Napster, MusicMatch, Rhapsody & iTunes & over 120 other programs > PowerPoint -- Roam the room and interact with your audience > Internet Radio -- Enjoy streaming Internet radio stations even more relaxing on your couch - adjust the volume, hit mute to answer the phone, or switch stations with the click of a button > DVD & TV Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind your PC DVD Player; Change channels, control Volume, even record TV shows via your PC's TV Tuner Card > Windows 98, 98SE, 2000 or XP, 2 AAA batteries (not included), available USB 1.1 or 2.0 port, Pentium 90 class processor or faster > Compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/6 "2012-03-05T04:24:30Z")
It looks like on the keyboard front you may be SOL unless you can rebind the volume keys in which case you _might_ be able to bind them to a script or something that controls volume in smaller increments. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-keyboards-make-volume-buttons-more-sensitive/614780/7 "2012-03-05T06:14:34Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > It looks like on the keyboard front you may be SOL unless you can rebind the volume keys in which case you _might_ be able to bind them to a script or something that controls volume in smaller increments. Meh. Thanks for the suggestion. I downloaded AutoHotkey and tried to do this, but it turns out: [ol] [li]The AHK volume setting function doesn’t work right in Windows Vista and later[/li][li]The MS device driver is capturing the volume keys before AHK can see them[/li][/ol] Too lazy to fight this further. Oh well =/