Headphones not working on the laptop
Push the plug all the way in
Push the headphone plug firmly into the round audio hole until it clicks.
The simulation shows Windows in English, like most laptops.
Push the plug all the way in
Push the headphone plug firmly into the round audio hole until it clicks.
Choose Headphones as the sound output
Click the speaker icon at the bottom right, then the arrow next to the volume, and choose Headphones.
Turn up the volume
Slide the volume to the right. Also check the volume button on the headphone cable, if it has one.
Did it work?
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From basic to technician
Technical details (for the curious)
3.5 mm jack: 3 or 4 rings
Headsets with a mic use a 4-ring plug (TRRS). Laptops with one combo hole support it. Older laptops with two separate holes (headphones and mic) need a splitter adapter.
Jack detection
The Realtek driver notices when a plug goes in and moves the sound to the headphones. If sound keeps coming from the speakers, the audio driver from the laptop maker’s site often fixes it; Windows’ generic driver sometimes can’t detect the plug.
USB and USB-C headphones
USB headphones have their own “sound card” and show up as a separate device in the output list. Choose their name in Settings › System › Sound.
While you’re here
Worth reading
Quiz time
Still not fixed?
In the next update you can tell us what happened, and our AI helper will suggest another way. Until then, restart the device and go through the steps once more.