Headphones Not Detected

Answer a couple of questions and get the exact fix.

Why does this happen?

Headphones the computer won't recognize come in three kinds — wired, Bluetooth and USB — each with a different fix. Pick your type and the fixer walks you through it.

Common causes

• A partially inserted headphone jack.
• The wrong audio output selected.
• Bluetooth pairing lost or battery low.
• A USB audio driver issue.

Symptoms

• Sound still comes from speakers.
• The headphones don't appear in device lists.
• Bluetooth pairs but drops immediately.
• USB headphones only work sometimes.

Frequently asked questions

Why aren't my headphones detected?

Check the jack is fully in, select them as the output device in Sound settings, and for Bluetooth make sure they're charged and not paired to another device.

Why do my headphones connect but no sound?

Windows is likely still using the speakers. Open Sound settings and set the headphones as the output device.