Windows 10: I can't switch playback devices and can't set speaker as default on Windows 10

Hello, I have two issues with my audio/playback devices and would really need your help.1. The playback devices on the taskbar are no changeable i.e. I can't switch between laptop speaker, headphones, HDMI audio, etc. - see screen shot no.12. I could not set the laptop speaker as default - see screen shot no.2Problems encountered are:- when a monitor is plugged in via HDMI in order for me to work with 2 screens, the plugged in monitor audio becomes the default playback device and there is no sound coming out from the monitor. Moreover, it does not allow me to change the playback device to spea

:)

 

Windows 10 1903 Line In or Mic set to "Listen to this device" won't switch with "Default Playback Device"

Hi,

There is a bug that was introduced a year ago (evidence of this here,

here, and
here). The issue can be reproduced with the following steps:

1. Connect 2 audio output devices

2. Connect an audio input device through a "Line In" or "Mic" port

3. For the audio input device enable "Listen to this device"

4. Ensure that the "Playback through this device" setting is set to "Default playback device"

You should now be able to hear the audio input device through the default audio output device.

5. Set the default output device to the other audio output device

All windows audio will now play for the new default playback device, except for audio input, which will still be output to the original playback device, even though the setting says it should output to the "default playback device"

If you follow the steps above exactly the issue should be easily reproduced. There are a few inconsistencies though. For example, let's say I am listening to the audio input device through speakers and then I connect wired headphones, then from my testing
the audio input device will switch correctly. However if I connect bluetooth headphones, it won't switch properly. I made sure the headphones had priority over speakers in becoming the default playback device in both cases. Regardless of whether the headphones
are wired or bluetooth, if they are both already connected and you switch the default device in the settings, then the input audio device won't respect the new setting.

It's been a year since this bug has been introduced and there has been no fix despite a Microsoft agent claiming the bug will be reported to the engineering team. When is this going to get fixed? It's extremely annoying to have to open the settings and manually
disable and re-enable the input device so it picks the correct playback device.

 

Playback Devices/Headphones and Speakers Auto Switching?

I'm not sure how it works with 3.5mm headphone jacks, but with USB headsets go to Control Panel > Sounds > Playback tab and with the headphones plugged in select them and then set them as the default playback device (click 'Set Default' button).

If they are the default playback device, when they are plugged in sound will come through them, when they are unplugged the sound will come through the normal speakers.

 

Switching between bluetooth audio devices.

Thank you for the information.

Try doing the following steps below to switch between your audio devices:

For Windows 10, 1607 version:

• Click on the sound icon in the notification area.
• Click Select playback device.
• Select the audio device you want to use from the menu.

For previous versions of Windows:

• Right-click on the speaker icon in the notification area.
• Click Select Playback devices to select your preferred/default speaker.
• Click on Playback tab to see the list of the devices.
• Right-click on the preferred device then select Enable.
• To make the device as your default audio, right-click on the chosen device then select
  Set as Default Device.

Don't hesitate to get back to us if you need further assistance.