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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.
I like how you recognize the nuances.
I think one thing that's important to recognize is you're trying to define the "perfect" solution.
Personally, I think everyone in this thread could live with "don't switch the audio device at all unless I tell you to".
Would it be nice if it just knew what to do? sure. But, since they can't get that right...please don't switch it at all. I can go click on the button and select what I want and so can everyone else.
I have the same issue on Windows 10
It's just started happening and is really frustrating.
I'm working on music with headphones in on a Komplete Audio interface and windows suddenly decides to switch to the laptops RealTek audio, so the sound blasts out the laptop speakers.
It sometimes switches back to Komplete Audio, then will just randomly switch back again.
:(
It will take 85% of Eng/Mgr time to review the data and agree upon a solution, ~15% of the effort to implement in code whatever is the agreed upon solution. So some additional scope to make it perfect shouldn't be an issue.
I would love for there to be a solution for this, unfortunately for that to happen, Microsoft will need to fire the team responsible for Audio and Hot Plug and start from scratch. The entire sound subsystem has been designed to be as obtuse as possible, and to frustrate users at every opportunity. It's simply not possible for a competent software engineer to create this mess unless it was by design. Microsoft does employ competent people, 1+1=2, it was deliberate.
You can't even disable these devices in Device Manager, because they come right back when the displays wake up after going into sleep mode (The monitors, not the computer.) Again, this is deliberate, you are not allowed to permanently disable a device.. The Don't Allow option in Sound has the same problem, the setting is reverted by Windows immediately. By design. It's caused by the how the hot-plug subsystem deletes those preferences when it detects the device being unplugged. When the device wakes up, it looks like it's been plugged in and Windows detects it as a Brand New Device rather than remembering it, and that that you had disabled it. Of course all these devices are serialized (hard coded unique ID) so no need to forget, but forget Microsoft does. Again, by design.
As Microsoft is perfect, the engineers incapable of making bad decisions, this will never EVER get fixed. I know this doesn't actually help other than letting you know you should not hold your breath for a solution, because it's not broken. It's by design.
Why not post the solution so we can all solve the problem...
