If your wired headphones aren’t detected and Bluetooth earphones connect but produce no sound, while laptop speakers work fine, the issue is usually with the audio endpoints, Realtek drivers, or Windows audio routing. Try these fixes in order:
✅ 1. Reset Your Default Audio Device
Sometimes Windows routes audio to a disabled endpoint.
- Right-click speaker icon → Sound settings
- Scroll down → More sound settings
- Under Playback, look for:
- Your Bluetooth headset
- Realtek Audio / Headphones
- Right-click → Set as default device
- If your Bluetooth device shows two modes:
- Headphones (A2DP) – for high-quality audio
- Headset (HFP/HSP) – for calls
Choose Headphones.
✅ 2. Enable Jack Detection (Realtek)
Some Asus laptops disable this by accident.
- Press Win + R → type:
control - Go to Realtek HD Audio Manager (or Audio Console)
- Look for Connector Settings or Advanced Settings
- Enable jack detection, or uncheck “Disable front panel jack detection”
If you don’t see Realtek Audio Console, move to the driver fix below.
✅ 3. Remove the OEM Audio Driver Completely (Important)
Instead of “updating,” which often keeps the broken package, remove Realtek and let Windows reinstall clean drivers.
- Right-click Start → Device Manager
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers
- Right-click Realtek Audio → Uninstall device
- Check Delete the driver software for this device
- Restart PC
- Windows will auto-install its own stable driver
⚠️ This fixes 80% of Asus audio issues after Windows 11 updates.
✅ 4. Reset Bluetooth Audio Profiles
Your Bluetooth headphones might be stuck in call-mode profile.
- Settings → Bluetooth & devices
- Click your headphone → Remove device
- Restart
- Pair again
- In Sound settings → Output, choose the correct profile:
- Device Name (Stereo) — correct
- Device Name (Hands-Free) — causes low-quality/no audio
✅ 5. Restart Core Audio Services
These services can get stuck after a crash.
- Press Win + R → type
services.msc - Restart these services:
- Windows Audio
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- Bluetooth Support Service
✅ 6. Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter
Windows sometimes fixes corrupted routing automatically.
Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
Run:
- Playing Audio
- Bluetooth (if using BT earphones)
✅ 7. Check if Your Asus Uses DTS or Sonic Studio
Asus Vivobooks often use DTS Audio or Sonic Studio, which can break headphone detection.
- Go to Apps → Installed apps
- Look for:
- DTS Audio Processing
- Sonic Studio
- Sonic Radar
- Uninstall all of them
- Restart PC
- Try your headphones again
These apps are known to cause silent output or blocked audio devices.
🔧 If none of the above fixes it…
It may be:
- A faulty audio jack (physically loose)
- A corrupted Windows audio endpoint, which can be repaired with
sfc /scannow dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth - A recent Windows update that broke Realtek drivers
- A deeper chipset driver issue (rare but fixable)