{"id":5085,"date":"2019-10-07T12:47:24","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T12:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/?p=5085"},"modified":"2019-10-08T13:14:44","modified_gmt":"2019-10-08T13:14:44","slug":"headphones-are-not-working-on-windows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/headphones-are-not-working-on-windows\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do if headphones are not working on a Windows PC?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you struggling to get your headphones to work on a Windows PC? We are here to help. Windows 10 problems are known to spring up when you least expect them. Normally, you should be able to plug in your sound devices to your computer without issues. However, sometimes when you connect your headphones, the system may fail to detect them and instead, you get the \u201cWindows 10 won’t recognize headphones\u201d error message or you may hear sound still playing from the built-in speakers.<\/p>\n

This can be quite a frustrating error since it prevents you from enjoying your music, movies, or games, especially when you’re in a public place. In today\u2019s post, we take a closer look at what to do if headphones are not working on a Windows PC.<\/p>\n

Why Your PC Might Fail to Detect Headphones<\/h2>\n

The main reason why your PC may suddenly fail to recognize your headphones could be driver-related. This is especially true after a Windows update where drivers clash due to compatibility issues. Additionally, using a faulty USB port or the wrong jack connector type may lead to sound issues. Luckily, there’s a way out. Here\u2019s how to fix the Laptop not detecting headphones issue for Windows 10 users.<\/p>\n

How to Get a Windows 10 Computer to Recognize Headphones<\/h2>\n

Troubleshoot Hardware Issues<\/h3>\n

Before getting deep into the solutions, you might want to perform some basic troubleshooting steps first. Have you tried connecting the headphones to a different PC? Did they work? If not, then the headphones could be faulty. However, if the headphones worked, then your PC could be having issues. You could also try connecting different headphones to your PC to check if they function. If the problem persists, then the PC is evidently to blame.<\/p>\n

If the headphones use a USB connector, try using a different port. If they use a jack, make sure the jack connector type that you’re using is compatible with your PC.<\/p>\n

If the headphones are faulty, the only way out is to replace them. However, if the issue lies within your PC, then there could be several reasons behind it. On the one hand, there could be driver conflicts caused by the installation of new software. On the other hand, the wrong default device might have been selected by mistake. Either way, you can still solve the \u2018Windows 10 won’t recognize headphones\u2019 issue with the fixes below.<\/p>\n

Fix 1: Run the \u2018Playing Audio\u2019 Troubleshooter<\/h2>\n

The troubleshooter is a Windows feature that automatically finds and fixes some of the common PC errors, such as sound errors. To troubleshoot sound issues, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Press the Windows Key + I, and then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.<\/li>\n
  2. Locate \u201cPlaying Audio\u201d and click on it.<\/li>\n
  3. Select \u201cRun the troubleshooter\u201d, and let Windows automatically detect and fix any sound issues. Follow the on-screen prompts, if any, to apply the fixes.<\/li>\n
  4. Once the process is complete, restart your device and reconnect the headphones. If they still won\u2019t work, the issue lies elsewhere. Keep trying the solutions below until you resolve your problem.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Fix 2: Make Your Headphones the Default Playback Device<\/h2>\n

    If you have different soundcards through which you connect your headphones and speakers, Windows might reset the default playback device whenever you connect and disconnect the headphones. So, you might want to set the headphones as the default playback device to check if it resolves the issue.<\/p>\n

    To do so, follow these simple steps:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Click \u201cStart\u201d, find \u201cControl Panel\u201d and open it.<\/li>\n
    2. Select Hardware and Sound > Sound.<\/li>\n
    3. In the \u201cSound\u201d window that pops up, make sure you’re on the \u201cPlayback\u201d tab. Now, plug in your headphones, and they should appear among your devices. If they don\u2019t, right-click anywhere within the \u201cSound\u201d window and enable the \u201cShow Disabled Devices\u201d and \u201cShow Disconnected Devices\u201d options.<\/li>\n
    4. If you notice that any of your devices (headphones or speakers) are disabled, right-click on it and select \u201cEnable\u201d.<\/li>\n
    5. Next, select your headphones and click the \u201cSet Default\u201d button at the bottom of the window.<\/li>\n
    6. Click \u201cOK\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This fix should get your headphones back to working condition. If not, try the next solution.<\/p>\n

      Fix 3: Configure Realtek Audio Manager Settings<\/h2>\n

      If Realtek HD Audio Manager is installed on your PC, adjusting certain settings could get your headphones back to working properly again. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Press the Windows Key and look for \u201cControl Panel\u201d.<\/li>\n
      2. In the \u201cView by:\u201d drop-down list, choose \u201cLarge icons\u201d.<\/li>\n
      3. Locate and select \u201cRealtek HD Audio Manager\u201d.<\/li>\n
      4. Connect your headphones, select the speaker icon and then click on \u201cSet Default Device\u201d.<\/li>\n
      5. Click \u201cOK\u201d. Windows should now be able to recognize your headphones. If this fix doesn\u2019t work, you could try disabling the front panel headphone jack detection. To do so, click the \u201cDevice advanced settings\u201d link in the top right corner of the \u201cRealtek HD Audio Manager\u201d window.<\/li>\n
      6. Select the \u201cSeparate all input jacks as independent input devices\u201d radio button and enable \u201cMulti-stream mode\u201d.<\/li>\n
      7. Click \u201cOK\u201d and then select \u201cOK\u201d again to accept the changes.<\/li>\n
      8. Restart Windows.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Did this solution resolve your headphone issues? If not, move on to the next solution below.<\/p>\n

        Fix 4: Update Your Audio\/Sound Drivers<\/h2>\n

        If your PC fails to detect your headphones continuously, the errors could be driver-related. Usually, drivers are upgraded periodically and you have to install the updates to enable seamless communication between your PC and your devices. With Windows 10, drivers are updated alongside Windows with the regular Windows updates from Microsoft. However, sometimes the new driver versions may be incompatible with your system, leading to sound issues.<\/p>\n

        In that case, installing the latest audio drivers could fix the sound issues. You can install the driver updates using two methods:<\/p>\n