How to Fix Headphone Not Working Issues in Windows?

Headphone issues in Windows can be frustrating as you cannot listen to your music, movie or even hear sound effects when playing video games. However, headphones not working is a common problem when using Windows 10 computer. There are many reasons behind this problem ranging from hardware to software issues. If you cannot hear any sound through your headphones, here are some solutions to fix headphone not working issues in Windows PC.

Fix Headphone Issues in Windows 10

The following troubleshooting and fixes will help you resolve the problem. You don’t have to try all of them, just try the fixes one by one until you get your headphones working.

Testing Your Headphones and Connections

In most cases, your headphone not working issue may be related to wrong connection or compatibility.

Check Headphone Connection

• Ensure that the headphone jack is firmly connected to the right port. The port is marked with a speaker or a headphone icon and in some computers and is coded with a green color.
• It may help to unplug the jack and plug it back and then restart the computer.
• If you are using Bluetooth headphones, check to confirm that it is paired to the right device.
• If the headphone has an independent audio control, ensure that the volume is loud enough. Also, check the volume control buttons on the PC to make sure that the volume is not muted accidentally.

Test the Headphones with a Different Device

If your headphone is properly connected and the problem still exists, try testing the hardware with a different device.

• Try the headphones on a different computer or mobile phone.
• If you have a different pair of headphones, try the pair on your PC as well.
• If your headphones fail to work on a different device, and the other pair works on your computer, it is possible that your headphones are damaged and need repair or replacement.

Check and Adjust Sound Settings in Windows

Sometimes your headphones may stop working due to wrong sound settings in Windows.

Adjust Windows 10 Volume

• Click the speaker icon at the notification area, the right edge of the taskbar.
• If the volume is mute or too low, slide the volume bar to increase the volume and test the headphones.

Related: How to fix microphone problems in Windows PC?

Set Headphones as Default Device

• Right-click the speaker icon on the notification area or at the system tray.
• From the resulting context menu, select “Open Sound settings”.

• Click “Sound” on the right panel of the settings window to open the sound settings.
• On the “Output” section, click the arrow under “Choose your output device” to expand the available devices and then select your headphones from the list.

Enable Headphone as a Playback Device

• Type ‘control panel’ in the Windows search box and select “Control Panel” from the results.

• Select the “Hardware and Sound” option.

• Click “Sound” from the resulting option to open the sound settings.

• Under the “Playback” tab, right-click the headphones and click “Enable” from the menu that appears.

• Click the “Ok” button to save the changes.

Fix Headphone Problems with Audio Troubleshooter

• Right-click the speaker icon on the notification area and select “Troubleshoot sound problems”.
• Alternatively, press open the Windows 10 settings up, go to “Update & Security” settings.
• Select “Troubleshoot” on the left-hand pane, select the “Playing Audio” option and click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

• Select your headphones from the list displayed on the popup window and click the “Next” button.

• Let the Windows detect the problem and suggest the solution.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the detected issue.

Disable Sound Enhancement

Your headphones may fail to function if any sound enhancements have been enabled. In order to fix your headphone issues, you can disable the sound enhancements:

• Right-click the speaker icon on the notification area and select “Open Sound settings.”
• On the right-hand pane, click the “Sound Control Panel” link.

• The “headphone/ speaker properties” window will show up. Under the “Enhancements” tab, check the “Disable all enhancements” box.

• Click the “Preview” button to test the headphones and then click “Ok” to save the settings.

Adjust the Volume Mixer

• Right-click the speaker icon on the notification area or the system tray and select the “Open Volume Mixer” option.

• If the headphones volume is mute or too low, click the speaker icon to unmute and slide the bar up to increase the volume.

Related: How to stop autoplaying sound in Chrome?

Check Audio Driver to Fix Headphone Problems

Another common reason for headphone problems is that you do not have the right and updated sound card drivers installed.

Update the Audio Driver Software

• Right-click the Windows start button or press the “Win + X” keys on your keyboard and then select “Device Manager” from the resulting options.

• Expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” devices.
• Right-click the headphone and select the “Update driver” option.

• Choose the option to automatically search for updated driver software to look for the updated version online.

• Windows will search for the updated driver software and ensure it is installed.

• If you have the driver already downloaded and stored on your PC, select the option to browse the computer for driver software and pick the driver from your computer storage and click “Next” to start the installation process.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Audio Driver Software

• Open the device manager and right-click the audio device. Select the “Uninstall device” option to remove the driver.

• Click “Uninstall” on the pop up that appears to confirm the action.

• Once the device has been uninstalled, click the “Action” menu on the device manager window and select “Scan for hardware changes”.

• The audio driver software will be reinstalled automatically.

Rollback Drivers to Previous Version

If you have updated the audio drivers, the new version could be incompatible with your headphones. Thus, restoring the driver software to its previous state may solve the headphone issue.

• Right-click the device and go to the device “Properties”
• Go to the “Driver” tab and click the “Roll Back Driver” button. This will restore the driver software to its previously installed version.

Update Windows 10 to Fix Headphones not Working Problem

Windows 10 updates can resolve a number of hardware issues including driver updates and fixing incompatibility problems.

• Open the Windows settings app by pressing the “Win + I” button.
• Navigate to the “Update and Security settings and “Windows Update” search for available updates.

• Install the new updates and restart your computer.