Headphones Jack Not Working on Windows 11 or 10

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

If you’re a Windows user, you may have experienced problems with headphones or headsets, especially if you’re using a laptop. Even when you’ve plugged your headphones jack correctly into your computer, there may be no sound from the speakers or mic. This guide aims to help you troubleshoot and resolve headphones jack not working problems on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC.

The causes of the issue can be varied, and troubleshooting can be a tedious process. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of fixes to headphones jack-related problems.

Troubleshooting headphones jack not working issues

First, ensure that your headphones jack is correctly connected to your computer and that neither the headphones connector nor the jack is broken. If you have multiple jacks, try switching your headphones from the front to the back panel or vice versa to see if it works.

Additionally, try slowly turning the connector on the jack clockwise or counter-clockwise to see if the headphones work. If not, move on to the next solution below.

Make sure the headphones are selected and enabled

If you have a built-in speaker or an external speaker connected to your computer, you need to tell Windows which one to use. You cannot use them simultaneously. If you haven’t chosen your primary audio device yet, Windows will automatically choose the default audio device.

To enable your headphones on Windows 11 or Windows 10, right-click on the Sound icon in the taskbar and select Sounds.

Open Sounds Settings

Next, go to the Playback tab, right-click on your headphone audio device, and click Enable. If multiple audio devices are enabled simultaneously, disable the other external speakers until only your headphone is left enabled. Optionally, you can right-click your headphone and select Set as default device.

Headphones not working Windows 11/10 after update

If you don’t see your headphone on the list, right-click anywhere in the Playback window, click Show disabled devices and Show disconnected devices. Sometimes, they can be hidden by default.

The name of the audio device may vary depending on the brand and model of your headphone. It may also appear as Speaker in some cases. For instance, if you connect it via USB, it will appear as USB Audio Device.

After enabling your headphones on the Playback tab and setting it as the default device, Windows will use your headphone first over other devices. This solution is particularly useful for laptop users who typically have a built-in speaker that Windows sets as the default audio device. You will most likely have to manually enable and select your headphone as the default device from the Playback tab.

Update your headphones audio driver

If you don’t see your headphone on the Playback list, Windows couldn’t detect your headphone, or the sound card driver is missing or corrupted. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Press Win+R keys to open the Run window.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
  3. In the Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers category.
  4. Right-click on your primary audio controller where your headphone is connected (usually Realtek High Definition Audio for most laptops, but it can be other names depending on the model of your sound adapter), then click Update driver.Headphones jack not working on Windows 10/11
  5. If you connect your headphone to PC via USB, it should appear as USB Audio Device or a more specific name of your headphone. 6. Select Search automatically for updated software driver to allow Windows to find and install the driver for your computer automatically.

If you have a driver CD that comes with your headphone, use the CD to install the driver for your headphone. If you have a specific sound card, download the driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it.

Uninstall the audio driver or use other workarounds

In most cases, the method above should fix the problem driver. Another solution is to uninstall the audio driver. Follow the steps outlined above until you right-click on your audio driver, select Uninstall, and restart your computer. Windows will automatically search for and install the right driver for your PC during the next reboot.

uninstall headphones driver

If you connect your headphone through USB, try plugging it into another USB port and updating your USB controller driver from the Device Manager.

If all else fails to resolve your headphones jack not working issue, and the problem arises only after a recent Windows update, it could be due to the update that causes the headphones not to work correctly. You may want to try rolling back the Windows 11/10 update to an earlier build.


Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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