pycaw
Python Core Audio Windows Library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are building Windows-only audio control features and need programmatic access to Core Audio APIs. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, and no known vulnerabilities. The main caveat is the unclear license—verify the repository's license terms before use. Not suitable for cross-platform projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Windows-only; requires Visual C++ build tools (e.g., via `choco install visualcpp-build-tools`).
- Not supported on macOS or Linux.
- Installation is straightforward with low friction; the package depends on comtypes and psutil, both stable and widely available.
License · maintenance · safety
(unclear) — License status is unclear—no SPDX identifier or raw license text is available in the package metadata. Verify the actual license terms in the repository before use in proprietary or restricted projects.
last release 2025-10-23 (295 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-19 · 443 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 175,658 downloads/mo, #10,263 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pycaw
from pycaw.pycaw import AudioUtilities
device = AudioUtilities.GetSpeakers()
volume = device.EndpointVolume
print(f"Volume level: {volume.GetMasterVolumeLevel()} dB")
volume.SetMasterVolumeLevel(-20.0, None)- Exact Python version support (requires_python is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether comtypes and psutil are automatically installed or must be pre-installed
- Full scope of audio session and device management beyond volume control
What it is and what it does
Pycaw is a Windows-only Python library that exposes the Windows Core Audio API for programmatic control of audio devices and sessions. It lets you query audio devices, read and set volume levels (in decibels), check mute state, and manage sound device properties directly from Python code. The library wraps low-level COM interfaces through comtypes and relies on psutil for system integration.
Typical use cases include building audio control panels, automating volume adjustments in applications, monitoring audio device state, or integrating audio management into larger Windows automation scripts. Because it is Windows-specific and built on COM interfaces, it has no equivalents on macOS or Linux and is not portable across platforms.
Use it for
- Automate volume control in Windows desktop applications or scripts without user interaction
- Query and monitor the state of audio devices and sessions for diagnostics or logging
- Build custom audio control interfaces or dashboards that interact with Windows speakers and microphones
- Integrate audio device management into Windows system automation or testing workflows
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are building Windows-only audio control features and need programmatic access to Core Audio APIs.
The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, and no known vulnerabilities. The main caveat is the unclear license—verify the repository's license terms before use. Not suitable for cross-platform projects.
Install
pycaw on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with low friction; the package depends on comtypes and psutil, both stable and widely available. Maintenance is active with a recent release (295 days ago) and ongoing commits.
Windows-only; requires Visual C++ build tools (e.g., via `choco install visualcpp-build-tools`). Not supported on macOS or Linux.
License in practice
License status is unclear—no SPDX identifier or raw license text is available in the package metadata. Verify the actual license terms in the repository before use in proprietary or restricted projects.
Quickstart
pip install pycaw
from pycaw.pycaw import AudioUtilities
device = AudioUtilities.GetSpeakers()
volume = device.EndpointVolume
print(f"Volume level: {volume.GetMasterVolumeLevel()} dB")
volume.SetMasterVolumeLevel(-20.0, None)Verify before relying
- Exact Python version support (requires_python is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether comtypes and psutil are automatically installed or must be pre-installed
- Full scope of audio session and device management beyond volume control
Package facts
| License | Not declared unclear |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagescomtypespsutil |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 295 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 175,658 / month, #10,263 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: pycaw-20251023-py3-none-any.whl
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