Quick Sound Test

Click the button below to play a test tone through your headphones or speakers.

Audio Devices

Check which audio devices are connected to your computer and test if they're working properly.

Why are headphones not working

Test your audio, identify the problem, and fix common headphone issues step by step.

Click the speaker icon in the taskbar (bottom-right corner).

Make sure the volume slider is not at zero
Check that the speaker icon doesn't have an "X" (muted)
Click the icon to open Volume Mixer for per-app volume

Tip: Some keyboards have volume/mute keys — check if mute is accidentally enabled.

Click the Sound icon in the menu bar, or go to System Settings → Sound.

Check Output volume slider is not at minimum
Make sure "Mute" checkbox is not selected
Check individual app volumes in the app itself

Tip: Press F10 to mute/unmute, F11/F12 to adjust volume on most Mac keyboards.

Open Sound Settings or use pavucontrol.

Check PulseAudio volume levels in pavucontrol
Run amixer to check ALSA levels
Verify the correct output is not muted

Don't forget physical controls!

Many headphones have volume wheels or mute buttons on the cord or earcup.

Switch output device:

Click the speaker icon in taskbar
Click the device name to see all outputs
Select your headphones from the list

If device is missing:

Right-click speaker icon → Open Sound settings
Click "Device properties" under Output
Make sure "Disable" is not checked

Go to System Settings → Sound → Output tab.

Select your headphones from the device list
If using Bluetooth, ensure they appear under "Output Device"

Tip: Option-click the Sound icon in menu bar for quick device switching.

Open Sound Settings or use pavucontrol.

Go to "Output Devices" tab
Set your headphones as the fallback device
Check "Playback" tab to route specific apps to headphones

Quick fixes to try first:

Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your device
Turn headphones off and on again
Move closer to your computer (within 3 feet / 1 meter)
Remove interference sources (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, other Bluetooth devices)

Re-pair headphones:

Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices
Find your headphones, click "..." → Remove device
Put headphones in pairing mode
Click "Add device" → Bluetooth
Select your headphones when they appear

Re-pair headphones:

Go to System Settings → Bluetooth
Find your headphones, click "X" to remove
Put headphones in pairing mode
They should appear in the list — click Connect

3.5mm audio jack:

Push the plug in firmly — partial insertion causes crackling
Headphone jack is usually green or has a headphone icon
Try cleaning the port with compressed air

USB headphones:

Try a different USB port
Avoid USB hubs — connect directly to computer
Check if the headset needs drivers installed

Combined headset plug (TRRS):

If your headset has a single plug for both audio and microphone, but your PC has separate jacks, you'll need a splitter adapter:

Open Device Manager:

Right-click Start button → Device Manager
Expand "Audio inputs and outputs" or "Sound, video and game controllers"

Look for issues:

Yellow exclamation mark = driver issue. Right-click → Update driver
Gray arrow = device disabled. Right-click → Enable device

If update doesn't work, try: Right-click → Uninstall device, then restart Windows.

macOS handles audio drivers automatically. Try these steps:

Restart your Mac
Check for macOS updates in System Settings → General → Software Update

Check audio system status:

# Check PulseAudio status
pulseaudio --check
pulseaudio -k && pulseaudio --start

# List audio devices
aplay -l

# Reinstall ALSA/PulseAudio
sudo apt install --reinstall alsa-base pulseaudio

Common signs of damage:

Sound only works in one ear
Crackling or static when moving the cable
Sound cuts in and out intermittently
Visible fraying or exposed wires near the plug
Loose or wobbly plug connection

The "wiggle test"

While playing audio, gently wiggle the cable near the plug and near each earcup. If sound cuts out, you've found the damage location.

Cable damage near the plug is the most common failure point. For expensive headphones, consider getting the cable replaced professionally.

Run the troubleshooter:

Right-click the speaker icon in taskbar
Select "Troubleshoot sound problems"
Follow the wizard to detect and fix issues automatically

Reset audio settings:

Right-click speaker icon → Open Sound settings
Scroll down to "Advanced sound options"
Click "App volume and device preferences"
Click "Reset" at the bottom

Reset Core Audio:

Open Terminal and run:

sudo killall coreaudiod

This restarts the audio system. It will re-initialize automatically.

Create a new user account:

If audio works in a new user account but not your main one, the issue is with your user preferences, not the system.

Still not working?

If none of these solutions helped, try testing your headphones on a different device (phone, tablet, another computer). If they don't work there either, the headphones themselves may be faulty.

You can also check out our headphones testing guide for more detailed diagnostics.

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