Headphones are audio devices used to have some privacy in public. For instance, if you are going on a train somewhere, instead of the whole cabin listening to your songs, you can simply plug in the headphones and listen to whatever you want. However, sometimes headphones don’t work in Windows 10 if the default audio format is not compatible with the audio device, the device is not enabled, the headphones are not set as default, or the audio device drivers are outdated.

In this write-up, we will lay out multiple solutions to eliminate the “My headphone not working” issue in Windows 10.

How to Fix the “My headphone not working” Issue on Windows 10?

To fix the “My headphone not working” issue on Windows 10, try the following fixes:

• Change the Audio Format
• Enable Playback Device
• Set As Default Device
• Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter
• Update the Audio Driver

Method 1: Change the Audio Format

Maybe your headphones are not working on the audio format that has been set as default. Try different audio formats by following the provided steps.

Step 1: Go to Control Panel
Utilizing the Startup menu, go to the Control Panel:

Step 2: Select Sound
Locate “Sound” and click on it to open:

Step 3: Open Properties
Open the “Properties” of the selected device:

Step 4: Redirect to the “Advanced” Tab
Switch to the tab highlighted below:

Step 5: Change the Audio Format
Try different audio formats and test your headphones:

When the audio format that works is found, click on “Apply” and then “OK”.

Method 2: Enable Playback Device

The headphone you are trying to use might not be enabled. Check them in “Disabled Devices” and enable them by following the steps below.

Step 1: See Disabled Devices
Open Sound Settings. Right-click anywhere and mark “Show Disabled Devices” checkbox:

Step 2: Enable Your Headphones
If your headphones are disabled, right-click the corresponding device, and hit “Enable”:

Method 3: Set As Default Device

Your headphone might not be set as the default device, which might cause the audio to be played on another device. Set your headphones as the default device by clicking on your headphones and press the “Set Default” button:

Method 4: Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter

Windows comes with its built-in problem solver, which is known as a troubleshooter. Moreover, the respective audio troubleshooter can be utilized for fixing the mentioned issue.

Step 1: Open Settings
Press “Window+I” to launch the “Settings” window:

Step 2: Go to “Update & Security”
Scroll down and select “Update & Security”:

Step 3: Choose Troubleshoot
Hit the button highlighted in the image below:

Step 4: See all Troubleshooters
Click on the “Additional Troubleshooters” option:

Step 5: Pick Playing Audio
Select “Playing Audio” under the “Get up and running” section:

Step 6: Run the Troubleshooter
Then, start the troubleshooting process:

Method 5: Update the Audio Driver

Outdated drivers of the audio device might be causing it to malfunction and not work properly. Therefore, update the audio device driver by following the guide below.

Step 1: Open Device Manager
Tap the “Windows+R” keys to launch the Run box, type “devmgmt.msc” and press enter:

Step 2: See All Sound Devices
Click on the below-highlighted category to expand it:

Step 3: Update the Driver
Right-click the audio device and press “Update driver”:

Step 4: Let Windows Look for the Drivers
Select “Search automatically for drivers” to allow Windows to look for and install the best drivers for your device:

Follow on-screen instructions to finish the process and reboot the system.

Conclusion

The “My headphone not working” issue on Windows 10 can be fixed by following various methods. These methods include changing the audio format, enabling the playback device, setting a default device, running the Windows audio troubleshooter, or updating the audio driver. This blog offered multiple methods for fixing the headphone issue.