How to Change Audio Output on Windows

Last Updated: December 18, 2021 Tested

Lots of people have multiple audio devices plugged into their computers, like headphones, speakers, and external monitors. This wikiHow article will teach you how to change the audio output in Windows so you can quickly and easily switch between your speakers and headphones. You can change the audio output through the volume control icon in the taskbar and you can change the default audio output device through the Control Panel.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Using the Taskbar

1
Left-click the speaker icon in your taskbar. It's usually on the far right side of the taskbar next to the Wi-Fi icon.
2
Click the arrow next to the current audio output. Clicking this will prompt a menu to appear that lists all your current audio devices.
- For Windows 11, you will see the arrow next to the sound slider instead.
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3
Click the audio output you want to use. When you do this, the sound will play through the audio output device you selected from the list.
- You will have to repeat this process every time your computer shuts down or any time you want to change the audio output. If you don't want to have to do this all the time, go to the Control Panel and change the default audio device.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Changing the Default Audio Device

1
Click the Windows Start
button. It's the button that has the Windows logo in the lower-left corner in the taskbar. This displays the Windows Start menu.
2
Type Control Panel. This displays the Control Panel at the top of the Windows Start menu.
3
Click the Control Panel. The Control Panel is the app that has an icon that resembles a blue screen with graphs.
4
Click Hardware and Sound. It's the green text next to an image of a printer.
5
Click Sound. It's next to the icon that resembles a speaker. This displays the Sound options window.
6
Click the Playback tab. The Playback tab is the first tab at the top of the Sound options window. This displays a list of available audio devices.
7
Click the audio device you want. This may include internal speakers, monitor speakers, a USB device, or Bluetooth speakers/headphones.
- Read "How To Connect a Bluetooth Speaker to a Laptop" to learn more about how to connect a Bluetooth audio device to a Windows computer.
8
Click Set Default. It's the button below the list of devices in the sound options. It's has a downward-facing arrow next to it. This sets the audio device as the default audio device.^{[1]
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9
Click Ok. It's in the lower-right corner of the Sound options window. This closes the Sound options window.
- You can also click the speaker icon in the taskbar. This displays the volume bar. Click the up arrow to the right above the volume bar. Then select the device you want to use for your audio output.^{[2]
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Community Q&A

Question

I have dual monitors and cannot find where to set sound output to the second monitor in windowa 7

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Not all monitors or displays have built-in speakers, so if you don't see the option to play sound through that monitor, make sure it has speakers or that they are connected properly. If the monitor has speakers, you also have to consider the age/wear & tear on the components and realize that they may not be compatible with your current system.
Question

I want to use my headphone, but what if it's not displayed under playback?

SP_CTRE

Community Answer

It might be something wrong with your audio driver. Go to your taskbar and type in "Device manager". Once you've opened that, expand "Audio inputs and outputs". Right click on your audio device and hit "Update driver".
Question

There is no sound and I have made sure the volume is not muted. I have tried the the control panel and nothing still. Why?

Community Answer

Try the troubleshooter. Go to control panel, then go to troubleshooting and select the audio choice. Use this to help your diagnose the Windows problem.
Question

What do I do if I accidentally deleted the audio output device?

Community Answer

The audio output device should come back on the next reboot because deleting the device is actually forcing the driver to stop.
Question

Do you have to plug in the speakers to your monitor?

Community Answer

No, you do not. You can just plug them into your computer, as opposed to through a monitor or a similar device, as long as your computer has a jack for speakers, which >99% of computers nowadays have.
Question

Why are you showing such a complicated way of chagning the audio output device? Just click on sound tray symbol in task bar and select the desired audio device from the dropdown list. 2 steps, not 9!

Community Answer

Sometimes that option is not visible. But wikiHow is a wiki after all, and you should feel free to improve the article!