You Can Adjust the Volume of Individual Tabs in Google Chrome
When you’re watching a relaxing YouTube video, the last thing you want is an obnoxious autoplay video or a loud notification buzzing in your ears from another open tab. If muting all background tabs isn’t the best option for you, try Volume Master , a Chrome extension that allows you to individually manage audio levels for each tab.
While you can easily set an individual volume level for each open app on Windows or Mac , you can’t use these tools to do the same for browser tabs. Volume Master bridges this gap.
The extension is easy to use: after installing it, pin it to the Chrome toolbar for quick access by clicking the extension icon in the toolbar and then the pin icon next to Volume Master. Click the Volume Master icon to set the volume level from 0% to 600% for each tab. To help you, the extension lists all open tabs currently playing audio, so you can switch to any audio tab with a single click.
After selecting the desired tab, click Volume Master again and adjust the volume level. You will have to repeat this exercise for each tab, but the extension remembers your settings until you close that tab.
The extension works with tabs that actively play audio, such as Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube, as well as tabs that send alerts from time to time (Gmail, WhatsApp, etc.). The Volume Master icon shows the volume level you have set for any given tab, making it easy to see how loud it is.
While Volume Master does its job very well, there are a couple of drawbacks to keep in mind. One of them is its inability to remember your preferences for the tabs you have closed. If you accidentally close your Gmail tab, you’ll have to set the volume again after you reload it.
Secondly, for the extension to work correctly, access to all tabs and their data is required. This is understandable given the nature of Volume Master’s features, but privacy conscious people should make sure they are familiar with this policy before using this extension.
Finally, Volume Master prevents full screen browsing. If you click the full screen button on any video, it will maximize in the browser window, but you will still see the toolbar and all the tabs at the top.
If you’re going to try Volume Master, it will work with most Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge . If you are a Firefox user, 600% audio volume is a worthy alternative.