How to Switch Sound From a Laptop to External Speakers
- Small Business |
- Business Technology & Customer Support |
- Laptops
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Speakers connect to a laptop through an external sound card or integrated audio output jack. Windows includes a speaker icon in the system tray for quick access to your audio settings.
Types of Speakers
If your speakers connect to your laptop's headphone jack, simply plugging them in diverts sound to them from the built-in speakers. However, many laptop speakers connect via USB, and you must set them as your default playback device in the Sound settings menu.
Choosing a Default Playback Device
After plugging in USB speakers for the first time, Windows automatically installs the drivers, but your speakers may not be displayed in the Sound menu until you change your settings. Open the Sound menu by right-clicking the speakers icon in the system tray and choosing Playback Devices. Right-click the window background and choose Show Disabled Devices to display all connected sound cards and speakers. Set your external speakers as default by right-clicking them and choosing Set as Default Device. Sound now plays through your external speakers.
References
- Creative Support: Setting your Creative Device as the Default Playback/Recording Device in Windows or Mac
Writer Bio
David Wayne has been writing since 2010, with technology columns appearing in several regional newspapers in Texas. Wayne graduated from the University of Houston in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Arts in communications.
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