As a product reviewer for sites like How-To Geek and IGN, among others, I have the privilege of trying out many different devices. One group of such devices is for audio, particularly headsets. Unfortunately, Windows 11, as with all previous versions of Windows, doesn’t make it easy to switch between audio input and output devices without multiple clicks and menus. Enter SoundSwitch, an amazing free tool.

At present, on my main Windows 11 desktop, I have basic 3.5mm speakers attached to the output on my monitor, which are fed from the 3.5mm output on my PC. It’s fine for everyday audio. Any time I want better audio, like when gaming, or to use a dedicated microphone (i.e., not the one on my webcam), I sport either a Razer Kraken V4 Pro or Sony Pulse Elite headset. With SoundSwitch, I just need to press Control + Shift + P to switch to the Sony headset, Control + Shift + R to switch to the Razer headset, or Control + Shift + S to switch back to the default speakers and webcam audio.

Even better, I use programmable hotkeys on either a separate keypad, or, if the particular keyboard I’m using has its own hotkeys, those. For example, pressing the M1 key is the same as me hitting Control + Shift + S, while pressing the M2 and M3 keys is the equivalent of switching to the Razer and Sony headsets, respectively. Needless to say, it’s made my PC working and gaming life so much easier.