How to Mute Certain Windows

Your speakers' volume controls do not offer selective muting, which means muting windows is an all-or-nothing proposition. However, Windows 7 offers a volume mixer, which not only allows individualized volume controls, but also allows you to selectively mute windows. This means you can keep your background music files playing full blast while muting Web sounds from your browser, Windows system sounds and any other sounds that may interfere with your music.

Instructions

1. Click the "Speaker" icon in your Windows system tray. If you cannot see the volume icon, click the small triangle to the left of the system tray to view all icons.

2. Click "Mixer" from the pop-up window.

3. Click the blue "Speaker" icon below the listed window you wish to mute. A red circle with a slash icon appears over the speaker, indicating that window is muted.

4. Click the icon again to unmute the window.

5. Repeat the procedure for each window you wanted muted.