Forum Discussion
Win 11 laptop won't detect headphones unless I restart
I have a Dell G15 15.6" FHD 120Hz Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, WIN 11.
Had it a few months, bought new. It used to detect my headphones when I plugged them in but now it doesn't, but if I restart the laptop it detects them with no issue. Headphones are the only thing I use for audio so usually its not an issue, unless they get pulled out accidently or when I put it away when I leave house, then when I return I have to remember to plug headphones in FIRST before I start up the laptop, which I never do. So this issue is a mild pain in my butt.
Tried reinstalling drivers and made sure they are up to date from Dell site. The site has an auto-detect driver thingie that shows they are all up to date. Any ideas?
If the issue persists, a workaround could involve just shutting down your laptop when not in use, or if you’re using a USB headset, try using a different USB port.
If you've exhausted these options and the problem continues, it might be worth reaching out to Dell support directly, as there could be a larger hardware issue or a deeper system conflict that needs professional help.
1. Check the hardware
Test the headset to see if it works properly on other devices.
Check the headphone jack for dust or debris, clean it and plug it back in.
Try using another pair of headphones to confirm if the problem persists.
2. Update Audio Driver
Press Win + X, select “Device Manager” and expand “Sound, Video and Game Controllers”.
Right-click on the audio device and select “Update Driver” or download the latest driver from the manufacturer's official website.
3. Run the audio troubleshooting tool
Open Settings > System > Sound and click “Troubleshooting” under “Output”.
4. Disable Audio Enhancement
Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound, select the playback device and click “Properties”.
In the “Enhancements” tab, check “Disable all enhancements”.
5. Adjust Power Management Settings
In Device Manager, right-click the audio device and select “Properties”.
In the “Power Management” tab, uncheck “Allow computer to turn off this device to save power”.
6. Restart Audio Services
Press Win + R, type services.msc, locate the “Windows Audio” service, right-click and select “Restart”.
