Headphones not detected or silent on one side

You plug in wired headphones, but the computer still plays sound through its speakers, or only the left or right earpiece works. Find out whether the cause is the plug, a setting or the headphones.

Before you start

The quickest test is to plug the same headphones into a phone or another computer. If they work properly there, the headphones are fine and the problem is on your computer. If they fail there too, the headphones or their cable are at fault. This test takes one minute and tells you where to look.

This guide covers headphones with a cable, either a 3.5 mm plug or USB. For Bluetooth headphones, see Bluetooth headphones: one side or low volume.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Check the plug and the socket

This takes about 2 minutes.

1. Pull the plug out and push it back in firmly, all the way. A plug that is only part way in often gives sound on one side only.
2. Check that you are using the right socket. Headphones use the socket marked with a headphone symbol.
3. If the headphones have a microphone and a single plug, and your desktop has separate headphone and microphone sockets, you may need a splitter cable. Plugging a headset into only one socket can work for sound but not for the microphone.
4. Turn the cable gently near the plug and play sound. If the sound cuts in and out, the cable is damaged.

Fix 2: Choose the headphones as the output

This takes about 2 minutes. A computer does not always switch to headphones by itself.

On Windows 11 or Windows 10

1. Open Settings then System then Sound.
2. On Windows 11, look for your headphones in the list under Output. On Windows 10, open the drop-down box under Choose your output device. For USB headphones, the name is usually that of the headphones. For a 3.5 mm plug, look for a name that mentions headphones.
3. Select it. Play a sound. It should now come from the headphones.

If your headphones never appear in the list, go on to Fix 5.

On a Mac

1. On macOS Ventura and later, open System Settings then Sound. On earlier versions, open System Preferences and choose Sound.
2. On the Output tab, select your headphones in the list.

Fix 3: Turn off mono audio and check balance

This is the usual cause when one side is silent and the headphones work on other devices. This takes about 3 minutes.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings then System then Sound.
2. In the Output section, turn Mono audio off. Mono mixes left and right into one signal, which you may have switched on by mistake. It can also be found under Settings then Accessibility then Audio.
3. Under Output, select your headphones, then go to Output settings and select Volume. Set Left and Right to the same level.
4. Under Output settings, check Format. If a two-channel choice is listed, such as 2 channels, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality), select it.

On Windows 10

1. Open Settings then Ease of Access then Audio and check that mono audio is off.
2. Open Settings then System then Sound and select Sound Control Panel under Related settings.
3. On the Playback tab, double-click your headphones, then open the Levels tab and select Balance. Set left and right to the same level.

On a Mac

1. In Sound, on the Output tab, select your headphones and check that the Balance slider sits in the middle.
2. Open the Accessibility settings, choose Audio, and check that the option to play stereo audio as mono is off.

Fix 4: Clean the socket

Lint from pockets and bags collects in headphone sockets and stops the plug going in fully. This takes about 3 minutes.

1. Shine a light into the socket and look for lint.
2. Loosen any lint carefully with the toothpick and remove it. Do not press hard.
3. Start the device again, plug the headphones in firmly and test.

Fix 5: Restart and reinstall the audio driver (Windows)

This takes about 5 minutes.

1. Restart the computer with the headphones plugged in. Choose Start, then Power, then Restart.
2. If the headphones are still missing, right-click Start and select Device Manager.
3. Expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device and select Uninstall device.
4. Restart the computer. Windows normally installs the driver again by itself.

The full steps and what to do if the device does not return are in no sound on Windows and fix driver problems in Device Manager. For USB headphones that are not seen at all, see USB device not recognized.

If it still does not work

• If the headphones fail on every device, the cable or the earpiece has probably worn out. A loose wire near the plug is the usual cause. Replacing the headphones is the practical solution.
• If they work on other devices but not on this one, use the support page on your computer maker's website for your model, and check for audio driver updates there.
• If the headphones play but the microphone does not, see microphone not working.

Frequently asked questions