Lots of people have multiple audio devices plugged into their computers, like headphones, speakers, and external monitors. This minHour 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.
Using the Taskbar
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.
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.
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.
Changing the Default Audio Device
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.
Type Control Panel.
This displays the Control Panel at the top of the Windows Start menu.
Click the Control Panel.
The Control Panel is the app that has an icon that resembles a blue screen with graphs.
Click Hardware and Sound.
It’s the green text next to an image of a printer.
Click Sound.
It’s next to the icon that resembles a speaker. This displays the Sound options window.
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.
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.
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.
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.