There are various reasons why the laptop does not see the headphones when connected. And this does not always mean that the sound playback device is broken. In the article, we will consider options for eliminating the main and indirect causes of incorrect sound settings.
ATTENTION! If you have wireless headphones, go here.
Method 1: Use the troubleshooter
The easiest method to solve the headphone visibility problem in Windows 10 is to use the standard troubleshooter. It will check services and test the device to ensure it is functioning correctly. The advantage of this tool is that all actions are performed automatically; the user only needs to start the process.
- Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and click the Update & Security tile.
- In the left panel, select the "Troubleshooting" section.
- If it doesn't show any available options, click on "Advanced troubleshooting tools."
- In the “Run diagnostics and fix the problem” block, select “Play sound”.
- A “Run the troubleshooter” button will appear, which is what you need to use.
- Wait until items with a selection of available devices are displayed.
- Specify your default playback device (i.e. sound card, not headphones) and continue to the next step.
All that remains is to wait for the display of a notification about the problems found or instructions on what actions need to be taken.
Method 2: Switch the device you are using
It is possible that the operating system and programs do not see the connected headphones only because the wrong playback device is selected in the settings. In this case, you will not hear the sounds during playback, since they are transmitted to other equipment. To correct this situation, follow these steps:
- In the same Settings app, this time select the System tile.
- Through the panel on the left, go to the “Sound” section.
- Scroll down to the “Related Settings” block and click on “Sound Control Panel”.
- A new window will appear with a tab showing available playback devices.
- Right-click on the connected headphones and select “Set as default” from the context menu.
If it turns out that the necessary equipment is not on this list at all, go to Method 5 of this article to activate the disabled device and designate it as the main one.
Method 3: Uninstall and reinstall the sound driver
Sometimes playback devices are not displayed in the Windows 10 operating system due to an incorrectly working sound driver or a missing one. In this case, the sound may be played through the laptop speakers, but there will be no sound after connecting headphones. The problem is solved by removing the current sound driver and installing a new one, which happens as follows:
- Right-click on “Start” and open “Device Manager” through the context menu.
- In a new window, expand the “Sound, gaming and video devices” category, find the equipment you are using there and double-click on the LMB line.
- A properties window will open, in which switch to the “Driver” tab and use the “Remove device” button.
- When a notification appears, be sure to confirm the uninstallation.
- You can update the driver through the same window after restarting the computer, but it is better to use the official website of the manufacturer of the laptop or motherboard installed in the computer.
Details about how sound drivers are loaded using a variety of methods are written in another article on our website, which you can access by clicking on the next heading.
Read more: Download and install sound drivers
How to check driver operation and restore sound
When there is no sound when properly connected to the motherboard, you need to check the drivers and sound parameters.
Windows 7
Realtek is required for audio to work. After launch, you need to select the “speakers” section. Next, you need to open the yellow folder icon located in the upper right corner. In the “connector parameters” check the device definition. If it does not function as desired, check the box to disable device detection. Performance should be restored. You can also fix the problem in advanced settings. This window allows you to adjust headphones, headsets and other audio devices.
The soundbar operates according to the outdated AC97 standard, introduced to the world by Intel back in 1997, and the motherboard's audio subsystem operates according to the new HD standard. Therefore, the front audio device on your computer may not work. To troubleshoot the problem, you need to go to the BIOS and follow the steps:
- Advanced;
- Onboard Devices Configuration;
- Front Panel Type, characterized by the position of HD Audio, which needs to be switched to AC97;
- The last step is to restart the PC.
Method 4: Setting up the program you are using
This method is applicable only in situations where there are problems with sound playback through headphones only when using certain programs for communication or working with audio. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you about all of them at once, so we’ll take the Discord messenger as an example, and you’ll just have to adapt the instructions to suit your case.
- Launch the software and go to its settings.
- Open the "Sound" or "Voice and Video" section.
- Find the "Output Device" list.
- Change it and see how it affects the sounds you hear. If there are several devices available, activate each one in turn and test.
The essence of the problem
All laptops have a built-in microphone, but many users are not satisfied with its characteristics and they connect external devices. This can be done via:
- USB;
- Jack;
- Bluetooth.
Headsets with wires are more vulnerable, because... Over time, they fray and become unusable. When connecting wireless gadgets, the problem may arise at the stage of setting them up. To check the functionality of the intercom, use the Windows Voice Recorder program.
Method 5: Enable a disabled device
This method is relevant primarily for owners of personal computers rather than laptops, since the first type of device is characterized by the output of several different sound devices. However, disconnected equipment is worth checking in any case. Perhaps after activating it and selecting the default, the headphones will work.
- Go to Settings > System > Sound and go to Sound Control Panel.
- Once on the “Playback” tab, right-click on an empty space in the window and check the box next to “Show disconnected devices.”
- If the list has been updated with a disabled device, call up the context menu by right-clicking on it and select “Enable”, then set it as the default and check if sound appears in the headphones.
Virus scanning
As strange as it may sound, rogue viruses can also play a role in the problem of connecting headphones. Therefore, as an option, scan your system for viruses. To do this, you can use either your installed antivirus. And if you don’t want to install anything (which I don’t recommend), then run through your computer with at least one of the free healing utilities, for example DrWeb cure it.
Method 6: Enable Windows Audio service
A service called “Windows Audio” is responsible for the operation of audio devices in the operating system. It will usually be scanned by the troubleshooter if you have used one, but sometimes it will crash and cause the service to be ignored or not activate automatically. We recommend changing its settings manually if necessary.
- Find the Services application through Start and launch it.
- In the list, find the “Windows Audio” item and double-click on it to go to “Properties”.
- Make sure the startup type is set to Automatic or change it to such.
- If the service is currently inactive, use the "Start" button, after which you can check if changes have occurred during playback. It would be a good idea to reboot the device if the sound does not appear immediately.
Other solutions
Finally, do not forget that some types of dangerous viruses can also negatively affect the state of the sound system. If none of the above suggestions help, try completely scanning your laptop with some portable scanner and getting rid of threats if any are found. According to users, when short-term errors occur in the operating system itself, sometimes a regular reboot or (in especially critical cases) restoring it to its previous state helps. Sometimes it happens that alternately decreasing the volume and then increasing the sound level also gives results (sometimes the level in the tray seems to be displayed at maximum, but in fact the sound turns out to be muted).
Method 7: Check which connector is being used
Most new laptop models have a combined connector, where both headphones and a microphone are connected to one port. If your device has two 3.5 mm jacks at once, it is important to choose the one that is designed for headphones and not a microphone. Check the connection type and change it if it suddenly turns out that the wrong port is selected. With computers things are a little more complicated. There are also two ports on the front panel of the system unit, just like on old laptops, but on the motherboard panel there are as many as three connectors of different colors. Use green for headphones and red for microphone.
Find other headphones for sound testing. If they connect and work correctly, it means that the previously connected device is physically faulty. Inspect the cable or take the equipment to a service center for further diagnostics.
Incorrect connection
The computer does not see the microphone from the headphones? Sometimes this situation is caused by an incorrect connection. The problem usually occurs with a wired jack-type headset.
Here's how to properly connect headphones with a microphone:
- USB models connect to a USB socket. Usually the microphone and headphones have one connection cable. This means that the entire device will be identified at once.
- The Bluetooth headset is connected after activating Bluetooth on the laptop or PC. You need to turn on the headphones (if necessary, charge them before use), and then go to “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Add a new device” (in the “Hardware and Sound” section). Find the headset and click on the “Add” button.
- To connect classic wired headphones, you need to find jack sockets on the panel of your PC (front or back) or laptop (usually on the side). Plug the headphone cable (usually green) into the connector of the corresponding color (the headset will be drawn next to it), insert the microphone cable into the pink connector, near which there is a miniature of the microphone.
That's all. If the user has connected the headset correctly, it should work fully. But why doesn’t the computer see the microphone on the headphones when the devices are connected correctly?
Method 8: Turn on headphones
The final method applies only to wireless headphones that connect to the computer via a special adapter or Bluetooth. On the bodies of many of them there is a button responsible for turning on the device. If you do not press it, the laptop will not detect the device and, accordingly, the sound will simply not be transmitted to it. If you have problems connecting your wireless headphones, we recommend that you read other instructions on our website.
More details: Connecting wireless headphones to a computer
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Common causes of microphone problems
You can deal with the problem yourself in the following situations:
- incorrect connection;
- outdated drivers;
- incorrect setting;
- presence of viruses.
If the USB port or the port for this device is faulty, or the audio card is faulty, you will have to contact a specialist.
The socket into which the microphone cord is inserted is painted pink, or there are options for connecting via a USB plug. If the integrity of the cable is damaged, you can replace the damaged section yourself.
