Windows 8 Headphone Jack

jdo3

New Member
Messages
4
This seems to be a pretty common problem. I'm working on my friends computer, because his headphone jack isn't working.
He has an Acer Aspire M, with a third-gen i5, 6GB DDR3, Windows 8 64bit, and a Realtek card.

He had been using headphones in the side jack, and they were working fine, but yesterday he plugged them in and they weren't recognized by Windows 8. I checked the playback devices in the control panel, and the default speakers is only reading one internal jack, no external jack. The headphones do not show up in the playback devices list. I installed the latest Realtek codecs, tried uninstalling the devices from the device manager, and checked in the Realtek control panel. Nothing seems to be working. I tried several sets of headphones in the jack, and it is the same deal. I did test his headphones in my computer, and they work perfectly.

I'm kinda at a loss for this...which is sad because I have my CompTIA A+. But any help is greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8 Dual-Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G73SW
    CPU
    i7-2630QM 2.0-2.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus G73SW
    Memory
    12GB DDR3 PC3-10700
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 460M 1GB GDDR5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    750GB Seagate
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Right click your speaker icon click properties

single click playback devices

right click anywhere in the playback tab and select show disbaled deives and show disconnected devices

If its disabled, then re-enable it

if its disconnected then plug in your headphones and see if it changes..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Thanks for the response.
Perhaps I wasn't clear in my first post, but I have already done those steps. The device isn't even listed as disabled or disconnected.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8 Dual-Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G73SW
    CPU
    i7-2630QM 2.0-2.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus G73SW
    Memory
    12GB DDR3 PC3-10700
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 460M 1GB GDDR5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    750GB Seagate
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
If you only partially plug in your headphones do you get sound?

Does the speaker cut out when you insert your headphones?

Plug your headphones into your mic jack while playing audio then swap it to the headphone jack.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Did this Acer come loaded with windows 8 or was it upgraded to 8?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
    Memory
    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD XFX HD Radeon 6790D
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2l Samsung SyncMaster S20B300
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 320 GB w/OS
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB data storage
    PSU
    Ultra X4 750 watt fully modular
    Case
    Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1 fulltower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper212 120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razor DeathAdder 3.5
No, the speakers don't cut out when the headphones are plugged in, nor does sound come through when they are only partially plugged in. The jack is a mic/headphone jack, so I can't try the second test.

It had Windows 8 when it was purchased.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8 Dual-Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G73SW
    CPU
    i7-2630QM 2.0-2.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus G73SW
    Memory
    12GB DDR3 PC3-10700
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 460M 1GB GDDR5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    750GB Seagate
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Since all the suggested solutions have failed, this would have me believe that it's an internal problem with the input jack itself. Has it been dropped or jarred which could cause a loose connection, broken connection. Is it still under warranty? I would contact Acer directly and see what they have to say about it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
    Memory
    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD XFX HD Radeon 6790D
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2l Samsung SyncMaster S20B300
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 320 GB w/OS
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB data storage
    PSU
    Ultra X4 750 watt fully modular
    Case
    Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1 fulltower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper212 120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razor DeathAdder 3.5
agreed, looks like the jack switch is not functioning. This switch disengages the speakers when a plug is inserted.

However, it may also be this... Others have this same problem with this model laptop, but their OS was ubuntu.

Apparently there is a patch from another model Acer laptop that fixes the headphone sense problem..

I am completely unfamiliar with this technology, I assumed it was still a physical switch. Heres the link, perhaps they have a windows solution as well..

[SOLVED] Acer Aspire One 722 Ubuntu 11.04 fixes

Your issue is thread 4, I hope you find your fix as well..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Thanks for your help. I think my friend is going to see if its still under warranty. My fear was that it was an internal problem...
But unfortunately, I think he might switch over to Mac... O_O
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8 Dual-Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G73SW
    CPU
    i7-2630QM 2.0-2.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus G73SW
    Memory
    12GB DDR3 PC3-10700
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 460M 1GB GDDR5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    750GB Seagate
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Hello!! I installed latest driver (6.0.1.6873) for my new logitech z506 (5.1) and when i do the test to the speakers its fine BUT when i listen to anything else like movies or youtube,only my front right and front left speakers work!can anyone please help me?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
I have the same problem on my Toshiba Satellite C850 with my external speaker plugged into my audio jack. It is not an Acer issue. I too have gone through every troubleshoot I can find to no avail. It simply does not recognize that something is plugged into it but I can't seem to figure out why. If anyone has any other suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. My laptop speakers suck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Another weird anomaly

I'm gonna add another one to the collection of weird issues.
Luckily it fixed itself... after a few reinstalls of programs/drivers
.

I was on my HP laptop (IDT Audio) with speakers: sound was OK. The headphones are used daily without any issues at all.

All of a sudden, during a VMware Player VM boot at the BIOS screen, the weirdest BOOM and crackling was heard for an instant in the speakers. I don't blame VMware because I heard this also during Windows login screen before I got all programs running. After this events, you would hear the same in any music player at startup, followed by a pretty constant and silent buzz (like an electrical transformer). I decided to plug in the headphones to test the sound because that didn't sound normal at all. There was NO sound coming from the headphones.

Setting the volume to 100% reveals a faint sound in the headphones.

I rebooted, without any luck, but then I decided to reinstall drivers: the Intel Audio (HDMI graphics card related) and the main IDT Audio. It still didn't work and then decided to restart the PC manually again. It was fixed after the restart, how about that!?!

I also noticed that Autoplay was re-enabled (I've disabled this a few months ago).

First I thought it's a phisical issue itself: the jack port or the sound card had phisical faliures at connections but you always need to test software and drivers before you open the laptop or take it back to the store.

I think this one could have been driver related, and software that enhances the sound settings (sound services included) since now the headphones work again.

NOTE:
I was on a Ubuntu (for Gparted) boot USB before the whole event; had to enable legacy mode in BIOS and disable secure boot for just this time due to 32bit OS. There were crackling noises expected here and after the reboot but this time none of then in Ubuntu (why crackling? due to IDT Audio bad support in Linux, or no support... there are no drivers). The weird thing is that the Audio still continues bad after first boot in Windows or if no IDT drivers are installed in Windows (pc's running on built-in audio drivers).

You need restarts between the reinstalls of drivers especially if you use hybrid boot: OS boots up very fast and in Task manager it says that pc runs for hours or days even if you just started it. I didn't had this on (laptop doesn't like it) but the restarts were indeed needed.

That was a close one. :shock:

Of course this may not apply to all other related issues (different hardware, different drivers) but I hope some parts do help out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
right click your speaker icon click properties

single click playback devices

right click anywhere in the playback tab and select show disbaled deives and show disconnected devices

if its disabled, then re-enable it

if its disconnected then plug in your headphones and see if it changes..

I HAVE DUAL BOOT MY HEADPHONE WORKS IN WIN 7 IN FRONT PANEL BUT IN WIN8 ITS NOT WORKING PLEASE HELP ME FROM THIS I AM SO DISTURBED WITH THIS ISSUE,i pluged headphone but it says not pluged BUT ITS WORKS IN WIN7
Screenshot (1).png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    INTEL DUAL CORE
    Motherboard
    ASUS
    Memory
    2GB
Having Similar Problem

I am having a similar problem to this, but my computer is an ASUS (not the touch screen).
Originally, when I used my headphones, it worked just fine, at first. But a few days ago, Nothing. When I plug my headphones in, the speakers in them "click", which shows me that the jack works just fine. But Still, the sound only comes from the speakers. My headphones are no longer even recognized by the system.

I've tried unplugging them and then plugging them back in, checking the control panel for them (they don't even show up as "disabled" or "disconnected"), I've checked the drivers (which I have a strange feeling that the issue may lie there, but I'm not sure), and I can't find Anything.
I'm not exactly 'dumb', when it comes to computers, but this has me completely and utterly befuddled. No matter what I do, whether my headphones are plugged in or not, all sound only comes through the speakers. I haven't even had this computer for two weeks, yet, and this comes along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scratch This. I found the issue, with it, as far as the drivers are concerned. If you are using Windows 8 (obviously), and have "RealTek", or whatever it's called, then I will warn you now; Get Rid Of That Program (UNINSTALL IT).

I just uninstalled the said "driver"/program, and now, my headphones work Perfectly. (Not to be a "Window-Basher", but this is one of the MANY reasons for which I would rather use Windows 7, as opposed to Windows 8. The latest programs do nothing but drag the computer down, and give it problems. If you want to have the machine running smoothly, then it needs to be almost at the "Bare-ones" of the OS. For the sound devices, only use the basic program(s), etc., because having this "HD" stuff on it will only bring the idea of using headphones to a timed-out Stand-Still.)

I really am sorry to say this, but Microsoft should never have made Windows 8, because in my eyes, it's as much of an insult to Windows as Vista was and still is. (Just my personal opinion, but still.)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I may have had the same problem, and I just fixed it! I only recently updated to Windows 8, and I was really annoyed to find that whenever I plugged in my headphones, a window would pop up to ask me what I had plugged in.

This started to get annoying, so without thinking too much about it, I checked a box to "[dis]able auto popup dialogue, when device is plugged in." I thought that this would make Windows automatically recognize the device, but from then on, my computer would recognize that something was present in the audio jack ("You just plugged a device into the audio jack."), but it would otherwise just ignore it.

I discovered that by opening the Dell Audio Sound Manager (search for it or left click on the Dell Audio icon), selecting the Advanced tab and Jack Information, I could reach this odd screen:
Sound Manager Screen Cap.png
Clicking on that odd dot brought me to that menu that I'd told never to open again, from which I could select the device I'd plugged in. The headphones still did not show up among the playback devices, but the sound that the mixers said was being played through the speakers was actually now playing through the headphones.

I don't understand any of the mechanics behind this, but it worked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Right click your speaker icon click properties

single click playback devices

right click anywhere in the playback tab and select show disbaled deives and show disconnected devices

If its disabled, then re-enable it

if its disconnected then plug in your headphones and see if it changes..

Excuse me? but did you even read what OP posted? all you did was simply regurgitate some plagiaristic quote from another internet post!!! I'm THROUGH, windows eight is a china doll doing a balancing act with a tightrope on a windy day, and guess what SHE AIN"T no trapeze ARTIST! between the lost functionality in the mousepad, registry problems, audio, defunct headphone jack, GENERAL CR4PPYN3SS, and having constant problems with drivers, i'm certain that any kind of value I could have gotten out of my investment in this OS became like words in wind when I WASTED MY PRECIOUS TIME TRYING TO "FIX IT". time is money and I WANT IT BACK. Either ..

A) update windows to 8.2 (i'm assuming all the glitches is what's taking so long) having fixed your problems or..
B) defection, treason, conspiracy, sabotage, FUGAZI.

"what you just said(windows 8) is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have heard(used). at no point in your rambling incoherent response(windows 8 functionality) did you even come close to ANYTHING that could be considered a rational thought(actual working functionality). Everyone in this room (forum and unfortunate windows 8 customers) is now dumber for having listened to it (suckers/me included). I award you(windows 8) no points(credibility/integrity), and MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL (GOODBYE WINBLOWS. hello, Mac:)"

quote adapted from the hit movie "Billy Madison" staring Adam Sandler.
And I actually site my sources.
good day, sir.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    later
    Motherboard
    later
    Memory
    later
    Graphics Card(s)
    later
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    MCAFEE
I have a similar problem at my toshiba c55dt-a / windows 8.1

sound works fine, at speakers or headphones, but, when i plug the headphone, they do not appear at playback devices but i can contrl then with the speakers mixer controlers.

looks like windows 8.1 understand that the speakers were redirected to the phone jack.

at realtek audio management, when i'm using the spearkes, it show that the jack is unplugged, and when i plug the headphone, it shows that the headphone plug is connected, but still don't show a headphone tab and the headphone controls goes to the speakers control instead.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
Do not want to be apologetic of MS and win8 but there's a lot of people chasing wrong tails. A lot of this comments should be addressed to other places, There should be comments like "Hey DELL, or Acer Or HP, why don't you make your drivers totally compatible with new Windows ? You sell me all that hardware but your support for it is pits".
NiteShade, that "RealTek" is not a program to get rid of. First, it is a company that makes codec chips for sound and also for network, wired or WiFi among the other stuff. What you are referring to, is drivers for sound Codec chip built in on your MB and associated controls for it. You can't just get rid of it, drivers are necessary for sound to work at all. If your computer manufacturer doesn't provide proper driver you can always go to Realtek site and get newest ones. Same goes for video cards, network and whatever but HW manufacturers are responsible for drivers and how they work with OS. When you change settings in Realtek control panel it may clash with windows settings for sound, you should make choice which controls to use and stick with them and not confuse everything by doing this on on and that on other controls.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
A lot of this comments should be addressed to other places, There should be comments like "Hey DELL, or Acer Or HP, why don't you make your drivers totally compatible with new Windows ?

Even if I posted one of those comments, I have to agree with this. For instance the HP IDT sound driver is labelled as Vista compatible but we're a few versions above that now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Gotta give credit were credit is due, but same goes for blame.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
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