How to Play Music Through Your Mic in Windows 11

To play music through your mic in Windows 11, turn on Stereo Mix, a recording device that captures whatever your PC is playing. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings, open the Recording tab, right-click Stereo Mix, and select Enable. Then choose Stereo Mix as the microphone in your voice chat or recording app. To send your voice along with the music, open your microphone’s Properties, and on the Listen tab turn on Listen to this device.

Applies to: Windows 11. Checked on September 30, 2026.

How it works

Your apps normally hear only your microphone. Stereo Mix is an extra input that records your PC’s sound output, so anything you play (music, a video, a game) goes into the app as if it came from a mic.

Stereo Mix comes from your PC’s audio driver, not from Windows itself. Many PCs have it, but some don’t. If yours doesn’t, see “If you don’t have Stereo Mix” below.

Step 1: Turn on Stereo Mix

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
2. Scroll down and select More sound settings. The classic Sound window opens.
3. Select the Recording tab.
4. If you don’t see Stereo Mix, right-click an empty area of the list and select Show Disabled Devices.
5. Right-click Stereo Mix and select Enable, and then select OK.

Step 2: Choose Stereo Mix in your app

Most voice chat, streaming and recording apps have an input or microphone setting.

1. Open the app’s audio or voice settings.
2. Set the Input device or Microphone to Stereo Mix.
3. Play some music and check the app’s input meter. It should move with the music.

If an app doesn’t let you choose, you can make Stereo Mix the default for every app: on the Recording tab, right-click Stereo Mix and select Set as Default Device. Remember to switch back afterward.

Step 3: Add your voice

With Stereo Mix as the input, the app hears your PC’s sound but not your microphone. To include your voice, send the microphone to your speakers so Stereo Mix picks it up too.

1. On the Recording tab, select your Microphone and then Properties.
2. Open the Listen tab and check Listen to this device.
3. Under Playback through this device, choose the speakers or headphones that are your default output.
4. Select OK.

You’ll now hear yourself through your speakers or headphones. Use headphones if you can, because speakers can feed back into the microphone and cause echo.

Record music and your voice together

The same setup works for recordings. Open Sound Recorder from Start, choose Stereo Mix in its microphone list, and start recording. With Listen to this device turned on for your microphone, the recording includes both the music and your voice. Record a short test first and play it back to check the balance before you record anything long. For the recording controls and shortcuts, see how to record audio in Windows 11.

Balance the music and your voice

• Music too loud? Lower the volume in your music player rather than the Windows volume, so your voice level stays the same.
• Voice too quiet? On the microphone’s Levels tab, raise the level. Keep it below the point where it distorts.
• Stereo Mix too loud overall? Double-click Stereo Mix on the Recording tab and lower its level on the Levels tab.
• Music cuts out when you talk? Some apps and Windows features filter out anything that isn’t speech. Turn off noise suppression in the app, and see how to turn on noise suppression in Windows 11 to check the Windows setting.

If you don’t have Stereo Mix

• Update your audio driver from your PC maker’s support site. Some drivers add Stereo Mix, others never include it.
• Share audio from the app. Many video-call and streaming apps have a built-in option to share your computer’s sound, often when you share your screen. That’s usually the easiest option.
• Play music out loud. Put your speakers near the microphone. The quality is lower, but it works with any setup.

Some people use separate audio routing software to do the same job. That’s beyond this guide.

Turn it off again

1. On the microphone’s Listen tab, clear Listen to this device.
2. In your app, set the input back to your microphone. If you changed the default device, set your microphone back as the default on the Recording tab.
3. Optionally, right-click Stereo Mix and select Disable.

Frequently asked questions

Why can other people hear music but not my voice?

The app is using Stereo Mix, which only carries your PC’s sound. Turn on Listen to this device for your microphone, as in step 3.

Why is there an echo?

Your speakers are playing your voice back into the microphone. Use headphones, or lower the speaker volume.

Is it OK to play music in voice chat?

Check the rules of the app, game or server you’re using. Some don’t allow music in voice channels, and streaming copyrighted music can get a stream muted or removed.

Can I play sound through two outputs at once?

Yes. See how to play sound through two audio outputs in Windows 11.

Next steps

For better-sounding music on headphones, see how to enable Dolby Atmos in Windows 11.