How to Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows


The default audio playback device is the device that Windows uses to output (play) sound.

This can be speakers, headphones, Bluetooth headset, or other audio devices connected or built-in to your computer.

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to enable or disable a sound output device (ex: speakers) on your Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 PC.


Contents

  • Option One: To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Settings (Device properties)
  • Option Two: To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Settings (Manage sound devices)
  • Option Three: To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Device Manager
  • Option Four: To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Playback Devices
  • Option Five: To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Registry Editor






OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Settings (Device properties)


This option is only available in Windows 10.


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Sound on the left side, select the sound output device (ex: speakers) under Output on the right side, and click/tap on the Device properties link. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_device_properties-settings-1.jpg

3 Check (disable) or uncheck (default - enable) the Disable box for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_device_properties-settings-2.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.






OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Settings (Manage sound devices)


This option is only available in Windows 10.


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Sound on the left side, and click/tap on the Manage sound devices link under Output on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_manage_sound_devices-settings-1.jpg

3 Click/tap on your sound output device (ex: speakers) under Output devices, and click/tap on the Enable (default) or Disable button. (see screenshots below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_manage_sound_devices-settings-2.png Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_manage_sound_devices-settings-3.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.






OPTION THREE

To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Device Manager


You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.


1 Open Device Manager.

2 Do step 3 (enable) or step 4 (disable) below for what you want to do.


3 To Enable Sound Output Device

A) Expand open Audio inputs and outputs. (see screenshot below)

B) Right click or press and hold on your sound output device (ex: speakers), click/tap on Enable device, and go to step 5.

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_device_manager-1.jpg


4 To Disable Sound Output Device

A) Expand open Audio inputs and outputs. (see screenshot below)

B) Right click or press and hold on your sound output device (ex: speakers), and click/tap on Disable device.

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_device_manager-2.jpg

C) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and go to step 5.

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_device_manager-3.png

5 When finished, you can close Device Manager if you like.






OPTION FOUR

To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Playback Devices


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sound icon.

If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), enter the control mmsys.cpl,,0 command into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open Playback devices.



2 Do step 3 (enable) or step 4 (disable) below for what you want to do.


 3. To Enable Sound Output Device

A) In the Playback tab, right click or press and hold on an empty area in the box of playback devices, and make sure you have Show Disabled Devices checked.

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-playback_devices-1.png

B) Right click or press and hold on your sound output device (ex: speakers), click/tap on Enable, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-playback_devices-3.png


 4. To Disable Sound Output Device

A) In the Playback tab, right click or press and hold on your sound output device (ex: speakers), click/tap on Disable, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-playback_devices-2.png






OPTION FIVE

To Enable or Disable Sound Output Device in Registry Editor


You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit in Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 3)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render

3 Expand open the Render key in the left pane, and open the Properties subkey of each long number GUID (ex: "{a792f05a-9ef4-45da-842a-2bd2910f96df}") until you find your sound output device (ex: "Digital Audio (S/PDIF)") shown in the right pane. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_regedit-1.png

4 In the right pane of the GUID key (ex: "{a792f05a-9ef4-45da-842a-2bd2910f96df}") for your sound output device, double click/tap on the DeviceState DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_regedit-2.jpg

5 Enter the Value data from the table below for what you want to do, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable a Sound Output Device in Windows-sound_output_devices_regedit-3.png

Value data Description
1 Enable
10000001 Disable

6 When finished, you can now close Registry Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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