Headphones not working on PC. What to do if one earplug doesn’t work?

It is not uncommon for users to experience problems connecting a headset to their PC. If an earphone stops working or if there is no sound at all, this guide will help you identify the causes of the problem.

Before we begin, let me note that there may be no sound in the headphones for various reasons. These can be mechanical damage, connector problems, software errors and other malfunctions. First you need to determine the reason why the headphones are not working, as well as diagnose the system and the sound transmission device.

How to determine if the headphones work at all? Common problems

1. Test the headset on another device first. For example, connect your headphones to your phone or TV.
2. Visually inspect the wires and headphone jack. Make sure there is no mechanical damage.
3. If the headset performs all functions when connected to other devices, the problem lies in the software of a personal computer or laptop.

Check the built-in volume control on your headphones

Some headphone models have a volume control. You may just need to turn up the volume on your headset.

Make sure the headphones are properly connected

If your headphones are equipped with a 3.5mm (mini-jack) jack, make sure to use the correct jack to connect the device. Sound output is through the connectorvegetable colors. The headphone jack is marked and labeled accordingly.

• If the headset is connected with a 3.5mm connector (mini-jack), try another input on the PC (if available);
• If you are using USB headphones, try connecting them to other similar jacks as well.

Clean your headphone jack

This is no joke – a 3.5mm (mini-jack) plug clogged with dirt or dust could be the cause of the problem. Below we have described the fastest and most effective way to do this at home.

Attention: Be sure to unplug your PC or laptop before cleaning the outlet!

1. Take a small piece of cotton wool and twist it in your hands.
2. Carefully slide it into the headphone jack.
3. When you feel the edge of the swab resting against the wall of the socket, start scrolling in any direction.
4. Remove the cotton and make sure no cotton swabs are left in the connector.

Switching the sound device in the system

In newer versions of Windows, users can switch audio output devices directly from the taskbar. To do this, click LMB on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the screen, then select “Manage audio devices.” In Windows 11, this menu opens with a check mark next to the volume slider.

In the window that opens, select the desired device. For example, we have shown wired USB headphones as: “Speakers (USB audio device)”. If you don’t know what name the system has given your headset, try checking all available options.

Check the volume of the system and the headphones

It also happens that the headphone sound is turned off in the OS settings. When the system is set to the maximum volume, you need to access the sound settings of the connected device.

Right click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the screen. Select “Open sound options” (Windows 10) or “Sound Options” (Windows 11).

Find the item in the menu that opens “Extra options”. In Windows 10, it’s in the panel on the right, and in Windows 11, it’s under all the main menu options available.

A window will open “Sound”. On the tab “Play” select the desired device, click PKM and press “Properties”.

Go to tab “Levels” and make sure the slider is at its maximum. Also check if the sound is muted (the speaker icon next to the “Balance”).

Set Default Device

Sometimes the system may block the audio output if they are not set to output audio by default. To do this, go to the sound settings (the instruction is described in the previous section), select the headphones and click on them PKM.

Look here “Use Default”. Select “Apply” and “OKAY”to save your settings.

Change the default audio format

Sometimes, if the format of the audio signal being played does not match the system settings, the headphones may also not play any sound. Try changing the settings or set them to default.

Click the speaker icon on the taskbar PKM and choose “Sound Options”. Search in the sidebar “Additional Settings” (Windows 10) or scroll down the page to select “Advanced Sound Options” (Windows 11).

On the menu “Sound” follow the desired device, click PKM and choose “Properties”. Go to tab “Additionally”. Here you can see the item “Standard format”. We recommend setting the default value:

• 16 bit, 48,000 Hz (DVD disc)

In some cases, the system will configure this setting automatically. You can reset the default settings using the corresponding button in this section.

Reinstall the audio driver

Often a problem with headphones occurs because of an outdated audio driver. In this case, you can go to the headset manufacturer’s website and download the latest software.

If this method did not solve your problem, do the following:

1. Use hotkey Win+R.
2. Enter the command “devmgmt.msc” without quotes in the window that appears and click “OK”. Will open “Device Manager”.
3. Select the desired device, click on it PKM and click “Remove device”.
4. Restart your PC.

After the reboot, the system should automatically detect the device and download the latest drivers. If it doesn’t, find the headset again in the device manager list, right click and click “Update driver”.

You can also use third-party tools such as:

• driver amplifier;
• Driver Easy;
• driver package solution;
• CCleaner and others.

If you decide to use such programs, we recommend that you choose an application with an available free version.

The principle of loading drivers through utilities is about the same:

1. Download and install the application.
2. Click “Scan”to let the program detect the missing drivers.
3. After the scan is complete, install the necessary drivers for your operating system.

Removing the IDT Audio Device

Remark: This solution is relevant if your laptop has an IDT Audio device installed.

IDT Audio is a specialized program that provides high-definition (HD) IDT audio playback on select notebook models. Sometimes an audio driver can crash. We recommend removing it from the system:

1. Press hotkey Win+R.
2. In the window that opens, paste “appwiz.cpl” without quotes and click “OKAY”.
3. Locate IDT Audio in the list of programs, right click on it and select “Remove”.

Check your PC for viruses

Viruses often cause problems with connected devices. If the previous steps did not help you, try checking your operating system for threats:

1. Open all available antivirus programs (even Windows Defender will do).
2. Select all partitions on the hard drive and perform a thorough check.
3. Remove potential threats and restart your PC.

Check the registry

It also happens that the PC does not see the headset because of the overflowing registry. It needs to be cleaned up. You can use different programs for this. The best option would be ccleaner.

1. Download, install and run CCleaner.
2. On the left side of the menu, check all the hard drive partitions.
3. Click on section “Analysis”. Then the scanning process will start.
4. When the PC scan is complete, a button will appear. “Cleaning”Click here.

Close CCleaner and reconnect your headphones.

Why does one earpiece not work?

If a speaker stops working, this indicates a malfunction. In rare cases, you can get the second earcup back to work with the following actions:

1. Make sure to insert the headphone jack all the way into the jack.
2. Check the wire for mechanical damage. You can lightly pull on the cable while the headset is in use. If the sound appears and disappears, the wire has become unusable.
3. A similar problem often occurs with devices that have a built-in volume control. If the contact is gone, the sound may appear in one earphone and disappear when the volume is lowered or increased.
4. It is possible that the earpiece speaker has simply burned out. Service centers help you find out.

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If your headset is damaged and it is not possible to repair it, try to find a better option yourself. In this guide, we’ve shown you how to choose the right gaming headphones for your PC.