Headphones Not Working? How to Fix Them (2026)

Your headphones are connected, but the sound still comes from the speakers, only one side plays, calls stay silent, or Bluetooth shows connected with no audio. Start with the physical connection, then choose the right output, repair Bluetooth, and fix the app that is sending sound to the wrong place. The steps below follow current official troubleshooting paths checked in July 2026.

1. Clear the basic connection checks first

Clear the physical checks before changing system settings.

1. 1.Unplug wired headphones, then reconnect them firmly to the correct 3.5 mm jack, USB-C port, USB port, or Lightning connection.
2. 2.Remove adapters, docks, and hubs temporarily, then connect the headphones directly to the device.
3. 3.For USB-C headphones or adapters, check the port for moisture or debris. Remove the headphones and let the port dry when a liquid or debris warning appears.
4. 4.Raise the volume on the headphones and on the device, then turn off any onboard Mute switch.
5. 5.For Bluetooth headphones, turn the headphones off and back on, charge them or replace the batteries, then put them in pairing mode using the maker's button sequence.

A loose plug, low headset battery, muted inline control, wrong port, or USB-C warning stops audio before Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, ChromeOS, Zoom, or Teams gets involved. USB-C audio also needs compatible digital audio support. Use USB-C earbuds or a USB-C audio adapter that supports digital audio on that phone, tablet, or computer.

2. Send Windows sound to the headphones

• Select Start > Settings > System > Sound. Under Output, choose the correct headphones, USB audio device, or Bluetooth headset. Raise the volume and make sure the device is not muted.
• For the quick switcher, select the Speakers icon on the taskbar, then use the arrow beside the volume slider to choose your headphones. If Windows keeps choosing another device, open Start > Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings, choose the Playback tab, select the headphones, then select Set Default.
• When one app is silent but system sounds work, open Start > Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Raise System and the affected app, unmute the app, then choose the correct Output device under Apps.

If Windows is playing through speakers, set the headphones as the output first.

3. Rebuild Windows Bluetooth and drivers

Use this section when Bluetooth headphones pair but do not play, the headset disappears from output choices, or Windows keeps dropping the connection.

1. 1.Turn Bluetooth on from Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices. You can also select the Network, Sound, or Battery icon near the clock and turn on the Bluetooth tile.
2. 2.Remove and pair the headphones again from Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Select More options for the headphones, choose Remove device > Yes, put the headphones back in pairing mode, then pair them again.
3. 3.Run sound troubleshooting from Settings > System > Sound. Under Advanced, choose Output devices or Input devices under Troubleshoot common sound problems, then follow the prompts.
4. 4.Open Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click the audio device, then select Enable device when that option appears. If the device is missing, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
5. 5.In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers or Bluetooth, right-click the device, then use Update driver or Uninstall device. Restart after uninstalling. For Microsoft-distributed drivers, use Settings > Windows Update and install optional driver updates when offered.

For Bluetooth headphones that connect with no sound on Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, select the Bluetooth device, then choose Advanced sound properties. Under Output settings, set Format to 2 channels, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality).

If your Windows 11 PC supports Bluetooth LE Audio, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, then turn Use LE Audio when available on under Device settings. For Bluetooth headphones that disconnect, open Device Manager, expand Bluetooth, right-click your Bluetooth device, select Power Management, then clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power when that tab is shown.

Skip the old Hands-Free AG Audio disable trick as a general fix. Current Microsoft guidance uses output selection, Bluetooth troubleshooting, Windows and driver updates, supported LE Audio settings, and app microphone management.

4. Choose the headphones on Mac

• On a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Sound in the sidebar, then click Output. Select Headphones, the USB audio device, Bluetooth headphones, or AirPlay output. Raise Output volume and turn Mute off.
• For Bluetooth headphones, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, put the headphones in pairing mode, then select them when they appear. After they connect, choose them from System Settings > Sound > Output or from Control Center > Sound.
• If Bluetooth headphone audio gets worse during calls, quit video conferencing or chat apps that use the headphone microphone. Also close System Settings or System Preferences when it is open to sound settings, then test audio again.

Do not use SMC or NVRAM resets as a normal headphone fix. Apple's current headphone and sound-output paths are output selection, Bluetooth pairing or re-pairing, app microphone conflicts, and macOS updates.

5. Route iPhone and iPad audio correctly

Start with the destination picker. Open an audio app such as Music or Podcasts, play something, tap the Playback Destination button, then choose your headphones. For AirPods, open Control Center, tap the AirPlay button, then select the AirPods.

• Pair third-party Bluetooth headphones from Settings > Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth on, put the headphones in pairing mode, tap the accessory name, then enter a PIN or passcode when asked.
• Forget and re-pair problem headphones from Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the Info button, tap Forget This Device, restart iPhone, then pair the headphones again.
• Allow a headphone companion app to use Bluetooth from Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth, then turn Bluetooth on for that app.
• Fix one-sided or uneven sound from Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual. Move the Balance slider to the center.
• Review headphone tuning from Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations, then turn Headphone Accommodations off when the tuning is unwanted.
• Turn Music EQ off from Settings > Apps > Music > EQ > Off.
• For third-party Bluetooth accessories, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Actions Available button next to the device, tap Device Type, then choose the correct type, such as headphone.

For AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3, put the earbuds in the charging case, close the lid, wait 30 seconds, then open the lid. Double-tap the front of the case three times until the status light flashes amber, then white, and reconnect. For AirPods Max, restart by holding the noise control or listening mode button and the Digital Crown until the LED flashes amber. Reset by holding both for about 15 seconds until the LED flashes amber, then white.

6. Restore Android and Chromebook audio

• On Android, Bluetooth headphones can be connected while media audio is off. Open Settings > Connected devices. If you see Bluetooth, tap it. If you see Saved devices, tap it. Next to the headphone name, tap Settings, then turn on Media audio. For calls, turn on Phone audio.
• To start the Bluetooth connection again, open Settings > Connected devices > Saved devices or Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth. Next to an unused or problem device, tap Settings > Forget > Forget device, then tap Pair new device and select the headphones. For Fast Pair headphones, put them in pairing mode near the phone and follow the nearby pairing notification.
• When audio jumps to another Android device, open Settings > Connected devices, tap Settings next to the headphones, tap Audio switch, then set Use audio switch on or off.
• For USB-C headphones on Android or Pixel, confirm USB-C digital audio support, check the device sound settings for USB-C audio, and follow any liquid or debris warning before reconnecting.
• On a Chromebook, select the time at the bottom right, adjust the volume slider, select Audio settings next to the volume slider, then choose the headphones under Output. To pair Bluetooth headphones, select the time, choose Bluetooth, turn it on, put the headphones in pairing mode, then select the accessory when it appears.

7. Fix the app that is ignoring your headphones

When headphones work in one app and fail in another, fix that app's output and mute controls instead of resetting the whole device.

• In Zoom desktop, sign in, click your profile picture, open Settings, click Audio, then use Test speaker. Select another speaker from the dropdown or adjust Volume when the test is silent.
• In Zoom mobile, make sure the speaker or headphones are not muted, raise the device volume, unplug and reconnect wired headphones, then confirm Bluetooth headphones are turned on and connected.
• In Microsoft Teams, open Settings and more > Settings > Devices. Under Audio > Audio settings, choose your headphones from the Speaker dropdown, then use Make a test call when it appears.
• In Google Meet on desktop, open Settings, click Audio, then change the microphone and speakers settings. Leave and rejoin the meeting when you are in Companion mode, because microphone and speaker are unavailable there.
• In Google Meet mobile on Android, tap the screen during a meeting, tap the audio source at the top right, then select Wired headphones, Phone, Speaker, or Bluetooth.
• On YouTube, turn on the Volume button, make sure browser or device volume is on, check device sound settings, then restart the browser or device.

For work or school Zoom meetings, computer audio also depends on the account setting. In the Zoom web portal, open Settings > Meeting > Audio type, then select Telephone and Computer Audio.

8. Update software after routing and pairing are right

1. 1.On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update, choose Check for updates, then select Download & install and restart when prompted.
2. 2.On Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, then click Update, Upgrade, or Restart Now.
3. 3.On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download and Install and follow the onscreen instructions.
4. 4.On Android, open Settings > System > Software updates, review the update status, then follow the onscreen instructions.
5. 5.For Chrome, open Chrome, select More > Help > About Chrome, let Chrome update, then relaunch when prompted.

Use updates after the headphones are selected, paired, charged, and unmuted. This is the right point to fix a missing output device, a Bluetooth regression, or an app that still refuses the selected headphones.

Use official product download pages when you need to reinstall or repair Windows 11, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Chrome. Choose Microsoft, Zoom, or Google download pages and skip third-party download portals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Bluetooth headphones connect but no sound plays?

The headphones are connected, but the device or app is not sending media to them. Select the headphones as the output, turn on Media audio on Android, check the app speaker setting, and re-pair the headphones if Bluetooth still stays silent.

Why does only one side of my headphones work?

Reseat the plug or adapter first. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual and move the Balance slider to the center.

Why do my Bluetooth headphones sound worse during calls?

On Mac, Bluetooth headphone audio drops in quality while an app uses the headset microphone. Quit video conferencing or chat apps using the headphone mic, then test audio again.

Should I reset my headphones?

Reset AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods Max after the output, Bluetooth, and pairing checks fail. For other Bluetooth headphones, use the maker's pairing or reset button sequence.

Why do headphones work in YouTube but not Zoom or Teams?

Zoom and Teams have their own speaker choices. Open the app's audio or device settings, select the headphones as the speaker, raise the app volume, and run the app's speaker test when available.