Headphones work only after restarting Windows computer

If your headphones work only after restarting your Windows computer, this article will help you fix this issue. This issue can occur due to outdated audio drivers, faulty USB ports, etc. You may also experience this issue when Windows Audio Service is not working properly.

Headphones work only after restarting Windows computer

Use the fixes mentioned below if your headphones work only after restarting your Windows computer:

Run the Audio troubleshooter
Set your headphones as a default device
Disable Audio Enhancements
Check the status of the required services
Disable and re-enable the Audio driver
Uninstall and reinstall the Audio driver
Update the BIOS

Before you proceed with further troubleshooting steps, we suggest you check for Windows Update. If an update is available for your PC, download and install it.

1] Run the Audio troubleshooter

The first step you should do is run the Audio troubleshooter by using the Get Help app. This is a built-in tool that helps to identify audio-related problems (if any are found). Run the Audio Troubleshooter in the Get Help app on your Windows 11 PC and see if the problem gets solved.

2] Set your speaker as a default device

We also suggest you set your speakers as a default device. To do so, follow the instructions mentioned below:

Open the Control Panel by typing in the Windows search bar.
Click on Sound.
Tap on the Playback tab.
Right-click the Speakers and click Enable
Right-click it again and select Set as Default Device
Now, right-click on Speakers to select Properties.
Tap on the Levels tab, then drag the volume slider towards the largest value.
Click on the Advanced tab and uncheck the box to “Allow Application to take exclusive controls on this device” under the Exclusive Mode.
Click on Apply and then OK.

3] Disable Audio Enhancements

Sometimes, the Audio Enhancements feature can cause issues with some audio devices such as headphones. To confirm whether this is the case with you, disable this feature. Use the below instructions to disable this feature:

Open the Control Panel.
Type sound in the Control Panel search bar and click Sound.
The Sound properties window will appear—Double-click on your Speakers to open its Properties.
Click on the Advanced tab and uncheck the Enable audio enhancement box.
Click Apply and then click OK.

Check if the issue persists.

4] Check the status of the required Services

Windows Audio Service manages audio on Windows computers. If this service is stopped, audio devices and sound effects will not function properly. We suggest you check the status of the required audio services. To check this, use the steps mentioned below:

Press the Win+R key to run the dialog box and type services.msc.
Scroll down and locate the Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services.
If these services are stopped, right-click on them and select Start. If they are already running, right-click on them and select Restart.
Now, right-click on them one by one and select Properties.
Under the General tab, select Automatic in the Startup type drop-down.
Click Apply and then click OK.

We also suggest you check the status of other audio services, depending on your laptop or PC manufacturer.

Read: Fix Headphones not working or detected in Windows

5] Disable and re-enable the Audio driver

The Realtek High Definition Audio driver helps the Windows operating system to communicate with the audio devices and sound cards. The problem you are experiencing may be due to an issue with the Realtek High Definition Audio driver. Disable and re-enable this driver and see if it helps.

Go to the Device Manager.
Expand the Sound, video and game controllers.
Right-click on the Realtek High Definition Audio driver and select Disable device.
Wait for a few minutes, then right-click on the driver and select Enable device.

6] Uninstall and reinstall the Audio driver

An outdated audio driver can cause a sound problem. Make sure your audio driver is up to date. However, before you proceed with updating your audio driver uninstall your existing audio driver. To do so, use the below steps:

Go to the Device Manager.
Expand the Sound, video and game controllers.
Right-click on your audio driver and click on Uninstall device.

After successfully uninstalling the audio driver, download the latest audio driver from the manufacturer’s website. Once you download the latest audio driver, install it on your PC and check if it makes any changes.

7] Update the BIOS

We also suggest you check for BIOS updates. Before updating the BIOS, you need to check the version of BIOS from the System Information or Command Prompt. If an update is available, install it. You can download the latest BIOS update from the official website of your computer manufacturer.

I hope this helps.

Why are my headphones not working when I plug them in?

There can be a few reasons why your headphones are not working when you plug them in. The most common reasons are a loose connection, a faulty or damaged port, an outdated or corrupted Audio driver, etc. Also, you can connect your headphones to another device (if available) this will help to identify whether the problem is associated with headphones or not.

How do I reinstall audio drivers?

You can reinstall the audio driver via the Device Manager. Open the Device Manager and expand the Sound, video, and game controllers. Right-click on your audio driver, click on Uninstall device and restart your PC. Windows will automatically install the missing driver on restart. Alternatively, you can install the audio driver from the manufacturer’s website via the Device Manager after uninstalling it from your system.