Windows is considering soundbar as a screen ! how to avoid this ?

Hi, on my laptop, I have connected a screen via USB-C port and a soundbar via HDMI port.
But each time I move an application window between my 2 laptop screen and my external monitor (using Win+Shift+Arrow key left/right keyboard short), my application disappears and reappears !
I have discovered that this is because Windows is considering the soundbar as a screen !! How can I tell to Windows that this is not a screen ? (I just want audio)

If it were mine I would consider plugging the monitor into the HDMI port and the soundbar into a USB port or possibly the speaker or line out port on the sound adapter. I can do it that way on a 27" monitor I was given.

Berton said:

If it were mine I would consider plugging the monitor into the HDMI port and the soundbar into a USB port or possibly the speaker or line out port on the sound adapter. I can do it that way on a 27" monitor I was given.

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How have you concretely connected your speaker to your 27 monitor ?
I am exactly in the same position, I have a 27 monitor and want to have sound coming from my soundbar. The natural way for me was to use HDMI like I am doing on my TV.

Christophe said:

How have you concretely connected your speaker to your 27 monitor ?

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My 27" monitor is an ASUS and has 4 input choices, HDMI, VGA, DVI and DisplayPort [selectable by a switch on it] and has internal speakers in it that connect to a computer by the usual audio cable.

Berton said:

My 27" monitor is an ASUS and has 4 input choices, HDMI, VGA, DVI and DisplayPort [selectable by a switch on it] and has internal speakers in it that connect to a computer by the usual audio cable.

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I don't understand how this is supposed to help "Christophe" avoid having his soundbar from being seen as a monitor.

A little Web searching found it to be a frequently encountered issue, with no robust solution. One solution would be to not use an HDMI connection to the soundbar. As the models of the soundbar and laptop weren't provided, I can't guess whether other interfaces would be available.

bobkn said:

One solution would be to not use an HDMI connection to the soundbar.

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That was my thought for a solution. Most times HDMI is for video but devices like the cable boxes use HDMI that includes video and sound for TVs that can accommodate them. My DVD recorder/player doesn't have HDMI output to the TV so 3 RCA cables have to be used.

Multimedia Interface, it's the nature of the beast.
Just as the OP doesn't want their Sound Bar showing as a monitor, I don't wish to have my LG monitor showing up as an audio device.
Only thing is, I can disable it and hide it!

bobkn said:

A little Web searching found it to be a frequently encountered issue, with no robust solution. One solution would be to not use an HDMI connection to the soundbar. As the models of the soundbar and laptop weren't provided, I can't guess whether other interfaces would be available.

Click to expand...

I have a Dell Latitude 5320 and use a Dell WD22TB4 dock. My external monitor is Asus ProArt PA279CV.
My soundbar is Dell Soundbar 500. It does have a optical cable input, but my PC/dock/monitor does not have an optical cable output. There are optical adapters (I do not own one) but I find this weird to have to use such complicate thing when a simple HDMi could be use.
AUX port is analogic and cannot be recommended in 2024. How do people digitally connect speakers to their computer?

Christophe said:

How do people digitally connect speakers to their computer?

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I would imagine USB or, more commonly, Bluetooth.

Edwin said:

I would imagine USB or, more commonly, Bluetooth.

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Speakers do not have USB port.
Bluetooth speaker connection is by far the worse solution for a desk setup (voices are not in sync with lips on videos)

Christophe said:

I have a Dell Latitude 5320 and use a Dell WD22TB4 dock. My external monitor is Asus ProArt PA279CV.
My soundbar is Dell Soundbar 500. It does have a optical cable input, but my PC/dock/monitor does not have an optical cable output. There are optical adapters (I do not own one) but I find this weird to have to use such complicate thing when a simple HDMi could be use.
AUX port is analogic and cannot be recommended in 2024. How do people digitally connect speakers to their computer?

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Thanks for providing the details.

Is the "Dell Soundbar 500" the JBL unit?

If so, I don't know what to suggest. It has a USB port, but apparently it's not usable as a PC audio interface. Maybe an SPDIF/optical adapter would be your best option, to circumvent the issues with HDMI. Kludgy and extra cost, but...

My desktop audio is Kef Eggs, plus a small sub. They have a variety of interfaces (no HDMI), but the one I use is USB.

Sorry I made a mistake it is: Bose Soundbar 500 (not Dell)
It does not have a USB input.

Christophe said:

Sorry I made a mistake it is: Bose Soundbar 500 (not Dell)
It does not have a USB input.

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(There's a USB port, but it appears to mainly be used for firmware updates.)

I think that the Dell's USB port also can't be used as an audio interface to a PC, although it can play music from a USB drive.

My impression is that a USB to Toslink (SPDIF optical adapter) might be your easiest solution. At Amazon, there are many, starting at around $15US. SPDIF is an archaic interface, but it should be OK for 5.1 audio. (The Bose 500 looks like a 5.1 channel device: 5 speakers plus a subwoofer output.)