How to connect headphones to a Windows computer: 3 ways

Good day to all! Headphones, headsets, microphones, speakers - computer peripherals, although they offer variety in terms of manufacturers, purpose and quality, largely adhere to long-known standards and features. And the interfaces for audio equipment are often the same (USB or 3.5 mm connector).

And the setup largely takes place in semi-automatic mode. And yet, sometimes there are unexpected “representatives of the genre” - for example, Bluetooth headsets, the connection of which occurs in a non-standard way, because of this you have to adapt to the situation.

Headphones and interfaces

Desktop computers (or rather, motherboards) and laptops are equipped by default with standard 3.5 mm connectors designed for connecting audio equipment. Manufacturers carefully mark the type and purpose of connectors using long-established marking principles:

Line In – Marked in blue. Designed for connecting CD players and musical instruments.
Microphone jack – Pink or red border. Indicates the ability to connect separate microphones or headphones to a headset.
Line output – green interface, intended for speaker systems, headphones or speakers.
Combined connector – found on laptops, it combines microphone and headphone outputs at once, without separation by color.

Additional tools - often sound cards are equipped with third-party slots - for side and rear speakers in 5.1 and 8.1 systems or subwoofers.

In addition to sound cards, the listed connectors are also found on the front of the desktop computer case. For convenience, manufacturers mark the purpose of each interface with corresponding icons (like on laptops), which is why even beginners are unlikely to get lost among the plugs, adapters and audio channels.

What types of connectors are there and what are their markings?

What types of connectors are there and what are their markings?
In our modern times, headphones are used both wired and wireless. The methods of connecting both the first and the latter are inherently clear from the names.

Wireless are connected via air-bluetooth data channels. Here you only need appropriate devices and, in some cases, additional programs.

In a situation with wired headphones, you need the sound units themselves and a computer. The computer must have connectors for connecting headphones. Sound from these sources must be supplied or received from the sound card. In most cases, the sound card is integrated into the motherboard. In those cases where this does not happen, additional connections to the drives are needed. But this is now very, very rare.

On the panel of the system unit, as a rule, there are three connectors in a standard set: a linear output, the same input for digital devices that must operate in the mode of receiving and outputting sound - in the mode of a device with a microphone. In all options, you need to proceed from the orientation of the gadget. Most often, they are connected via a connector that is also suitable for units with a microphone.

Types of connectors and plugs / adapters

The most common classic computer headphones with a microphone have two plugs: green and pink (see Fig. 2). Green is for transmitting a signal to the headphones, and pink is for the microphone.

Rice. 2. 2 plugs on classic computer headphones (they are also called mini-jack)

Actually, if you look at the back wall of the computer system unit, you will see 3 connectors (Fig. 3). Their colors are usually always standard: pink (for a microphone), blue (line-in for connecting audio devices), and green (line-out for headphones, speakers, etc.).

Rice. 3. Outputs on the back of the computer

Actually, if everything is so, you just need not to confuse the colors and connect the plugs to the right connectors. It's simple...

As for laptops, their connector is not always marked with a color: often the headphone or microphone icon is simply drawn.

By the way, please note that newer laptops have a headset jack (see Fig. 4). Those. If there are 2 classic audio outputs, then when you are dealing with a headset jack, there is 1 (it has a characteristic icon, see the difference in Fig. 4)!

Fig.4. Connectors on laptops

If you have classic computer headphones, and your laptop has just such a headset jack installed, you have several outputs:

buy a special adapter (see Fig. 6). It is not expensive and is sold in many computer stores;
buy a small audio card that connects to a USB port (there are also cheap options);
you can buy new headset headphones (or swap with someone);
if you don't need a microphone, you can try connecting the green plug from the headphones to the headset jack. In most cases, headphones will work for you (although this is not recommended!).

Rice. 5. Different plugs on headphones

By the way , please note that the plug on headset headphones has 4 contacts (the plug on classic headphones has 3 contacts). Even by this sign you can easily determine what kind of headphones you are buying...

Rice. 6. Adapter for connecting classic computer headphones to the headset jack (by the way, there are also reverse adapters to connect headset headphones to classic audio outputs)

One more moment!

Expensive (most often studio) headphones have a Jack plug (on classic headphones Mini Jack). If you don’t have a Jack connector on your computer/laptop, you can buy a small adapter from Jack to Mini Jack (see Fig. 7) and easily use these “ears”...

Rice. 7. Plugs (Jack and Mini-Jack). Adapter

How to connect wired headphones

If the audio equipment is unpacked, the markings have been studied, and the computer or laptop is ready for experiments, then it’s time to combine the plugs with the connectors.

The procedure is extremely predictable and hardly requires reading additional instructions. The diagram is as follows: headphones without a microphone are connected through the connector marked in green. If there is also a microphone plug nearby, then you will need a pink interface located next to the green one.

If the audio equipment “ends” with a USB connector, then you don’t have to experiment at all - a suitable interface is located on the front of the system unit, and often at the back, and also on all sides of the laptop.

Once connected, headphones rarely need additional settings or drivers, but it’s better to understand the details in advance:

Connection using standard operating system tools

If a person has a personal computer with the Windows operating system, then ensuring the operation of headphones and a PC will be very easy. The built-in Windows processes are adapted for this. The most current systems are the seventh and tenth versions.

Windows 7

Setting up headphones to work with a computer on Windows 7 is simple. Do I need to follow an approximate algorithm?

To begin, wired headphones should be connected to the connectors that suit them. If these are headphones without a microphone, then only a jack for sound output is sufficient. If with a microphone, then you need to connect it to where both the input and output of sound are configured. Or do it through two cables. This can be easily determined by the markings on the system unit. If the “ears” are wireless, then you need to open the case with them and turn on the Bluetooth module both on them and on the computer. In such cases, PCs often require external bluetooth modules.
Then you need to go to the sound settings - just do this by clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar. This icon is located at the bottom right, near the time and date. And there, in playback devices, select headphones. There may be the following difficulties - there are no headphones in the list, there are only speakers. It's no problem. This may simply be a feature of your computer. Or rather the system installed on it. Then you need to go through all the speakers one by one, if it is not clear from the subname, and you can accurately calculate the ones you need. You can select them by default or just once. You can start using this.
After making the switch, you can make additional settings. This way you can adjust the volume level or, if necessary, send sound through only one of the headphones. Sometimes something like this is needed.

Windows 10

Speaking about connecting headphones to a home or work computer running the tenth version of Windows, we can list everything about the same as with Windows 7. Let’s just talk about the obvious features.

Windows 10 is usually installed on modern computers. And here it is unlikely that you will need to connect one pair of headphones using as many as two connectors. But in these rare cases, you should connect the wires according to the color instructions. In other cases, one wire goes into one jack for headphones and headsets.
Wireless headphones are activated according to their manufacturer's instructions. Most often, simply by opening the case with them or switching the Bluetooth toggle switch on them to the active position.
When the “ears” are connected, adjustments should be made. Go to Sound through the Windows panel and select Speakers there. These will be the headphones. Stereo sound and other additional options can be selected at will and depending on the functions provided by the headphone manufacturer. There you can also adjust the volume.

How to select a playback device

In the tray, next to the network environment icon and the time, by default there is an icon that allows you to change the volume, and at the same time select which equipment will become the “master” when playing music and third-party content.

If you click on the top part of the interface that appears, the system, in addition to the volume slider, will also display a list of devices that can be used at the current moment.

Connecting headphones with a microphone from your phone (headset) to your computer

It is easy to notice the difference between audio headsets from smartphones and headphones for computers - the headset has only one single plug at the end. And if you look closely at it, then instead of 3 contacts you can count 4 (two for speakers, one for the microphone and one more - common).

As in the previous case, to connect a headset to a computer from a phone, you need an adapter. It is usually called a splitter. It looks like this:

Spatial Audio Options

A new option introduced in Windows 10 that centers around activating special tools that provide 3D audio. The menu is called up with the right mouse button by clicking on the “volume” icon in the tray.

You can also activate technologies supplied by the manufacturer of audio equipment - speakers, headphones, acoustic systems - and from third-party developers, such as Dolby Access and DTS Sound Unbound, presented in the Microsoft Store digital store.

Connecting a headset on Windows 7

Before setting up headphones on a Windows 7 computer, you need to connect them on the back or front panel of the device to the appropriate connectors (you already know how to connect correctly). Then you need to start playing the music file. If there is sound in the headset, then the connection can be considered complete. If there is no sound, do the following using headphones on your computer (this instruction is also suitable for setting up the gadget on a laptop).

Hover your mouse over the speaker image at the bottom of the screen (right) and right-click.
Next, you should select the line “Playback devices” in the tab that appears.
In the next window you will see a list of devices installed on your computer. There can be from one to several of them in the list (depending on what type of device will be used for playback). You should make sure that there is a green checkmark next to the “Headphones” item.
If the checkbox is not checked, you need to select this device: right-click and click “Set as default” in the pop-up window.
In the next step, select “Speakers” and click on the “Configure” button located at the bottom of the window (left).
Afterwards, select the “stereo” audio channels and click on “Check”. The test will begin and you should be able to hear audio from the channels displayed on the screen. If everything is fine, click “Next”.
In the speaker settings, you need to check the box next to the line “Left and right front”, then click on “Next” and “Finish”.
In the “Sound” window, opposite the “Speakers” item, there is an equalizer scale. When an audio file is playing, the bar should fill in green. If this does not happen, then you need to look for another reason.
There may be no sound when the scale display is on and the volume level is set to zero.
But, if the volume level is set correctly, and there is an indication indicating that music is playing, but you couldn’t turn on the headphones, then either the headset is faulty, or you connected it to the wrong jack.

The above settings can also be applied to the Windows 10 operating system (Windows 10), if you do not know how to enable the gadget directly in it.

Troubleshooter

An alternative measure of protection against technical problems, errors and software problems.

The search takes place in a semi-automatic mode - the developers partially allow you to influence the diagnostics and select which device there are difficulties with. For beginners, additional instructions and recommendations are provided - where to start, and how to proceed if nothing has changed.

Summarizing

Now you should no longer have any questions about how to connect a microphone from your phone headphones to your home computer. It is worth noting that the wiring of the Jack 3.5 connector sometimes differs from different manufacturers, as a result of which, even if there is only one socket on the PC, it may well be necessary to purchase the appropriate adapter.

That is why, if you need a voice recording tool on your computer, use a headset with different plugs, or buy a separate audio recording device, or if you have Bluetooth on your PC, use a wireless headset.

Sources

https://myearphones.ru/instruktsii/kak-podklyuchit-naushniki-k-kompyuteru
https://Lifehacker.ru/kak-podklyuchit-provodnye-i-besprovodnye-naushniki-k-kompyuteru/
https://masterservis24.ru/286-kak-podklyuchit-naushniki-k-kompyuteru.html
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5abd4b559b403c1eb5c6d8e8/5bdf6afee3d93900a9876476
https://prostocomp.net/sistema/ne-rabotayut-naushniki-na-kompyutere-pochemu-ne-idet-zvuk-na-naushniki.html
https://it-like.ru/kak-pravilno-podklyuchit-i-nastroit-naushniki-v-windows/
https://stroy-podskazka.ru/naushniki/kak-podklyuchit-k-kompyuteru-windows-7/
https://compuals.ru/ustranenie-nepoladok/naushniki-ne-otobrazhayutsya-v-ustrojstvah-vosproizvedeniya
https://FB.ru/article/387950/komp-ne-vidit-naushniki-chto-delat
https://mobila.guru/faqsingle/kak-podklyuchit-mikrofon-ot-naushnikov-telefona-k-kompyuteru/

Microphone and headphone settings

Settings in Windows 10 helps you understand additional features related to sound balance and distribution, volume boost, or even enhancements (like noise reduction and equalizer).

The listed features are hidden in the same context menu, called by right-clicking on the “volume” icon.

Next, in “Parameters”, select the device type, and then open “Properties”. At first, an incomplete list will be displayed: with spatial sound, the ability to rename equipment in Windows and other details, but after that you can call up additional ones, with a bunch of minor add-ons and presets.

If there is no sound. Settings

There may be no sound from the headphones due to a number of reasons. And this does not always mean that the device is faulty. To identify the reason for the lack of sound and why the headphones do not turn on, you need to consider all the options described below.

Diagnostics

If there is no sound, you can run diagnostics on your PC and laptop. The first step is to troubleshoot using standard means. In the right corner of the monitor, right-click on the speaker icon. Then select "Troubleshoot audio problems." The system will begin to search for problems and, after the search has been completed, will ask the user which device is experiencing a problem. From the list offered by the system, you need to select what you need and wait for the process to complete. If the problem is solvable, the system will fix it on its own. If not, he will indicate the cause of the problem in order to configure everything manually.

Driver Update

Quite often, incorrect operation of sound card drivers prevents the use of headphones. For normal operation of the device, you need to update them. This can be done through the “Device Manager” menu, then go to “Sound, game and video devices”. In this menu, you need to right-click on the sound card and select “Update drivers”. But still, the most reliable method is self-installation. This can be done through the official website of the manufacturer of the installed motherboard or discrete sound card.

Realtek HD Settings

In certain cases, you can try making adjustments in Realtek HD. To do this, open the “Control Panel” and go to the “Realtek HD Manager”. It is worth noting that this window can be called differently: Dolby Digital and Sound Booster. Next, you need to click on the “Advanced Device Settings” tab and select “Separate all output jacks as independent input devices.” All actions should be confirmed using the “OK” button. Next, you need to disable front panel socket detection. This can be done in the connector parameters. If after this the sound does not appear, then the problem may lie in the audio codecs. You can download them on the Internet.

Check mixer settings

There may be no sound for one of the most banal reasons - it can be turned off in the mixer. To check, you need to click on the speaker, open the mixer and raise the sliders on the headphone and system sound scale. This way the problem can be solved.

No sound on Skype

If the headphones are working properly, then the problem is most likely with Skype. You need to go to the “Tools” menu, then “Settings”. In this window, you need to go to the “Sound Settings” tab. Here you need to replace the playback device near the “Speakers” inscription. In the same window there is a large green button with a play icon. With its help, you can immediately test the selected device without closing the window

Wireless headphones. Alternative Approach

If you have audio equipment without a USB cable and a TRS connector (3.5 mm), then connecting to a PC will have to start not by searching for suitable interfaces on the computer case, but by checking for the presence of a special Bluetooth communication module.

Desktop PCs are rarely equipped with similar adapters - with the exception of expensive motherboards that also support third-party wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi. But laptops without Bluetooth are rare. In any case, the adapter is either activated from the keyboard and from the quick access panel, or from the “Options” section and the “Bluetooth” menu.

Regardless of your choice, you will first have to search for compatible equipment through the button located at the top of the interface.

Next, the system will ask you to decide what devices you need to look for: regular headphones, gaming gamepads, wireless monitors or speakers. The search is quick – within a couple of seconds the pairing menu will appear with additional instructions.

If an error appears during the search, then you will have to deal with the problems in the “Device Manager”. Among the listed items in the list, it is important to find the Bluetooth adapter (including among the hidden equipment, which can be displayed in the “View” menu) and download the missing drivers.

When the adapter appears in the list, it is recommended to start the pairing procedure again.

Using third party programs

Not very often, but there are still cases when additional programs are required to connect headphones with a personal computer.

Often these are programs aimed at music lovers, for example. They provide the opportunity for some additional sound settings.

There may be programs from headphone manufacturers. They will help you get the highest quality sound and speech transmission specifically for a specific ear model.

Or it may happen that for some reason the driver for the required type of sound device is not installed on the PC. Then everything is simple. You need to find the desired one in the list of devices and start searching and installing the driver from the Internet. This is easy to do following the system prompts.

FAQ. Why doesn't anything work

In rare cases, but even after a series of experiments with sound reproduction, problems may arise. Therefore, it is important to know how to connect headphones to a computer and avoid problems. You can see separate detailed instructions:

There is no sound on the laptop.
No sound on PC.
Correct connection of Bluetooth headphones.

Or read quick recommendations from me:

Bluetooth headphones do not appear in Settings . The procedure for connecting wireless equipment is often described by the manufacturer in instructions that supplement the standard package. And, as practice suggests, it is better not to neglect the described algorithm of actions, otherwise problems will arise with connecting the headset. A trivial example: Apple AirPods headphones will first have to be prepared by opening the case, and then holding down the button to activate the search for compatible Bluetooth equipment, located at the bottom of the case. Perhaps installing Sven or Razor with third-party headphones also needs to be done in a certain way.
The sound does not play or is interrupted . In addition to software problems associated with incompatible or outdated drivers, it is important to remember about hardware features. Often the plug is not inserted into the connector completely or with insufficient force and without a characteristic click, and sometimes the “on” buttons on the speakers or headphones are not pressed. And sometimes even the mixer does not select the appropriate elements to reproduce the sound. It is better to go through each of the points again - perhaps some details are missed or forgotten.
Headphones are not detected by the system . If audio equipment (including speakers with an audio system), even after correct connection, is not displayed in the “Device Manager” or in the Windows 10 mixer, then the problem is 99% likely due to missing drivers. And, if there is no disk with the missing files or the manufacturer’s website with the software at hand, then a special tool – Driver Booster – will help you find the missing information.

After launch, a “Start” button will immediately appear in the central part of the interface, allowing you to proceed to the process of searching for the necessary drivers and fixing problems with previously downloaded ones.

The procedure takes from 5 to 10 minutes. It is not necessary to update all equipment at once. But it is still recommended to prepare a system restore point. At least just in case. Suddenly, after turning on the headphones, the sound suddenly disappears.

Root Causes of Problems

Computers are multitasking machines. And from time to time they can fail, their components can break or become damaged. Every user should know why the computer does not see the headphones.

Here are the most common reasons for this phenomenon:

incorrect connection to PC;
forgot to turn on Bluetooth;
the headset is out of order;
there is damage to the connection cable or connector;
the headset is incompatible with the OS or any other PC components;
hardware drivers are missing or damaged/outdated;
there are viruses and spyware on the computer;
The system registry is full.

This is not a complete list of reasons why users encounter a non-functional headset. It’s just that these scenarios occur very often.

Mechanical damage and malfunctions

Then it is worth checking all the equipment involved for damage and malfunctions. Computer doesn't see headphones?

It's time to do the following:

Carefully examine the connectors for connecting to the PC. If the sockets have been used extensively before, they may be damaged.
Check the headset connection cable (if equipped) for damage. The cable may be severely pinched or even torn.
Examine the integrity of Bluetooth adapters on the computer and headset.

If damage is found, you can proceed as follows:

Connect the headset to the whole jack. This tip works great for USB headphones.
Take the computer and headset to a service center. There they will repair the equipment and put it in working order.
Buy new equipment. This applies to both PC and headset. It all depends on where exactly the damage was found.

Important: DIY repair of headphones, speakers, wires, cables, connectors and the computer as a whole is not recommended.

Driver problems

The computer does not recognize the Bluetooth headphones? And you can’t connect a wired headset either? Then you should look for the problem in the computer itself. It is possible that the whole problem lies in the absence or damage of hardware drivers. To correct the situation, it is recommended to do the following:

Go to the headphone manufacturer’s website after first connecting to the Internet.
Select the headset model with which you are having problems.
Specify the OS version you are using.
Download drivers. This process takes several minutes.
Launch the Installation Wizard. It is recommended to close all programs and browsers before doing this.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation.

This instruction is suitable for outdated drivers, damaged ones, and those completely missing from the system.

Panel on PC

The computer does not see the headphones on the front panel? This problem usually occurs among owners of stationary machines. This situation often occurs because the front panel is simply not connected. It is best to connect the headset to the rear panel with connectors. Experienced users can simply disassemble the system unit and install the jumper on the motherboard in a suitable position. This action will help you connect the front panel with connectors for comfortable work.

Viruses

Computer doesn't see headphones? Maybe it's all about viruses. They can lead to failure of the connected equipment. This is a very common occurrence.

What to do? Recommended:

Close all active programs.
Open any antivirus.
Select all hard drive partitions and perform a deep scan.
Treat potentially dangerous objects.
Place files that cannot be cured into Quarantine and remove potential threats to your PC.
To restart a computer.

Now everything should work. Users are advised to reinstall the drivers before attempting to connect the headset again.

Incompatibility

I wonder why the computer doesn't see the headphones? This may be due to incompatibility of the equipment with the operating system or devices connected to the PC.

What to do? First, determine what is not compatible with the headset. Further act taking into account the received data.

Here are tips to help correct the situation:

Replace the headphones with ones that are compatible with all connected devices and the operating system.
Disconnect incompatible equipment from the computer while using the headset.
Reinstall the OS to one compatible with headphones.

To avoid this problem, simply study the system requirements of your computer components.

Registry

Sometimes the computer does not see the headphones due to the PC registry being full. For the same reason, Bluetooth refuses to work and videos refuse to play in browsers. In this case, it is necessary to clean the registry. It is best to use the CCleaner program. Instructions for cleaning your computer look like this:

Download, install and run CCleaner. The Portable version does not require preliminary initialization.
Select all partitions of your computer's hard drive in the menu on the left side of the application.
Click on the “Analysis” button. The scanning process will begin.
Press the “Clean” button. It will appear after the computer verification is completed.

You can now close CCleaner and try connecting the headset again. Before doing this, it is recommended to restart your computer. Everything should work.

If the tips listed above do not help, it is better to take the headphones and computer to a service center. They will quickly help you understand the causes of the problem.

Possible problems and solutions

Problems with the playback device are divided into mechanical and systemic. The first are associated with physical damage: the wire is frayed, the plug comes off, the socket is clogged with dust or debris, etc. Such problems can be solved by eliminating breakdowns, but you need to act carefully so as not to aggravate the situation. It is better to entrust the correction of complex faults to specialists or completely replace the device.

If the headset is connected correctly and into the correct connectors, the sound is turned on on the device, but the headphones or microphone still do not work, then this is a system problem. In Windows 8 and higher, problems with external gadgets may occur due to driver mismatches after installing updates. Reinstalling the driver and restarting the computer solves the problem.

Sometimes it happens that the headset plays music from the computer’s memory, but does not work on the Internet, for example, when using a conference call, the interlocutors cannot hear you. The problem is that the browser has denied access to recording devices. You need to go to the browser control panel, find the “Site Settings” section and there look at the current permissions for each resource (microphone use must be enabled).

Conclusion

Usually connecting headphones to a computer does not cause any difficulties. All you need to do is connect the plug to the socket correctly and install the sound card drivers, and the computer will do the rest. When using an external sound card or DAC, open the sound settings in the notification area and specify the default device. If there is no sound, it is necessary to perform diagnostics and eliminate possible problems.

If you still have questions, then in the block below “User Comments” you can leave a comment to the author or share your experience. We will try to answer.