windows 11 laptop speakers work but headphones no sound

Question

My sound windows 11 was not working properly so reinstalled driver. Speakers and Headphoned worked. Paired bluetooth earbuds and headphones stopped working. I can see headphones in control panel but can not activate them.

Answer 1

I had a similar issue after reinstalling the audio driver. In my case, Windows was using the wrong playback device. Also check if your laptop's audio driver is the one from your laptop manufacturer's website instead of the generic Windows driver. If Bluetooth headphones aren't working either, it could be the Bluetooth or audio service rather than the headphones themselves. What laptop model are you using?

Answer 2

Folks, I had the same problem in Windows 11 with a HyperX headset, and I tried many things, but the answer was to switch off LE Audio in the sound selection. Hope this helps others.

Answer 3

Dear Thomas Crawford,

I haven't received the message from you yet. 

Please let me know if these steps I provided could help.

If there is anything more that I can do for you or if anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Answer 4

Dear Thomas Crawford,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

Since the issue started after pairing Bluetooth earbuds, Windows is likely to route audio to a device it thinks is smarter than the wired jack, or the device status is disabled in the classic settings. You could try the following steps to resolve this issue:

1. Check the output switch:
   • Look at the Volume/Speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar (near the clock).
   • Click it to open the Quick Settings menu.
   • To the right of the volume slider, click the arrow icon (>) or the Sound icon.
   • You should see a list. Select Headphones.
2. Enable the device in the classic panel:
   • Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard.
   • Type mmsys.cpl and press Enter.
   • In the Playback tab, look for your Headphones.
   • Right-click on the Headphones:
   • If it says Enable, click that.
   • If it is already enabled, click Set as Default Device.
   • If you don't see the headphones, right-click any empty white space in the list and check both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices.
3. Clear the bluetooth conflict:
   • Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
   • Find your Bluetooth earbuds in the list.
   • Click the three dots ... and select Disconnect (or Remove device temporarily to test).
   • Restart your computer with the wired headphones plugged in.
4. Reinstall the driver:
   • Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
   • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   • Right-click Realtek High Definition Audio (or your specific audio brand).
   • Select Uninstall device.
   • Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver for this device".
   • Click Uninstall and then Restart your laptop. Windows will reinstall a basic stable driver upon reboot.

Please understand that our initial reply may not always immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Answer 5

If your headphones are not producing sound while your laptop speakers are working, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Headphone Connection: Ensure that your headphones are properly plugged in or paired if they are Bluetooth headphones. Sometimes, a loose connection can cause audio issues.
2. Set Headphones as Default Device: Go to Settings > System > Sound. Under the Output section, make sure your headphones are selected as the default output device. If they are not listed, try unplugging and plugging them back in or reconnecting them.
3. Update Audio Drivers: Since you mentioned reinstalling the driver, ensure that you have the latest version of the audio drivers installed. You can check for updates through Windows Update or the manufacturer's website.
4. Bluetooth Troubleshooting: If you are using Bluetooth headphones, ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on your laptop. You can also try removing the headphones from the list of paired devices and re-pairing them.
5. Check Volume Levels: Sometimes, the volume for headphones can be muted or set too low. Check the volume mixer by right-clicking the sound icon in the taskbar and selecting Open Volume Mixer.
6. Restart Your Device: A simple restart can sometimes resolve audio issues.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to check for any compatibility holds related to your audio drivers or hardware as indicated in the context provided.

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References:

• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2
• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 21H2