Windows 11 24H2 – Elgato Wave Link virtual audio devices not showing up

Question

Windows 11 24H2 – Elgato Wave Link virtual audio devices not showing up

Matt l 40

Hi,

After updating to Windows 11 24H2, the default Elgato Wave Link devices ("Wave Link Stream" and "Wave Link Headset") no longer appear in the Windows Sound settings under Playback/Recording.

On Windows 11 23H2 everything worked fine. I could select "Wave Link Stream" as my default device and use it normally.

Now in 24H2, those two devices don’t show up at all. Only the custom channels I create in Wave Link (for example Game, Music, etc.) appear — but they are not usable as the main default device.

I’ve already tried reinstalling Wave Link, reinstalling drivers, resetting devices, restarting audio services, etc., but nothing works.

I also saw in other forums that other users are reporting the same issue with 24H2: apparently Windows is not creating the main virtual devices for some USB audio interfaces.

Please check this issue.

Thanks.

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Mario van der Grient 5 Reputation points

2026-03-14T15:52:51.5566667+00:00

Ik heb precies het zelfde probleem

Answer accepted by question author

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Mario van der Grient 5 Reputation points

2026-03-14T15:52:51.5566667+00:00

Ik heb precies het zelfde probleem

Answer 1

Francisco Montilla 30,725 Independent Advisor

Hi Matt,

As far as I could investigate, disabled endpoints are hidden more aggressively in the new Settings UI, and some virtual-audio drivers got tripped during the upgrade. The fastest way to bring back them is to re-enable them from the legacy Sound panel.

Press Win+R, type mmsys.cpl and press Enter. In the Playback tab, right-click in the empty area and turn on "Show Disabled Devices". If you see "Wave Link Stream" and "Wave Link Headset", right-click each one, choose Enable, then set your preferred one as Default. Repeat the same in the Recording tab. Close with OK and test again.

For context only, Microsoft has documented 24H2 audio regressions affecting virtual audio solutions (they called out Voicemeeter specifically). Once your endpoints are re-enabled, Wave Link should behave as before.If they still don't appear, tell me and I'll try to investigate further, any information on errors and such is highly valuable for me. Let me know please!

Matt l 40 Reputation points

2025-08-21T11:47:54.29+00:00

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I already checked the legacy Sound panel (mmsys.cpl) with “Show Disabled Devices” enabled. I can see all the individual Elgato Wave Link virtual outputs (Music, SFX, System, Voice Chat, Aux 1/2, Browser, Game), but there is no device named “Wave Link Stream” or “Wave Link Headset” at all.

So the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 seems to have removed (or failed to create) the main virtual endpoints. I can only see the secondary routing channels, which are all disabled by default.

This means I cannot set Wave Link Stream (the one I always used as Default device in 23H2) as my main playback device anymore, because it’s missing entirely from the system.

Thanks in advance!
jaz yagami 5 Reputation points

2025-09-22T02:23:52.3933333+00:00

I am having the same issues, this update even corrupted my windows completely so i had to start new, i don't see anything Francisco mentioned anymore, i only see what Matt mentioned, its been messing up with games i play also with the audio
Frans Sengers 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:30:04.8833333+00:00

bedankt het probleem is opgelost
Thiago Santos 0 Reputation points

2026-05-31T19:55:14.31+00:00

o meus drive de áudio desapareceram todos do meu pc