No speakers or headphones are plugged in windows 10

Computers need a device to be able to output audio. Let it be speakers, headphones, or earbuds, these are the devices that allow you to hear music, videos, and other sounds.

There is a common issue with Windows 10 not recognizing your audio device. You can diagnose this error by looking at the volume icon on your taskbar. If there is an X symbol next to the icon, your device isn’t working.

When this error happens, you won’t be able to hear any audio output from your PC or laptop.

We have compiled some useful tips and methods to help you solve this issue. These solutions are easy and quick, even if you aren’t too tech-savvy.

Note: Before we begin troubleshooting the issue, it’s worth noting that our instructions were written for Windows 10 operating systems. However, this issue also happens on Windows 8 and Windows 7, meaning that our instructions can still help you solve the error.

Here are six methods to help you solve your issues with your speakers or headphones. Make sure you have a local Windows account with administrator permissions — this will be needed for some methods.

Try your device on another computer or audio jack

The very first thing you should do is identify what type of issue you’re dealing with. If your headphones or speakers have a hardware fault, there is no need to try and fix the issue within Windows.

Plug your device into the audio jack of a different computer, laptop, or even a smartphone. If you can hear audio correctly, then the issue is indeed on your own Windows 10 device.

Something you can also try is using a different jack on your computer, if available. Most PC cases come with two jack inputs for audio, one on the front and one on the rear.

On the other hand, if the audio doesn’t work anywhere else, you should either buy a new device or try to get your current one fixed.

Solution 1: Run the Sound Troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes equipped with some pretty useful troubleshooters. Luckily, there is even one for audio and sound issues!

These troubleshooters are easy to run and are accessible to everyone. Though it’s not guaranteed that the Sound Troubleshooter will successfully find and resolve your issue, it’s worth giving it a shot.

Here are the steps to run the Sound Troubleshooter in Windows 10:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing down the Windows + I keys on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can click on the gear icon in the Start menu.
2. Click on the Update & Security section.
   
3. Choose Troubleshoot from the left-side menu.
   
4. Click on Playing Audio under the Getup and running category.
   
5. Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
   
6. Wait for the troubleshooter to look for issues. If anything is detected, you have the option to fix it automatically.

After the troubleshooter attempted a solution, try and play some audio on your device. Don’t worry if you still can’t hear anything — we have several other methods for you to try!

Solution 2: Re-Enable your Sound Card

You can get rid of «No speakers or headphones are plugged in» error by restarting your sound card. You can disable then re-enable it by following the steps below.

1. Press Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This will bring up a utility called Run.
2. Type in devmgmt.msc and hit the OK button. By doing this, you’re launching Windows 10’s Device Manager.
   
3. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers by clicking on the arrow in front of it.
4. Right-click on your sound card and select Disable device.
5. Restart your computer or laptop. This is very important for your changes to finalize.
6. When your device turns back on, repeat steps 1 to 3.
7. Right-click on your sound card and select Enable device. 

You can try playing some audio now to test if your issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Update your sound card driver

Regularly updating your drivers is something you should do all the time. Outdated audio drivers can cause more trouble than you’d think.

There are multiple ways in which you can update your drivers. Follow one of the guides which suit your approach.

Update your driver from Windows itself

In this method, we will be using the Device Manager to find a new, updated driver.

1. Press and hold the Windows key, then press R. This will launch the Run application.
2. Type in devmgmt.msc and hit OK to bring up the Device Manager.
   
3. Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section by clicking on the arrow icon.
4. Right-click on your audio driver and select Update Driver.
5. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
   
6. If Windows can find an updated driver, it will automatically download and install the update to your computer.
7. Restart your PC and test if the issue is solved.

Update your driver with a third-party app

You can also find and download third-party updater tools such as Driver Booster, DriverHub or DriverPack Solution. These three tools are all free and easy to use, but you can always look around the web for more advanced apps.

Note: Always make sure that the app you’re using is trustworthy. Many applications that promise to fix or update your drivers contain malware, adware or spyware. We recommend searching the name of the product and reading reviews made by real people.

Solution 4: Disable front panel jack detection (Realtek)

If you have a Realtek sound card, you can attempt to fix this issue by disabling the detection of the front panel jacks.

Don’t worry — this doesn’t necessarily mean that the front panel jack will be unable to use anymore. In some cases,  it’s quite the opposite. This method is capable of fixing the issue of your front panel jack not working.

1. Search for Control Panel in your search bar, then open the application from your results.
   
2. Change your view mode to Large icons.
   
3. Scroll down and click on the Realtek HD Audio Manager.
   
4. Click on the Connector Settings icon.
   
5. Turn on the Disable front panel jack detection option, then press the OK button.
   

After doing this, try plugging your device in and out and play some audio.

Solution 5: Disable HDMI Sound

Are you using an HDMI cable for transferring audio? Disabling it might do the trick in order to fix your speakers and headphones. Here are the steps to do just that:

1. Right-click on the volume icon in your system tray, then choose Open Sound settings from the menu.
   
2. Click on the Manage sound devices link.
   
3. Click on the High Definition Audio Device you’re currently using to expand it, then click on the Disable button. When done, attempt to play some audio and see if your speakers or headphones work.
   

We hope that by following our guides and tips, you were able to solve your issues with the audio on your computer or laptop. If you experience anything in the future, feel free to return to this article.

How to Connect Bluetooth Speaker to PC ✅

Once you’ve fixed your audio issues, you can now connect your Bluetooth speaker and listen to your favorite sound. If you have a Bluetooth speaker to connect to, here is a video that helps you connect the speaker. Watch how to connect Bluetooth speaker on YouTube:

Also, Read 

> How to Install and Fix Bluetooth Drivers in Windows 10
» How to Change Your Mouse DPI in Windows 10
» How to Optimize Your Outlook Inbox in 5 Easy Steps

Discover how to fix no speakers or headphones are plugged in Windows If the sound hardware is excellent, but the computer is not giving an output, then you are on the right page.

This might occur in all brands of computers including Dell, HP, or any other.  So if you are looking to fix for a particular brand, this post is it. This works for Realtek high definition audio drivers, Dolby, or headphones.

There are many reasons, but the problem could arise due to the damaged hardware. We will cover all those possible solutions here so that your PC starts producing audio again.

There could be many reasons why the computer says no speakers or headphones are plugged in. The error could arise due to hardware defects, outdated audio drivers, or lack of administrative privileges. To confirm this, try to load your audio hardware into other devices and see if it works there or not. Do not try these fixes if the hardware is damaged. Only apply these solutions when there are no hardware defects.

Update Windows Software

So, if windows have released a new version of the operating system, some default hardware does not function properly, as we have discovered. Therefore, your first step should be to check if there are any new official releases from Microsoft.

Here is how you can check for Windows 11 updates:

• Right-click the start menu
• Select ‘settings’.
• Click ‘Update & Security’.
• And then, choose ‘Check for updates’.

Once you do this, Windows will scan its server to find if any new builds are out. You must be connected to a high-speed internet network and this might take a while to finish up. It also requires restarting your PC. Therefore, backup any data before performing the step and also make sure that the battery is good or connect the charger. If you run out of power during the process, it will affect your computer. So, be prepared.

After the scan is complete, all the new available builds will be displayed on the list below and it will automatically download the content. As a next step, just click on the update button if available. If there is no button, that means your device is not compatible with the new changes made. However, in most computers, Windows will automatically start installing new updates after downloading them.

This is a very simple & common solution that I used to fix my earphones a few weeks back. There was no problem with my hardware at all. Below are some more options that you can try to produce sound again.

Update audio drivers

Have you installed the latest audio drivers for windows 11? If there is an outdated audio driver, the sound will not work. You need to check their status first. Follow these steps to get the latest audio drivers for your computer. You will need a high-speed internet connection to update any driver on the PC.

1. Right-click on the start menu and go to ‘Control Panel.’
2. Select ‘Hardware and sound.’
3. Click on ‘Device Manager.’
4. Find ‘audio inputs and outputs’ and click on the arrow to the left to unlock more options.
5. There you will find different audio devices connected to your computer. Right-click on a device and select ‘Update Device Software.’
6. Click on ‘Search automatically for updated driver software.’ Windows will do your job.
7. Update all the listed audio devices one by one.

Fix Using Command Prompt

I am assuming that you already have the latest audio drivers installed. You can also use the command prompt to solve ‘no speakers or headphones are plugged in windows 11‘ issues. Perform the following steps to address the audio problem using the command prompt.

1. Go to the Cortana search box in Windows 11 taskbar and type ‘cmd.’
2. Right-click on ‘Command Prompt’ and select ‘Run as administrator.’
3. It will display a full-screen pop-up window asking for administrator permissions. Select ‘Yes.’
4. Now type the following code and press enter:
    net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice 
5. Then input this command and press enter again:
    net localgroup Administrators /add localservice 
6. Finally, close the command prompt and restart your PC.

In this way, we can solve audio hardware not detected in windows using the command prompt.

Troubleshooter

The troubleshooter is another excellent way to fix sound related issues in windows. You can launch it in the following ways.

• Press the “Windows + I” button simultaneously
• Click “Update & Security” on the settings window
• Select “Troubleshoot”
• Click on “Playing Audio”
• Select “Run the troubleshooter”

The system will now start scanning for errors and detect problems with audio. Just follow on-screen instructions and keep pressing next as it commands. You can easily fix sound issues using this, make sure you’re connected to the internet for more enhancements.

Hardware Maintenance

Sometimes hardware maintenance is required. It might cause no speakers or headphones are plugged in windows 10 problem. The first thing you need to do is check if cables, wires, and audio jacks are okay. There should not be any expired, old, or damaged audio devices. Sometimes broken internal circuits may also cause the problem. Check if there is no rust or dust in audio hardware. Make sure that the wire is fine and not bitten by children, pets, or subjected to cut. You have to take care of all these things properly before trying to solve technical issues with audio devices.

Plus, you can also check if there are any issues with the soundcard. If there are any problems related to audio hardware, please contact your PC manufacturer. There’s nothing we can do about a poorly manufactured product. You can either replace it if you have a warranty from the provider or buy a new one.

no speakers or headphones are plugged in windows 7 fix

For Windows 7 users, navigate to  Control Panel > Device Manager > Update Drivers . Then, right-click and update sound drivers and this should fix the problem. If this does not work, uninstall all the already existing sound drivers, unplug the sound cable, replug and reinstall the drivers once again.

Below is an alternative fix:

• Open start menu and select control panel
• Go to hardware & sound
• Choose ‘Manage Audio Device’ – found under sound.
• In the playback tab, right-click on the blank white space.
• Enable ‘show disconnected device’ & ‘show disconnected device’ options. There must be checkmarks on them.
• Then, download the IDT HD Audio Codec Driver.
• After downloading, install those codecs on your computer and it should fix.

no speakers or headphones are plugged in dell laptop advice

If you are using Dell, then the first fix would be to update the drivers. The steps to update drivers are the same as mentioned above for any operating system that you are using. In addition to all the solutions here, if none of them worked, try to reinstall windows at your own risk after data backup.

In case if it still fails to work, then a common reason could be that your hardware is damaged. You need to take your PC for repair in a computer hardware shop near you or official DELL vendors for warrantied laptops.

Conclusion

To solve no speakers or headphones are plugged in windows fix, update all audio drivers. If it didn’t work, then try using the command prompt to make the computer detect audio hardware. And in the end, if none of them worked, then there is only one reason: you have a terrible audio device. Let me know if any of the above methods helped you play audio in windows. [C U]