Solved How to set the order of audio output devices?


shmu26

shmu26

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I have headphones plugged into the audio jack in the front of my box. When I unplug them, the system used to automatically select my external speakers, which are plugged into the audio jack in back of my box. That was great. But now, Windows selects the built-in speakers of my monitor, and those speakers are terrible. Can I set the order of my audio output devices, so the external speakers will be automatically selected when I unplug my headphones?
 

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If you haven't check Settings --> System --> Sound
 

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FreeBooter said:
If you haven't check Settings --> System --> Sound
Click to expand...
Over there, I can set the default output device. But I am looking to set the secondary output device.
 

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shmu26 said:
Over there, I can set the default output device. But I am looking to set the secondary output device.
Click to expand...
Set your preferred speakers as the default device, the secondary device will be elected when you plug something else in.
 

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While on the same topic, can one set Bluetooth headphones as the primary device so the actual speakers on the computer are muted and when the bluetooth headphones are off, then the actual speakers would be used instead similar to how wired headphones when plugged in are muting the speakers.
 
Last edited:

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Disable the devices you don't want to use...

8653.webp
 

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Experience with Bluetooth speakers says if you set the external speakers default, the Bluetooth speaker is not automatically activated when you switch on the speaker. If you set the Bluetooth speaker default, it is automatically activated when switched on. If you switch it off the external speakers are default. So I would set the desired speakers default with the headphones disconnected. I would then connect the headphones and set them default. Hopefully this will automatically output sound from the headphones when present and from the external speaker when the headphones are disconnected. Exactly what you want.
 

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Edwin said:
Disable the devices you don't want to use...

View attachment 118468
Click to expand...
While this solution works in a lot of cases, people who use virtual cables cant really just go and disable the ones that are "unused" because they are actually still in use, just never actually selected as a device in windows. So you end up in a situation where you have your headphones at the top of the list, your speakers at the bottom and 8 different audio options in between that can't be disabled, or it messes things up.

This seems like a pretty basic feature, and one that's been asked about quite a bit, to have been left out of such a big operating system for such a long time imo lol
 

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Please read my previous post. Once you set the default output right, you should be OK.
 

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    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

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    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
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spapakons said:
Please read my previous post. Once you set the default output right, you should be OK.
Click to expand...
I did read your post and that doesn't solve my issue, my headset is wireless (not bluetooth) , so the dongle is always plugged in, turning the headset off does not automatically change to my speaker. I must always change it manually. I have tried setting my speakers as the default and my headset at the default, but since the headset is never actually "disconnected" it doesn't change, this has been the case since Windows 10.

It is a fairly uncommon issue, but I'm quite sure I'm not the only person who has a headset that functions this way and uses virtual cables (since they are often used for content creation) that has this little issue irritate them.
 
Last edited:

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You can try disabling Bluetooth when you don't use the headset and enable it again. This is what I do anyway because my cheap Bluetooth dongle doesn't always connect automatically when I try to use my Bluetooth speaker or my Bluetooth earphones. So I toggle it off and then on in order to connect. If you connect your headset and set it default, then disable Bluetooth, it should, in theory, switch to the speakers since the previous output is no longer valid.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
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