Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhen several speakers, headphones or displays are connected, your computer plays sound through only one of them at a time, and you pick which in the system sound settings. The control is called Output on all three platforms covered here (Windows, Mac and Ubuntu), but the path to it differs. Find your system below.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select the speaker or other device you want.
According to Microsoft Support’s “Fix sound or audio problems in Windows,” selecting the device here also makes it the default. If you prefer the older panel, use More sound settings > Playback, which also exposes each device’s properties.
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Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Choose your output device, select the device you want.
For the classic control, open Sound Control Panel, go to the Playback tab, select the device and click Set Default. Microsoft’s support page notes that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so this path applies to machines that still run it.
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Mac
- Open System Settings > Sound.
- Click Output and select the device from the list.
Apple Support’s “Change the sound output settings on Mac” says the list can include the Mac’s internal speakers, display speakers, equipment plugged into the Mac, and wireless devices available through AirPlay.
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Ubuntu
- Open the Activities overview and search for Sound.
- Open the panel and, under Output, select the device to use.
- If a Test control is offered, use it to check the output and connection.
Ubuntu’s documentation (“Use different speakers or headphones”) notes that USB speakers act as separate audio devices and may need to be set as the default. These steps are for Ubuntu; other Linux desktops and ChromeOS may use different labels, so don’t assume they match.
If the right device is connected but stays silent
A Bluetooth speaker or headset can be connected without being the active output, so audio keeps coming from another device. Work through these checks in order:
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- Confirm the intended device is selected under Settings > System > Sound > Output (Windows) or in the taskbar’s sound output selection.
- Make sure the output isn’t muted and its volume is raised.
- Check that the device is enabled and still connected; the device properties in the Playback panel show this on Windows.
- If the right device is selected but still silent, follow Microsoft’s “Fix Bluetooth connected but no sound issue on Windows.” It lists settings, driver and compatibility problems among the possible causes.
System output versus app-level choices
Everything above sets the system-wide output. Some apps offer their own output choice, but the official guides used here describe only system selection. They don’t establish how app-specific routing behaves, so check the app’s own audio settings if one program ignores your system choice.
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