Lack of Headphone Jack in PC Causes Videos on Youtube and Bing Videos to Completely Buffer and Stop

Jackson 20 Reputation points
2026-09-06T05:02:57.78+00:00

This is a really weird problem that I've never encountered before. I've restarted my computer twice and that didn't do anything. It plays completely fine when the headphone jack is in, but will buffer or make itself buffer: the video is playing fine and the buffer symbol will pop up and as soon as I pause or rewind, it will never un-pause.

For clarity, everything loads fine even when they're not plugged in. The whole page can load more videos on the side fast, in the video currently being played, the gray box is still there to ensure that the video is being preloaded. It just won't play.

Microsoft Edge | Audio and video playback | Windows 10
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Answer accepted by question author
Alex-L 12,555 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-09-06T13:35:49.5333333+00:00

Hi Jackson

This is unusual because the buffering appears tied to the audio device state rather than your internet connection. Since videos play normally when headphones are connected, Windows may be having trouble with the default audio output device or audio driver. Microsoft's audio troubleshooting guidance recommends verifying the correct playback device is selected, setting it as the default output device, disabling audio enhancements, and updating/reinstalling the audio driver.

You could try:

  1. Settings > System > Sound and confirm your speakers are selected as the active output device.
  2. Turn Audio Enhancements off for the affected playback device.
  3. Reinstall or update your audio driver from the PC manufacturer's website. Microsoft notes that corrupted or incorrect audio drivers can cause playback issues.
  4. Test whether the issue occurs in another browser (e.g., Edge vs. Chrome) and with local video files to determine if the problem is browser-specific or system-wide.

Could you let us know your PC model and whether the sound comes from built-in speakers, external speakers, or a Bluetooth device when the headphones are unplugged? This would help narrow down whether it's a driver, audio-device detection, or browser playback issue.

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