Realtek Audio Issues After Updating to Windows 11

Question

Hi, like the title says I'm having issues with Realtek, specifically with using headphones. Before updating to Windows 11 yesterday, every time I would plug headphones in a small Realtek Audio Manager dialog box would pop up and ask me to choose what device type I had plugged in before it would play audio through the headphones. After the update, this black dialog box only briefly appears for a half second (not fully loaded with any text), before quickly disappearing without letting me interact. Because I can't choose anything in the dialog box, the audio continues to play out of the computer speakers with no way to switch this.

I've already tried updating (told device is already up to date), disabling and re-enabling, and finally uninstalling Realtek and the hidden Realtek driver (here the driver just gets automatically re-installed on restart). None of the method have gotten me anywhere. If anyone here has any insight into this problem, help would be much appreciated! Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Carlo,

My problem was solved by uninstalling the Realtek Audio through Device Manager, and then going to Dell's website and downloading Realtek audio driver that was most recent and compatible with my device and OS version. After running the executable and installing Realtek, upon restarting my problem was fixed!

The second solution from the second answer here was what I followed: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/realtek-not-detecting-headphones-after-being/a5b06e89-9342-430f-bc73-e497c153a80c

Answer 2

Good Day BrokenPhones45,

My name is Carlo, I am also using Windows 10 pc and community member like you. Let us work together to sort this out.

Here's the steps you can try.

-Press Windows key + X

-Go to Device Manager

-Expand the Sound and Video Game Controllers

-Look for Audio driver that was installed

-Right click and Update

-Look for "Browse my computer for driver

-Let me pick drivers available drivers

-Choose an old driver and use it.

-Go to Control Panel

-In Control Panel, select Large icons from the View by drop down menu.

-Select Sound.

-Select the Playback tab

-Right click the Headset and click Enable.

-Right-click it again and select Set as Default Device.

-Right click Headset and click Properties.

-Click the Levels tab, then drag the volume slider towards the largest value.

-Click on Advance Tab

-Uncheck the box to "Allow Application to take exclusive controls on this device"

-Click OK.

Restart your computer and test the headphones.

If issue persist, let's download the updated driver

What is the exact model of your computer?

To check the system model proceed with these steps.

-Press Windows key + R

-Type msinfo32 and hit enter.

-Look for the System Model and manufacturer and post it here.

I hope the information above helps. Please let me know how it goes.

Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Carlo T.

Answer 3

You shouldn't even have had to do that. Windows provides compatible drivers out of the box. If you want the extra software though then that's about it. But there's good and bad to both. I recommend always just sticking to what Windows provides unless you absolutely have to. Onboard audio is least likely to have to.