If you can’t hear sound when plugging in headphones on Windows 11, the issue may be due to incorrect output settings, disabled devices, driver problems, or audio service issues. Follow these steps in order until the problem is resolved.
- Click the speaker icon on the taskbar and ensure the volume is not muted or too low.
- Check the volume controls on your headphones to ensure they are not muted or turned down.
- Press Windows + I, go to System > Sound, and select your headphones under Output.
- Click the arrow next to your headphones and ensure they are enabled, then click Test to check sound.
- Unplug and reconnect your headphones; for Bluetooth, remove and re-pair them in Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Change the audio format in System > Sound > your device > Format, testing each option.
- Disable audio enhancements in the same menu by setting Device Default Effects to Off.
- Run the audio troubleshooter via Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Audio > Run.
- Restart audio services: press Windows + R, type services.msc, restart Windows Audio, Windows Audio Endpoint Builder, and RPC.
- Update audio drivers in Device Manager by right-clicking your sound device and selecting Update driver.
- If updating fails, uninstall the driver (checking “Attempt to remove the driver”), then restart your PC to reinstall it.
- Check for Windows updates in Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, install any found, and restart.
- If still unresolved, set your headphones as the default playback device in Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Playback.
These steps address the most common causes of headphone audio issues in Windows 11.
Additional information can be found on Microsoft's website: https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows/Hardware/Audio/fix-sound-or-audio-problems-in-windows
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