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how to fix headphones in laptop

Avula Gayathri 0 Reputation points
2026-03-08T06:28:17.6666667+00:00

headphones are not working in my laptop what the reason i checked everything in my laptop everything

is correct but why its not working the sound comes outside

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. nobuko c 123.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-08T07:38:33.87+00:00

    Hello,

    I would like to confirm something first.

    Does sound come out from your laptop’s built‑in speakers when the headphones are not connected?

    It seems the headphones are not working, so if you have multiple earphones or headphones, including those with a microphone, please test with another device as well.

    A standard headphone plug has two rings, while a headset with a microphone has three rings.

    Depending on the laptop, there may be separate ports for headsets, headphones/earphones, and microphones, so please make sure the headphones are connected to the correct port.

    Please try the following steps:

    1. Shut down the PC while holding the Shift key, then turn the PC back on.
    2. Disconnect the headphones from the computer.
    3. Right‑click the Start button and open Device Manager.
    4. Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
    5. Connect the headphones to the computer.
    6. Check whether the headphones appear in the Audio inputs and outputs list.

    (If they do not appear, disconnect the headphones, shut down the PC while holding the Shift key, then reconnect the headphones and turn the PC on again. After that, check Device Manager once more.)

    1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
    2. Go to System > Sound, select your headphones, and check the volume level.

    If the volume icon shows an “X”, it means the device is muted—please click the icon to unmute it.

    1. Go back to the main Sound settings page.
    2. Scroll down and open Volume mixer.

    Please check the volume levels and mute settings here as well.

    1. Updating the drivers is also recommended.

    Download the chipset driver and audio driver from your PC manufacturer’s website.

    Install the chipset driver first, then install the audio driver

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  2. AI answer

    2026-03-08T06:28:32.0166667+00:00

    Try these steps in Windows 11 to get the headphones working instead of the laptop speakers:

    1. Check physical connection
      • Make sure the headphone plug is fully inserted into the correct jack (usually the one marked with a headphone icon).
      • If using USB or Bluetooth headphones, make sure they are powered on and properly connected.
    2. Select the correct output device
      1. Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
      2. Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider (tooltip: Select a sound output).
      3. From the list, choose your headphones as the output device instead of the laptop speakers.
    3. Check that sound is not muted and volumes are up
      • Some headphones have their own volume or mute control—make sure they are not muted and volume is turned up.
      • In Windows, raise the main volume from the taskbar and test again.
    4. Check audio hardware and ports
      1. Verify there are no loose cables and the headphones are firmly plugged in.
      2. If the headphones are USB, try a different USB port.
      3. If speakers stop when headphones are unplugged but sound never comes through headphones, test the headphones on another device to rule out a hardware fault.
    5. Set default audio device (for USB/Bluetooth/HDMI)
      1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
      2. In Output, select your headphones. Selecting them here also sets them as the default device.
    6. Turn off audio enhancements (in case they cause issues)
      1. Go to Start > Settings > Sound.
      2. Under Output, select your headphones.
      3. Scroll to Advanced settings and set Audio enhancements to Off.
    7. Run the audio troubleshooter
      1. Select Start > Settings > System.
      2. Select Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      3. In the Audio section, select Run and follow the steps.
    8. Update or reinstall audio drivers
      1. In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then open it.
      2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      3. Right-click the audio device (for example, Realtek, Intel, or your headphone device) and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
      4. If that does not help, right-click the device again, select Uninstall device, check Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and select Uninstall.
      5. Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the audio driver automatically.

    If after these steps the laptop still plays only through the speakers and never through the headphones (and the headphones work on other devices), the laptop’s headphone jack or audio hardware may be faulty and may need hardware service.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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