How to Fix Headphones Not Working on Windows 10

This guide walks you through the most common fixes for headphones that are plugged into a Windows 10 PC but produce no sound, are not detected, or only play through the speakers. You’ll start with the quickest checks and move through driver and settings solutions until you find the one that works.

What You’ll Need

Your headphones (wired or wireless) and their charging cable if applicable
Access to a Windows 10 administrator account (for driver changes)
An internet connection (for downloading drivers if needed)

Step-by-Step

Check the physical connection. If you’re using wired headphones, make sure the plug is fully inserted into the correct jack. Most laptops have a single combo jack for both mic and headphones; desktops usually have separate green (headphone) and pink (mic) ports. Try a different port if available. If you’re using USB headphones, try a different USB port.
Test the headphones on another device. Plug them into a phone or another computer. If they don’t work there, the problem is the headphones themselves, not Windows. If they work elsewhere, continue.
Check the volume and mute settings. Click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner). Make sure the volume is not at zero and that the mute button is not enabled. Also check the volume on the headphones themselves if they have inline controls.
Set headphones as the default playback device. Right-click the speaker icon and select Open Sound settings. Under Output, choose your headphones from the dropdown. If they don’t appear, right-click the speaker icon again and select Sounds (or Open Sound settings then Sound Control Panel). In the Playback tab, look for your headphones. If they are grayed out, right-click them and select Enable. Then right-click and choose Set as Default Device.
Run the audio troubleshooter. Go to Settings (Windows key + I) > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Select Playing Audio and click Run the troubleshooter. Follow the prompts; Windows will try to detect and fix issues automatically.
Update or reinstall the audio driver. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand Sound, video and game controllers. Find your audio device (often Realtek High Definition Audio or similar). Right-click it and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. If Windows doesn’t find a new one, right-click again and select Uninstall device (check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device” if it appears). Restart your PC; Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
Disable front panel jack detection (for desktop PCs). If you have a desktop with a front audio jack that isn’t working, open the Realtek Audio Console or HD Audio Manager (search for it in the Start menu). Look for a setting like Connector Settings or Jack Detection and uncheck the option that disables detection when the jack is empty. This forces the port to always be active.
Check app-specific sound settings. If only one app (like a browser or game) has no sound, open Sound settings (right-click speaker icon) and scroll to Advanced sound options. Click App volume and device preferences. Make sure the app is not muted and that its output device is set to your headphones.
Restart the Windows Audio service. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll down to Windows Audio. Right-click it and select Restart. Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
Check for Windows updates. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates and restart your PC.

Common Mistakes

Plugging into the wrong jack: On desktops, the headphone jack is usually green; the mic jack is pink. Plugging headphones into a line-in or speaker-out port won’t work.
Forgetting to switch the default device: Windows often keeps the speakers as the default even when headphones are plugged in. You must manually select the headphones in the sound settings.
Not checking the mute button on the headphone cable: Many headsets have a mute switch or button on the cable or earcup that is easy to accidentally toggle.
Skipping the restart after driver changes: Driver updates or uninstalls often require a full restart to take effect.

Tips

Use the Sound Control Panel for more control: Right-click the speaker icon > Sounds > Playback tab. Here you can see all devices, test them (right-click > Test), and set defaults.
Keep your audio drivers updated: Visit your PC manufacturer’s support page or the audio chipset maker’s site (like Realtek or Intel) for the latest drivers. Windows Update often provides them, but not always.
Try the headphones in a different USB port: If you’re using USB headphones, a faulty port can cause issues. Also avoid USB hubs; connect directly to the PC.
For Bluetooth headphones, remove and re-pair: Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Remove the headphone entry, then put the headphones in pairing mode and add them again.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t solve the problem, try these additional checks:

Check the audio enhancements: Right-click the speaker icon > Sounds > Playback tab. Select your headphones, click Properties, go to the Enhancements tab, and check Disable all enhancements. Sometimes these cause issues.
Try a different audio format: In the same Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and try a different default format (e.g., 16-bit, 44100 Hz instead of 24-bit, 96000 Hz). Click Test to check.
Check if the problem is with the headset’s mic: If the mic isn’t working but sound is, make sure the headset is selected as the default recording device in Sound settings > Input.
Use the hardware troubleshooter: In Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, run Hardware and Devices.
If all else fails, create a new user account: Sometimes a corrupted user profile causes audio issues. Create a new local user account (Settings > Accounts > Family & other users) and test the headphones there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows say “No speakers or headphones are plugged in”?
This usually means the audio jack is not detecting the device. Try unplugging and re-plugging the headphones, cleaning the jack with a dry cotton swab, or disabling front panel jack detection as described above.

My headphones work but the mic doesn’t. What should I do?
Check that the headset is set as the default input device in Sound settings > Input. If it’s a combo jack, make sure the plug is fully inserted. Also check if the headset has a mute switch on the cable.

How do I make Windows automatically switch to headphones when I plug them in?
Windows usually does this automatically, but if it doesn’t, you can set the headphones as the default device once, and it should remember. Some audio drivers have an option to enable auto-switching in their control panel.

Why is my Bluetooth headphone connected but not playing sound?
Right-click the speaker icon and open Sound settings. Under Output, make sure your Bluetooth headphone is selected. Also check the volume level on the headphone itself and in Windows. Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting helps.

Can a Windows update break my headphone audio?
Yes, occasionally a Windows update can change audio driver settings or install a driver that isn’t compatible. If this happens, you can roll back the driver in Device Manager (right-click audio device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver).

What if my headphones work on other devices but not on this PC?
This points to a PC-specific issue. Follow the steps in this guide, especially the driver update and default device settings. If nothing works, the audio jack or the audio chip on the motherboard may be faulty, and you may need to use a USB sound adapter.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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