How to Connect Wired Headphones to a Windows 10 PC

To connect wired headphones to a Windows 10 PC, plug them into the headphone jack or a USB port. Windows usually switches the sound to them on its own. If it doesn’t, go to Start > Settings > System > Sound and pick your headphones under Choose your output device.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 28, 2026.

Plug in the headphones

• 3.5 mm plug: Use the headphone jack. On a laptop it’s on the side. On a desktop it’s often on the front, and it may be green or marked with a headphone icon.
• Headset with one plug: Most laptops have a single jack for sound and microphone, so one plug works.
• Headset with two plugs: Put the green or headphone plug in the headphone jack, and the pink or microphone plug in the microphone jack.
• USB headphones: Plug them into any USB port. Windows sets them up in a few seconds.

Some PCs show a pop-up asking what you plugged in. If you see it, choose Headphones.

Choose the headphones in Sound settings

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Choose your output device, select your headphones.

3. Play a song or video and set the volume with the Master volume slider.

Switch from the taskbar

You can also switch without opening Settings.

1. Select the speaker icon on the taskbar.
2. Select the device name above the volume slider, then select your headphones.

To use the headphones every time, see how to set the default audio device in Windows 10.

If you don’t hear anything

• Push the plug all the way in. A loose plug often causes silence or sound in one ear.
• Check that the volume isn’t muted, both in Windows and on any volume wheel on the cable.
• Try the other jack, the other USB port, or another pair of headphones. This shows whether the problem is the headphones or the PC.
• In Sound settings, select Troubleshoot and follow the steps.
• Update the sound driver. See how to update audio drivers in Windows 10.

For more fixes, see how to fix no sound in Windows 10.

Which jack or port to use

• Laptops usually have one round combo jack for headphones and headsets with a built-in microphone.
• Desktops often have a green jack for headphones and a pink jack for a microphone, on the front panel and the back. The back jacks connect straight to the sound chip and are less likely to crackle.
• Headsets with two plugs (one green, one pink) need a desktop with separate jacks, or a cheap splitter adapter for a laptop’s single combo jack.
• USB headphones have their own sound chip, so they work in any USB port. Windows sets them up automatically.
• USB-C-only laptops need a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter that includes its own converter (often labeled DAC).

If sound comes from one side only or Windows doesn’t notice them

• One ear only: push the plug all the way in. Then go to Settings > Ease of Access > Audio and make sure Turn on mono audio is off, and check the left/right Balance in the headphones’ device properties in Sound settings.
• Windows doesn’t switch to the headphones when you plug them in: on many desktops, the Realtek Audio Console app controls this. Open it and look for jack detection or “front panel” options in the device advanced settings.
• Speakers keep playing too: select the headphones as the output in Sound settings, or turn off the option in your audio app that plays sound through both at once.

Frequently asked questions

Does my headset microphone work too?

Usually, yes. To check it, see how to turn on and test your microphone in Windows 10.

The sound is too quiet. What can I do?

Turn up Master volume and the app’s own volume. For more tips, see how to make sound louder in Windows 10.

What about wireless headphones?

Wireless headphones connect with Bluetooth instead of a cable. See how to turn on Bluetooth in Windows 10 and connect a device.

Microsoft’s reference is Fix sound or audio problems in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: how to connect AirPods to Windows 10.