Bigbox shell disables volume buttons

[Gangor]

I enabled Bigbox to override Windows shell to start automatically when the PC starts. When this is configured, my 2 buttons assigned to volume stop working and if I reconfigure for Windows shell, the volume starts working. Is this a bug or is there another way to configure volume buttons so they continue to work when Bigbox is the shell?

[stigzler]

Same problem here + have been chasing my tail all day on this one. Bit of a major oversight, really. Did you find a solution?

[Gangor]

@stigzler no, unfortunately not and surprisingly no one else has chimed in so I was thinking this was a "me" problem. I've beat my head on this one too without any luck so if anyone has any information on this topic it would be nice to have all my buttons functional.

[stigzler]

Thanks for the reply. Shame such a necessary function was missed in design/testing.

[JoeViking245]

Just now, stigzler said:

Thanks for the reply. Shame such a necessary function was missed in design/testing.

I replied to your other post.  (not sure if it'll work though)

[Sbaby]

I'm joining this discussion because I've been experiencing a similar audio issue for years. Sometimes, at game launch or during gameplay, I still hear the BigBox or LaunchBox audio, forcing me to exit and re-enter the game. This issue occurs randomly, regardless of the game or emulator.

To manage it, I created an AHK script that mutes BigBox audio when the game starts and unmutes it when the game closes, but it's a tedious and less-than-ideal solution. I've reported this issue several times but haven't received any response. I hope someone has found a more practical fix.

[Gangor]

Ahh, yea. Thanks for that post, I'll check the other thread. Not to hijack this one, but it's a shame that "destructive" bugs or basic functions are not fixed before new features given that our arcade cabinet builds are centerpieces for many of us and shame they could break for us when showing off to family and friends.

[stigzler]

I've just raised a bug ticket in the hope that someone on the LB staff can take a look at this. You can upvote it here:

https://bitbucket.org/jasondavidcarr/launchbox/issues/9182/windows-volume-controls-disabled-by-bigbox

 

[Gangor]

Thanks, I'll upvote once it has been reviewed.

[kajunpoon]

it is not only Volume function, but all function keys dont work under bigbox windows shell except brightness. That's really bad Notebook users.

[stigzler]

I solved this here:

 

[kajunpoon]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:27 PM, stigzler said:

I solved this here:

 

thank u that's great. But I also want to use the other functions with fn key +  F7 8 9..., to acitve alienware high performance, screen cast and etc. I think big box windows shell still needs to improve for notebook users.

[stigzler]

I was really replying to the OP. However, I assume you've tried AHK for what you are wanting to achieve? It lets you launch things via key combos

[ChuckRich83]

For those wondering why your Armory crate Xbox and volume buttons aren't working when you make big box your shell this is why I understand a lot of people are not very computer savvy so I'll try to explain this as best I can - 

What Windows shell is is basically something that helps tell the BIOS what it should be loading and running on your PC/ ROG Ally, etc... it basically shakes hands with your bios working as a middleman.

 

When you enable the option for big box to become the windows shell... that's exactly what it's becoming the shell the outer portion the thing that runs before all else instead of you going into your bios and physically telling your PC Etc to start with running big box big box basically enables it in the background for you.

What this means is that no windows is loading at all your "explorer.exe" which is basically what Windows actually runs and what your technically using... does not load because you have chose to allow it not to in place of something else so instead of Windows as your platform loading big box has become your platform.

Things like shortcut buttons which are technically what your volume controls are are tied to explorer and windows itself similar to how in an Rog Ally your volume buttons game bar button and Xbox button are all technically mapped to Armory crate... which relies on Windows and explorer.exe to run and function.

 

This is why there is a warning that states only do this if you know and understand what you are doing you are basically taking everything out of your system and replacing it with basic big box as a front end launcher to launch all the emulators and games which store shortcuts for within itself.

When you enable big box as your windows shell you're basically giving up your computer and turning it into a full-on emulation station which you would pretty much keep plugged into achieve via HDMI at all times and your volume would be controlled via the TV...

In this case you would most likely have to use headphones and control the volume that way as most of these are made to just be connected via Bluetooth stacks and peripherals.

Also making big box of your shell is really something you only do if you're turning this into nothing more than a handheld emulation device where you're not going to be using Xbox at all or you're not going to be using steam at all and you're not going to have to worry about using Armory crate because everything from pretty much Nintendo switch down doesn't need those configurations.

It has nothing to do with big box and everything to do with Windows itself all of those controls are tied to Windows directly big box will never be able to release an update that would allow you to get those controls back as they are literally nailed to the window system themselves.

Your best bet would be to get some wireless headphones and only play your emulation that way except for when you plug it into the TV or just go back to putting big box into your startup folder of Windows which will allow it to start automatically once Windows loads and you won't need to double click or single click the app to run it it'll just load itself.

It's a trade-off people you're trading a bunch of things that you really may not ever use or don't need in favor of something more that you would like.

 

If you're only doing emulation then big box as a shell is perfect for you if you happen to play a lot of Steam games and a lot of Xbox games and you require things like Armory crate or programs alike well you're going to have to basically disable the shell and reboot your system every time you're going to want to get into that stuff