Windows 10 update version 1903 - Headphone Not Recognized

I'm a big fan of Windows 10, however, updating to the May version 1903, I lose headphone recognition.
When plugging-in the headphone I should see:
"Realtek HD Audio 2nd output (Realtek High Definition Audio) in Device Manager.
I do not see this with version 1903 and do see this with previous versions of Windows 10.

Before restoring to a previous version of Windows 10 (1803), I took steps to uninstall the Audio driver, restart, reinstall Audio driver to see if that would work - it did not.

Anyone else experienced this anomaly?

Is there another solution using Windows 10 (1903)?

I'm running Windows 10 on an HP Z400 Workstation.

Regards

Right-click the audio driver in Device Manager, select "Update Driver", "Browse my computer for driver software", then "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer". If one is found, select it and click "Next". You may have to restart the computer for the change to take effect.

Ben

You can try the latest driver from Microsoft Update Catalog.

Just search realtek media 2019 and you will see the latest 6.0.8746.1.

I tried both suggestions from (Ben and Sandyt) - neither solves the problem. Only reverting back to a previous versions of Windows 10 solves the problem.

Thanks for the suggestions.

When you tried my solution, did you uninstall Realtek hd audio manager via systems/apps first.

I am having what sounds to be the same issue on 1903. This is a brand new build and I just installed Windows 10.

I have tried the latest Realtek drivers from my motherboard manufacturer and Ben's update method above.

No matter what is plugged in, I only have 1 playback/output device.

• I plug my speakers into the back of my computer = audio plays and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)
• I plug my headphones into my front panel = audio plays and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)
• I plug my headphones into my front panel and speakers into rear panel = audio plays out of front panel and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)

I used to be able to switch between front and rear when both were plugged in. I am thinking this might be a 1903 issue.

monsterenergy22 said:

• I plug my speakers into the back of my computer = audio plays and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)
• I plug my headphones into my front panel = audio plays and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)
• I plug my headphones into my front panel and speakers into rear panel = audio plays out of front panel and listed as Speakers (Realtek Audio)

This is the correct default behavior - front headphone mutes rear speakers.

Starting with 1903, Microsoft wants every peripheral manufacturer to write a very small (and therefore more secured) driver and leave all the extra stuff on a separate download.

So no more Realtek HD Audio Manager with 1903. Realtek wrote a new white label Realtek Audio Control windows app that has all the extra stuff like equalizer. The problem is that it is only available from your motherboard manufacturer because Realtek is not releasing it at the moment. And most motherboard manufacturers don't update their drivers of their existing lineup to the 1903 driver.

sandyt said:

This is the correct default behavior - front headphone mutes rear speakers.

Starting with 1903, Microsoft wants every peripheral manufacturer to write a very small (and therefore more secured) driver and leave all the extra stuff on a separate download.

So no more Realtek HD Audio Manager with 1903. Realtek wrote a new white label Realtek Audio Control windows app that has all the extra stuff like equalizer. The problem is that it is only available from your motherboard manufacturer because Realtek is not releasing it at the moment. And most motherboard manufacturers don't update their drivers of their existing lineup to the 1903 driver.

So I do have the Realtek Audio Control (not console) installed from the MS store but I still don't have an option to choose between 2 different outputs.

It's early days for the new DCH style drivers (that's the technical name of the new style drivers).

Realtek may put the extra features back on in the future. Or Realtek may cheap out and you may never see this option again because realtek sees more people using audio out via HDMI and more people buying USB headphones/headsets.

But one thing for sure is that this is a security issue for Microsoft --- and so they are never going to go back to the old style drivers.

sandyt said:

It's early days for the new DCH style drivers (that's the technical name of the new style drivers).

Realtek may put the extra features back on in the future. Or Realtek may cheap out and you may never see this option again because realtek sees more people using audio out via HDMI and more people buying USB headphones/headsets.

But one thing for sure is that this is a security issue for Microsoft --- and so they are never going to go back to the old style drivers.

Interesting, wasn't aware of this and starting to read about it now. Thanks for the info!