Default Audio

This is a tool to silently change the Default Audio device without interrupting the user. Useful for gamers, streamers who want to be able to trigger this action through a macro key without interfering with their game or other on-screen application etc.

Get Default Audio

Direct download

1.0.0.0

• Windows Installer
• Source code

Winget

winget install defaultaudio

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Default Audio do?

Default Audio uses an undocumented API introduced in Windows Vista to change the default audio device on the system. Many applications just default to using the system default audio device and will change their output to that device automatically on the fly.

How do I use Default Audio?

Simply run ( [Windows Key] + [R] ) “defaultaudio” to get a list of audio devices, such as:

You can then set your audio device to the relevant one using the number provided, in the example above, to set it to Elgato, you would run defaultaudio 1.

You can further use a Stream Deck, Logitech/Corsair (and likely other gaming macro keyboard software) to launch default audio and set your preferred default device.

How do I install Default Audio?

The installer is very minimal. Just run the installer, it will request administrative privileges, install the visual studio c++ runtime if necessary and then install a tiny executable (16 kilobytes, that is 64 times smaller than a megabyte). It will then be added to your system path, so any newly launched CMD prompt, PowerShell script/prompt or Windows run boxes will be able to run it by just entering the defaultaudio command.

It is packaged using MSI packaging and can be deployed with Active Directory if need be.

How do I remove Default Audio?

You can uninstall Default Audio by going to your normal program removal control panel and looking for “DefaultAudio”.

Is Default Audio constantly running?

No, this is a tiny utility that is launched, changes the default audio device and then immediately exits.

Why doesn't Default Audio output to command line?

Unfortunately, if this were built as a command line application, this would interrupt the user whenever activating a setting by creating a command line prompt window. The application uses a dialog window only if no parameters or an invalid parameter is passed.

Is Default Audio trustworthy?

You should not download random programs off the Internet you have not verified as safe. VirusTotal scans items with over 70 antivirus scanners, this might be a good starting point for assessing trustworthiness.

The official site for Default Audio is at https://bitbucket.org/AshleyStone/defaultaudio/ -- Consider downloading from the official source rather than some “modified” version that may have backdoors.

Much like all software, the author has expressed limitation of liability should anything happen and disclaimer of warranty; please take that into consideration too.

I run Windows on an alternative architecture (i.e. ARM), will this work for me?

This program is built for windows x86, which is compatible with the ARM x86 32bit emulation layer.

What is required to compile Default Audio?

This is not to run; this is strictly to compile the solution:

• Visual Studio 2019 with Git support, C++ windows desktop applications and C# .NET Core support.
• WiX v3 with the WiX Toolset Visual Studio 2019 Extension.
• Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate for relevant MSMs.
• Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 - GRMSDKX_EN_DVD for compilers and platform SDK.

I have a question not answered here, what do I do?

Use the issue tracker, your answer might be found there. Alternatively, you can also use it to ask your question.

The legal bits

Everything counts in large amounts?

Disclaimer of Warranty.

THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

Limitation of Liability.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MODIFIES AND/OR CONVEYS THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.