Your external speakers aren’t showing up on Windows, buzzing sound or sound only coming from one speaker, don’t stress out, they are common issues. There could be many reasons why your speakers are not detected as output devices. If you encounter this issue, experiment with the troubleshooting suggestions provided here to discover a solution that suits your needs.
Why are External Speakers Not Showing Up on Windows 10/11?
When the Window audio device isn’t showing up, there could be several reasons why. Check out some of the common causes we’ve listed below:
- The speaker connection has a problem
- Faulty driver
- Incorrect sound card driver installation
- The sound card has been disabled
Tutorials Fixing Speakers Not Detected
Check The Speaker And PC’s Connection
If your speakers work fine on another device, just double-check that they’re properly connected to your PC.
If you use Bluetooth speakers, test the connection by pairing them with a different Bluetooth device on your computer to ensure a good connection.
For speakers with wires, ensure that the cables are correctly plugged into the right ports. Computers typically have multiple ports, such as an audio jack, line-in jack, and line-out jack, for connecting to a sound card or processor.
Verify that your speakers are connected to the line-out jack. If you are unsure which jack that is, experiment by plugging your speakers or headphones/headset into each jack to determine which one produces sound.
Make sure to set your speakers as the default audio output.
Deactivate Headphone Detection
It may be beneficial to examine the Realtek high definition audio driver downloaded and installed on your computer. If these drivers are causing issues, you can attempt disabling the detection of the front panel audio jack in the settings. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Press “Windows + S” to open the search function on your computer. Search for “Realtek HD Audio Manager” and launch it in a new window.
2. Click on the file folder icon located in the top-right corner of the window.
3. This will take you to the “Connector Settings“. Select the “Disable front panel jack detection” option in the new window to fix any sound problems on your Windows device.
Set Speaker As Main Output
If your speakers aren’t working, it probably just means they’re not set as default. To fix this, set the speakers as the default option by following these steps:
1. Right-click on the speaker icon down in the bottom right of your screen and then hit on “Playback devices“.
2. Two options “Highlight Speakers or Speakers/Headphones” appear – click on Highlight Speakers and hit “Set Default“.
In case you can’t see your speakers listed, they might be disabled. Then just right-click on any space and choose “Show disabled devices from the menu“.
After you have them all listed, right-click on the speakers and choose the option to Enable.
Use Audio Troubleshooter
Run an audio troubleshooter tool to identify any unexpected issues with your Bluetooth-connected sound device. It will provide insights into what may be causing problems with your external sound device and guide you through resolving any detected issues by following these steps:
1. Open the Search bar by pressing “Windows + I“.
Simply type in “Settings” to bring up a new window.
2. Navigate to the “Updates & Security” section and explore the “Troubleshoot” tab in the menu.
3. Locate the “Additional Troubleshooters” within the list of options.
4. Once you locate the “Playing Audio” troubleshooter, click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button.
Upgrade the Audio Driver
If the previous steps do not work, consider updating the audio driver. Updating to the latest driver software is essential for ensuring your laptop functions properly. Firstly, you might uninstall your old version and install the newest one. Now follow these steps to fix the sound issue on Windows 10/11:
1. Use the search bar on the taskbar to search and access “Device Manager.”
2. Locate the sound driver under “Sound, video, and game controllers” in the Device Manager window.
3. Right-click on the driver and select “Update driver” from the menu.
Allow the device to automatically search for the necessary drivers.
Switch Audio Devices
Switching audio devices can solve the problem of external speakers not working on Windows. To successfully change audio devices, follow the steps listed below:
1. Right click on the speaker icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen. Choose the option “Open volume mixer” from the menu.
2. Select the dropdown menu for the “Output device” option and switch to a different device from the list until you resolve the problem.
FAQs
How do I fix the speakers not working on my Windows 10 computer?
Make sure your speakers are properly connected to your computer and check the volume settings to ensure they are not muted or set too low. You can also update the audio driver to resolve any driver issues that may be causing the problem.
How can I set my speakers as the default playback device?
A: Right-click on the sound icon in the taskbar, select “Playback devices,” then right-click on your speakers and choose “Set as default device.”
How do I uninstall a Bluetooth audio device?
A: Go to Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth category, right-click on the Bluetooth audio device, select “Uninstall,” and then confirm the action.
What should I do if my headset is not working properly?
A: Check if the headset is properly connected to the audio port on your computer and make sure it is set as the default playback device in the Sound settings.
How can I update the audio driver on my Windows PC?
A: You can update the audio driver by going to Device Manager, expanding the “Sound, video, and game controllers” category, right-clicking on the audio device, and selecting “Update driver.”
How do I disable a specific audio output device?
A: Right-click on the sound icon in the taskbar, select “Playback devices,” right-click on the device you want to disable and choose “Disable.”
What should I do if I have no sound when using an HDMI connection?
A: Ensure the HDMI cable is properly connected from your computer to the external display, then right-click on the sound icon in the taskbar, select “Playback devices,” and set the HDMI output as the default device.
How do I adjust the volume settings on my Windows PC?
A: You can adjust the volume settings by clicking on the sound icon in the taskbar and moving the volume slider up or down. You can also go to the Sound settings in the Control Panel to fine-tune the volume levels.
