How To Enable Audio Device Windows 10

Windows OS gets constantly updated with new features while some of the existing ones that are seldom being used past the users are either entirely removed or hidden deep within the Os. 1 such feature is the Stereo Mix. Information technology is a virtual audio device that can exist used to record the sound currently being played out of the estimator speakers. The characteristic, although handy, cannot be found on all Windows ten systems nowadays. Some lucky users can continue using this built-in recording tool, while others will need to download a specialized 3rd-party application for this purpose.

We have explained two different ways to enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10 in this article along with some troubleshooting tips if any issues arise. As well, a couple of alternative means to tape the calculator'south audio output if the Stereo mix characteristic is not available.

Enable Stereo Mix

How to Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10?

Many users reported that the Stereo mix feature suddenly disappeared from their computer afterward updating to a particular Windows version. A few were also under the misconception that Microsoft took the feature away from them, although Stereo mix was never entirely removed from Windows ten merely only disabled by default. It could also take been i of the many third-party applications you lot accept installed that automatically disabled the Stereo Mix device. Nevertheless, follow the beneath steps to enable Stereo Mix.

i. Locate the Speaker icon on your Taskbar (if you practise not see the speaker icon, first click on the upward-facing 'Show hidden icons' arrow), correct-click on information technology, and select Recording Devices. If the Recording Devices option is missing, click on Sounds instead.

If the Recording Devices option is missing, click on Sounds instead. | Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10

two. Move to the Recording tab of the ensuing Sound window. Hither, right-click on Stereo Mix and select Enable.

Move to the Recording tab

three. If the Stereo Mix recording device isn't listed (existence displayed), right-click on the bare infinite and tick Testify Disabled Devices & Show Asunder Devices options.

Show Disabled Devices & Show Disconnected Devices | Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10

iv. Click on Apply to salve the new modifications and and so close the window by clicking on OK.

You can as well enable Stereo Mix from the Windows Settings application:

1. Employ the hotkey combination of Windows key + I to launch Settings and click on Arrangement.

Open Windows Settings and click on System

2. Switch to the Audio settings page from the left-hand console and click on Manage Sound Devices on the right.

Right-panel, click on Manage Sound Devices under Input | Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10

3. Nether the Input devices label, yous will see Stereo Mix as Disabled. Click on the Enable button.

That'due south it, you can at present employ the feature to record your computer'south audio output.

Also Read: No Sound in Windows 10 PC [SOLVED]

How to Use Stereo Mix & Troubleshooting Tips

Using the Stereo mix characteristic is as easy as enabling it. Launch your preferred recording application, select Stereo Mix as the input device instead of your Microphone, and hit the record button. If you lot are unable to select Stereo Mix as the recording device in the awarding, first unplug your Microphone and then brand Stereo Mix the default device for your estimator past following the below steps-

one. Open the Audio window over again and motility to the Recording tab (See step 1 of the previous method.)

If the Recording Devices option is missing, click on Sounds instead. | Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10

2. Beginning, deselect the Microphone as the default device, and then right-click on Stereo Mix and select Gear up as Default Device from the ensuing context carte du jour.

select Set as Default Device

This will successfully enable the Stereo Mix on Windows x.In example you are unable to view Stereo Mix every bit a device in your recording awarding or the feature doesn't seem to work as advertised, try the below troubleshooting methods.

Method ane: Ensure Microphone is bachelor for Access

One of the reasons why y'all may fail to enable Stereo Mix is if applications do not have access to the Microphone. Users oftentimes disable third-party applications from accessing the Microphone for privacy concerns and the solution is to just allow all (or selected) applications to use the Microphone from the Windows Settings.

1. Utilize the hotkey combination of Windows fundamental + I to launch Windows Settings then click on Privacy settings.

Click on Privacy | Enable Stereo Mix on Windows 10

2. Ringlet downwards the left navigation bill of fare and click on Microphone under App permissions.

Click on the Microphone and toggle switch for Allow apps to access your Microphone is set to On

three. On the right panel, cheque if the device is allowed to access the Microphone. If not, click on the Change button and toggle the following switch to on.

Too Read: What to Practise When Your Laptop All of a sudden Has No Sound?

Method 2: Update or Downgrade Audio drivers

Since Stereo Mix is a driver-specific feature, your reckoner needs to take the appropriate sound drivers installed. It could be as piece of cake as updating to the latest driver version or reverting back to a previous version that supported the Stereo mix. Follow the below guide to update audio drivers. If updating doesn't resolve the issue, perform a Google search for your sound card and check which commuter version of it supports Stereo mix.

ane. Printing Windows Key+ R to launch the Run command box, blazon devmgmt.msc, and click on OK to open the Device Manager awarding.

Type devmgmt.msc in the run command box (Windows key + R) and press enter

2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers by clicking on the tiny pointer to its left.

3. Now, right-click on your audio carte du jour and select Update driver from the ensuing card.

select Update driver

4. On the next screen, select Search Automatically for drivers.

Alternatives to Stereo Mix

There are a number of 3rd-party applications available on the www that tin can exist used to record the estimator'south audio output. Audacity is ane of the well-nigh popular recorders for Windows with over 100M downloads. Modern systems that lack Stereo mix comprise WASAPI (Windows Sound Session API) instead which captures sound digitally and thus, eliminates the need of converting the data to analog for playback (In layman's terms, the recorded sound file will be of better quality). Simply download Audacity, cull WASAPI equally the audio host, and prepare your headphones or speakers as the loopback device. Click on the Record push to start.

Audacity

Few other good alternatives to Stereo mix are VoiceMeeter and Adobe Audition. Another very piece of cake fashion to tape the calculator'southward audio output is to use an aux cablevision (a cable with three.5 mm jack on both ends.) Plug 1 end into the Microphone port (output) and the other into the mic port (input). Now yous can utilize whatsoever basic recording application to record the audio.

Recommended:

How to Repair or Ready Corrupted Hard Bulldoze Using CMD?
Fix Computer Sound Too Depression on Windows ten
How To View Clipboard History On Windows ten
Fix Site Can't Exist Reached, Server IP Could Not Be Establish

We hope this guide was helpful and yous were able to enable the Stereo Mix device on Windows x and record your computer'southward audio output using the feature. For any more assistance regarding this topic, become in touch with united states of america in the comments below.