Heres what you gotta do to get your headphones working with your PC again.
Check your volume configs.
You may have had the sound muted without even realizing it.
Turn on your headphones.
Turn off other speakers, headphones, and earphones.
Inspect the headphones' cable.
If you hear sudden static or bursts of sound, this means the cable is damaged.
If possible, try using another cable for the connection.
UseAirplane modeto turn off other connected devices.
Your headphones may actually be connected to your smartphone, tablet, smart TV, or gaming console.
Turn them off or temporarily disable their wireless parameters or activate Airplane mode.
Keep your headphones connected to your PC, terminate the audio app, and then re-open it again.
Sometimes Windows apps only detect audio devices like headphones when theyre opened, not while theyre already running.
Check the in-app audio controls.
Media players and web browsers may have their own controls and controls that affect audio output.
Always store them in their charging case so they dont activate by accident.
Use the Windows 11 volume mixer.
OpenSettings>System>Sound>Volume mixerand select your headphones from theOutput devicedropdown menu.
They might have no power.
Try a different USB port.
Disconnect other USB devices.
Its possible that your Windows 11 equipment doesnt have enough power to run all your various USB accessories.
A quick restart may fix your problem.
A Windows operating system update can fix a variety of tech issues and also improve performance.
refresh your Windows apps.
pop pop the Microsoft Store and check for app updates.
Your Windows 11 apps may be causing conflicts with each other.
Remove the headphones and then re-add them.
OpenSettings>System>Troubleshoot>Other troubleshootersand run theAudiotroubleshooter.
This will scan your PC for audio-related issues and attempt to correct them.
Update the headphones firmware and drivers.
The update website for Bose headphones is notoriously buggy on Windows devices.
Its best to avoid this and use the smartphone app to install updates instead.
Update other drivers in Windowsif your headphones are already up to date.
There might be other hardware devices related to your headphones that need to be updated.
Check your headphones with another rig.
See if your headphones work with another computer or a tablet or smartphone.
Why Are My Headphones Not Registering?
Things can become even more complicated when using more premium wireless Bluetooth headphones.
Out-of-date drivers and firmware are also common causes of headphones not registering properly in Windows 11. check that your headphones aren’t muted and that you’ve set the correct output gear.
There may also be an issue with an individual app’s volume or your sound balance levels.
It’s a way for users to have a surround-sound experience without additional hardware and expense.
