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I'm using the NirCmd utility to set the audio volume via the command prompt for a game but need to know what the current volume is upon the app start up.

I found this question: Change Windows sound volume via the command line which also mentions NirCmd but doesn't mention how to use it to get the current volume.

I've tried getvol master, but I get the error getvol is not recognized.

How can I get the current audio volume either using native Windows commands or NirCmd?

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  • That is not possible. What are you trying to accomplish? If you want to increase or decrease the volume, just use nircmd.exe changesysvolume 2000 and nircmd.exe changesysvolume -2000.
    – LPChip
    Jun 29, 2015 at 16:32
  • I need to know what the current volume of the system is.
    – Cameron
    Jun 29, 2015 at 16:32
  • Yes, but why? what is the ultimate goal?
    – LPChip
    Jun 29, 2015 at 16:33
  • Neither NirCmd nor any of existing Windows built-in tools can get the volume value in command prompt. NirCmd can only set the volume. You might want to look for another third-party solution or write one yourself. Try looking at waveOutSetVolume and waveOutGetVolume. With some very basic knowledge of C++ you can achieve what you want
    – Art Gertner
    Jun 29, 2015 at 16:33
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    I need to know it so that I can show the current volume in the UI.
    – Cameron
    Jun 29, 2015 at 16:41

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Ideally you would use the same .Net or Win API that tools like NirCmd are using to do this directly.

I have also been struggling to find a good and simple command line option to get the current system volume.

I finally found something that works on Windows 10.

I haven't tried older versions of windows yet, but I presume it works for Windows Vista or later.

It is available here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer-edl/files/adjust_get_current_system_volume_vista_plus.exe/download

Usage:

adjust_get_current_system_volume_vista_plus.exe

returns the current volume and exits

adjust_get_current_system_volume_vista_plus.exe 50

sets the volume to 50 then returns the current volume (50) and exits.

There is also a python option here: https://github.com/AndreMiras/pycaw

It should be possible to do this with PowerShell as well: https://stackoverflow.com/a/19348221/861745

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  • 1
    +1 for the Python option.
    – Anaksunaman
    Nov 19, 2021 at 23:13
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    Worth noting that you cannot use adjust_get_current_system_volume_vista_plus.exe to identify if Windows is muted.
    – Richard
    Dec 26, 2022 at 13:17

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