Microsoft’s latest feature for Chromium open-source platform
could benefit not just Windows 10’s default browser Edge, but
also Google Chrome. In a thread spotted by us, Google and
Microsoft have confirmed that they’re working together on audio
output improvements for Chromium.

There have always been reports that some people have
experienced audio playback issues when watching YouTube in
Chrome for Windows 10. In some cases, users have reported
problems with sound output where they cannot hear the videos at
full volume from their PC’s speakers.

According to
Google, YouTube receives hundreds of reports per day from
users who complain that video plays without audio on desktop
and 95% of reports come alone from Windows users.

Google believes that there are three main reasons for audio
issues – users have accidentally muted YouTube, the output
device has been changed (this happens when users have two
monitors with one audio connection), and the third reason is
Windows 10’s drivers.

Both inbox and third-party drivers can cause audio output to
hang on YouTube. HDMI monitors with independent volume, USB
sound cards, etc. result in additional audio issues, according
to the search engine giant.

In a proposal, Google has now asked Microsoft and YouTube team
to collaborate on driver testing and address potential audio
issues with the YouTube website and Chromium browsers.

Microsoft has accepted
Google’s request and the company says it has already started
working on a new feature that will allow Chromium browsers to
solve user issues related to the browser being low-volume or
muted.

“This adds getters/setters as well as notifications for the
status of the application-level volume for Chromium,” Microsoft
noted in
a Chromium code commit.

Based on the code commit, it appears that Microsoft is trying
to improve the integration between Chromium and Windows 10’s
built-in volume mixer (both legacy and modern).

“This allows Chromium-based browsers to develop solutions for
user pain points that arise from having muted Chromium or
having lowered its volume from system menus, then forgetting
about the changes. Also, when other applications make these
changes and Chromium UI does not reflect it,” the company
explained.

At the moment, it’s not yet clear when these changes will be
rolled out to consumers.

Other improvements coming to Chrome for Windows 10

In another thread, Microsoft confirmed that it will also
improve Windows 10’s built-in
emoji picker and virtual keyboard integration in Google
Chrome.

For those unaware, a bug in Chromium prevents the virtual
keyboard and emoji picker from appearing near the caret
(textbox). After this patch, Windows 10’s native touch controls
will surface near the caret.