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Hello,
Windows 11 keeps swapping between audio output devices at random times. Even if I "don't allow" a device in the settings or disable it through 'more sound settings'. Sometimes it happens after a reboot, sometimes it just does it for no reason. Sometimes it goes well for a day, maybe two, and then it'll swap things around again.
Is there a way for me to 'lock' the output device? My default device is set as the default. Sometimes it changes volume to maximum after a swap which you can probably understand is very inconvenient.
Did I miss a setting somewhere?
I'm using my earbuds plugged in to one of my monitors and the monitor is connected through DP, so the audio controller is my graphics card (nvidia) rather than the on-board one.
Can anyone help me out?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Disabled should mean disabled. That's all. I don't know what the heck happened to this thread.
If I disable a device in the device manager, settings and everything else, it should not be randomly enabled. If I turn off bluetooth, it should not enable and pair itself with a speaker without permission.
Off should be off. No task or policy will help as a workaround for now.
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Unfortunately, this does not help when windows is re-enabling devices without being asked. I have repeatedly disabled devices and windows just re-enables them...as multiple people in this thread have already pointed out.
Also, this doesn't help when windows changes the default device. Of course my speaker output is set to the default device, but for some reason that doesn't stop windows from ignoring that fact and switching inputs.
and yes, my drivers are all up to date.
Don't take this the wrong way, but this thread is over eight pages long and posting well intentioned but vapid suggestions that everyone has tried, such as "make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date, set your desired audio device as the default in Sound settings, and disable any unused devices." is an annoying distraction rather than helpful. We've all tried that. That's the first thing we've tried. People who start with the "make sure to boot into safe mode" and "make sure your bios is up to date" and- all that stuff? No. Just. Enough.
By page four of this thread we've all been through that troubleshooting. If you have something better to add than, "...try rebooting the monitor as well," I'm all ears. If not, please don't bother chiming in.
Harrumph.
I'm confident you tried all those already.
The only thing I might add is that- powering the monitor off and on may not be enough to actually power off th monitor. You may have to unplug it and plug it back in to really 'reset' it. I learned that a few years back. I have my monitors on a power strip so that if turning them off and on with the power button (which these days is not always really a power button) doesn't work.
YMMV, I have to do this with my Dell monitors.
And there is always "reset all settings" in the monitor itself, but that never did anything for me.
So- there's three ways you get to 'reset' your monitor. Power switch, yank the cord, reset in monitor settings. Make sure to play with them all!
Fun times! 🤪
