Windows 10’s Volume Flyout Might Finally Get a Much-Needed Makeover

Back in July of 2018, I started a thread on Twitter about the volume flyout in Windows 10. The volume flyout, for those wondering, is the little interface that pops-up on the top-left corner of Windows when you change the volume on your device. It also shows media controls for when you are playing music on apps like Spotify or watching a video on your browser.

And although it’s been years since Windows 10 came out, the volume flyout still has the same, outdated design from the Windows 8 era. The volume flyout often looked out of place — but more importantly, it was quite obtrusive in some cases. My personal frustration with the volume flyout experience led me to start the thread on Twitter, and it looks like–after 2 years–Microsoft may finally fix things.

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In the latest Insider build of Windows 10, there’s a new design for the volume flyout which is accessible from the taskbar. The new feature is disabled by default, but a Microsoft employee said that it’s part of a “design investigation” the company is doing.

The updated design for the volume flyout gives it a much-needed makeover that actually makes it look like a part of Windows 10 and not something from Windows 8. And because it’s been moved to the taskbar, it’s also now less obtrusive. Microsoft still seems to have the old, Windows 8-style flyout for the volume — but it no longer has the media controls.

The design of the new volume flyout is identical to the one we have recently seen on Windows 10X. In fact, it looks like Microsoft is slowly bringing over some other components from Windows 10X to Windows 10 as well.

The new build also includes a new feature within the Update & Security section in the Settings app where users can find out about the new features in Windows. That, too, is disabled by default for now.

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Conversation 8 comments

  • fishnet37222

    Premium Member
    08 April, 2020 - 4:52 pm

    <p>The flyout in the screenshots looks just like the one on my computer, and I'm not running an insider build.<img src="https://i.imgur.com/x4yMQMY.png"><img src=""></p>

    • thejoefin

      Premium Member
      08 April, 2020 - 5:51 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#537544">In reply to fishnet37222:</a></em></blockquote><p>When you have music playing, press play/pause, and the Windows 8 media controls say hello from 2012 </p>

      • IanYates82

        Premium Member
        08 April, 2020 - 7:23 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#537553">In reply to TheJoeFin:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yep. </p><p><br></p><p>Something a desktop user may not notice unless they keyboard has media controls on it. </p>

  • Paul Tarnowski

    08 April, 2020 - 8:24 pm

    <p>They need something similar to the EarTrumpet app. That gives you easy access to volume control over individual programs. Couldn't use headphones without it.</p>

    • Thomas Parkison

      08 April, 2020 - 10:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#537575">In reply to ScribT:</a></em></blockquote><p>It already has it; it's called Volume Mixer. Right-click on the speaker icon in the clock tray and the option will be there.</p>

  • kjb434

    Premium Member
    08 April, 2020 - 9:51 pm

    <p>Mehedi for the win.</p><p><br></p>

  • spoonman

    09 April, 2020 - 7:41 am

    <p>I'd be quite happy if they just managed to maintain the volume control icon in the taskbar. When I switch to 'desktop mode' on my SP4 the icon usually disappears and then sometimes reappears when I'm not paying attention.</p>

  • red77star

    09 April, 2020 - 9:43 am

    <p>I see no difference between new and old, what's actually new here? Are we talking about Spotify Media controls on top of it? These things were always available in Windows 7 until MS. broke it.</p>

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