Perhaps you are not so happy with your laptop speakers so you want to disable it but cannot find the way to do so without disabling the headphone features. Or maybe your speakers make weird sound while working that annoys you. Or maybe there are some other reasons that you do not want the internal speakers of your laptop anymore. Then what will you do? Well, it is very simple. All you need to do is follow some steps to disable the speaker features in your laptop without making an issue with the headphones. But how to disable laptop speakers but not headphones? Everything is possible. Continue reading the blog post and find out the guide made by our experts.
But before going to that, let’s see some of the common reasons that make you need to disable the internal speakers of your laptop.
Reasons behind disabling your laptop internal speakers:
Regardless of the laptop brands, almost all the laptops come with internal speakers. Most of them come with the typical setup, i.e., two stereo-effect speakers. And the most common reason the laptops are equipped with these are the speakers allow the operating system of the machine to transmit the audio notifications and other notices. Apart from that, the internal speakers of the laptop also work as an aiding technology for those people with varied skills. Besides that, it also plays a huge role in media playback and everyday media use. But above everything, there are some reasons that makes some of the laptop users to disable their laptop speakers. These include weird speakers’ noise during work, speakers with poor conditions, for privacy concern, etc. And this is why some may deactivate the loudspeakers in the sound settings which is pretty simple. We will discuss the steps in the following portion.
Steps to disable your laptop’s internal speakers but not the headphones:
There are many ways you can disable the internal speakers in your laptop. You can do that from your laptop settings as well as by using any third-party app. Here we will discuss 6 ways you can do so:
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#1. Disabling your laptop internal speakers from Settings:
This is the easiest way you can disable your laptop internal speaker. And the best part is that this will be applicable in all types of laptops. It is because every laptop has sound settings. In your PC settings you will find the sound devices. Whether it is the internal speakers in your laptop, or an external speaker or headphones (with or without wire) will be considered as the sound devices and connected to your laptop. This setting will allow you to isolate or disable the internal speaker of your laptop independently. Thus, you will still be able to use other sound output devices such as the headphone, external speakers, etc. But it would be great if you should temporarily unplug all the external sound devices at the time of disabling the internal ones, to reduce the confusion. Okay, now when you are all set, all you need to do is follow the below mentioned steps:
a) Open the settings app in your laptop from the search bar on your left bottom side on the laptop screen or by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can also use the Windows Key + I together to open the Settings window.
b) Now find out the option named System. Click on it.
c) Then look at the sidebar on your left-hand side on the laptop and locate the Sound tab. Select it.
d) Here you will locate the Sound Devices Management option under the section of Output. Tap on it.
e) Find the Laptop Speaker’s Entry from the given options and click on it.
f) Here you can see the Disable button to disable the internal speaker. Tap on it.
g) You have successfully disabled the internal speakers of your laptop. Now you can connect your headphone and external speakers to it and play the media via that.
But this is not the only way you can do it. Some Windows 10 laptops like Dell OptiPlex, etc., come with an in-built internal speaker that takes up the desk space without getting involved with the external speakers. Apart from that, if the external speakers get detached anytime from the PC, the settings can take the internal speakers back into action and start the media with same volume which will be very unpleasant. Then how can you solve that? Well, let’s see in the following.
#2. Disabling the laptop speakers from sound properties:
This is the easiest way you can disable your laptop internal speakers without making any issues with the headphones or external speakers. Here we will use take help from the Sound Properties of the laptop. there are two ways you can disable your laptop speakers via Sound Properties. The first one is the following:
a) Take a look on your taskbar and locate the volume button over there. Right click on it.
b) A list of options will appear. Choose the Sound option among those.
c) A small window will open with 4 tabs. Click on the Playback tab and there you will find the name of your laptop speakers.
d) Right click on that speaker and then click on the Disable option.
This will disable the laptop speaker without interacting with any external speaker or headphone settings. But the moving back to default mode problem could be there. Then? Well, following is an alternative method that you can also use to deactivate laptop internal speakers:
a) Like the previous step, locate the volume icon on your taskbar and right click on it.
b) Now you will find the Sound option there. Select it.
c) Similarly, it will open a small window with 4 tabs, where you need to select the Playback tab.
d) You will find the name of your laptop’s internal speaker there. Right click on it and then select the option named Properties.
e) It will again open up a new window with 5 tabs. Choose the one named General.
f) Now locate the section named Device Usage and select on the Don’t Use This Device (Disable) option from the drop-down menu. It will disable your laptop internal speaker.
Still worried about how to deactivate the laptop speakers but not headphones? We have covered other step-by-step guides for you. Continue checking it.
#3. Disabling the laptop speakers from auto drivers update:
What will you do if your laptop internal speakers are moving back to its default state every time your external speakers get detached from the laptop? This happens with most of the people even when disable the laptop speakers with the above steps. If you are also dealing with this difficulty of moving your laptop back to its internal speakers, the following steps might help you,
a) Locate the start button in your left-hand side on the laptop display and right click over it.
b) A list of options will show up. Find the Device Manager from that. Click on it.
c) On the Device Manager screen, you will see lots of options. From there locate the Sound, Video, and Game Controller entry and expand it.
d) Next thing you have to do is right click on your audio device.
e) Now you will find the contextual menu, where you need to pick the Driver Update option.
f) Next to that, click the Auto-Seek Driver option on that following screen. It will allow your laptop search the latest device driver update and install it to the PC.
This step is super easy and effective to disable your laptop internal speakers to move back to its default state. With this, you can be sure that your laptop won’t go back to its internal speakers every time your external speakers get detached. But yes, you need to use the external speakers or headphones, you have to manually select it every time. Then what is the solution? Well, let’s see in the following.
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#4. Disabling the laptop speakers from control panel of the laptop:
Tired of manually selecting your audio settings every time you plug an external speaker? You can discard this step by making your external speakers as your default PC speaker. In this way, you do not always have to select your audio preferences every time you play a media or play game on your laptop. And, the steps are super easy as well. All you need to do is the following:
a) Go to the start button on your left-hand side bottom screen and search Control Panel in the search bar. You can also use the Windows key on your keyboard to open the search bar.
b) Now locate the Sound and Hardware option from all the options given on the screen and click on it.
c) Here you will find an option named Manage Sound Audio Devices. Select it.
d) A new screen (often labelled as Speakers) will open with the device listing. Right click on the device from the listing and click Disable.
e) Now click on Apply and then OK to save this setting for further use.
f) Now when you are all set, plus an external speaker or headphone in your laptop’s audio-out port.
This step-by-step guide will make your external speaker settings a default rather than the internal ones. Now when you will connect an external speaker or headphone to your laptop, your PC will recognize it instantly and set it to be the default laptop speakers. But the fact is, sometimes it does not work. Even if you disable your laptop speakers from the Control Panel setting, often the laptop moves back to the internal speakers. But no worries! We have got a solution for that too.
#5. Disabling the laptop speakers using BIOS setting:
Still facing issues with the laptop speakers even after the previously mentioned steps? No worries it happens sometimes. If the internal speakers of your laptop have not been disabled from the Control Panel and are still active, you can deactivate them from the UEFI Settings in your laptop. This is the BIOS step, with which you can disable the internal speakers of your laptop completely. And the steps are also pretty easier. All you need to do is to follow the below-mentioned step-by-step guide:
a) Go to the on the bottom left corner search bar on your laptop display or press the Windows key on your keyboard and search for Settings. Alternatively, you can also use a short cut, i.e., press the Windows + I together on your keyboard. It will directly open the Settings window.
b) Locate the option named Update and Security from all the options there and click on it.
c) Here you will find an option named Recovery. Click on it.
d) Many options will come on the screen. Scroll down through them and find the Update and Security section.
e) Here you can see the option Advanced Start-up. Select it and click on Reset Now option.
f) Next to that, click on the option Fix.
g) It will open up some options. Tap on the Advanced Options.
h) There you will find the UEFI Firmware Settings on the Advanced Options window. Click on it.
i) On the following screen, you will find the Restart button. Click on it.
j) Here you can find many options. From them, you need to locate the System Configuration and expand it.
k) It will open the UEFI Page where you have to locate and choose the Audio option.
l) You will see the Enable Internal Audio option there. Deselect this setting.
m) Now you are all set. Click on the Apply and then Exit to save the entire settings on your laptop for future use.
Even though all these above-mentioned five step-by-step guides are super easy and effective, it may consume some time to do so. Whereas, it will feel easier than the usual if you use a software for disabling your laptop’s internal speakers. Let’s see in the following how can you do that.
#6. Disabling the laptop speakers using a third-party program:
Disabling the internal speakers in your laptop will be permanent until you are moving back to the previous setting. Therefore, if you ever wish to watch a match on your laptop with the internal speakers ON, you will again have to go to the Control Panel or Sound Settings again to reverse the settings back. And this will take a huge time from your end, which you can reduce by using a third-party software. In this way, you can simply put your laptop speakers mute while the external speakers or headphones are in use and unmute it when you unplug them. You can use the Ellp, a free software that will allow you to do so. You can use it as well as other software applications available online. All you need to do is the following:
a) Search Ellp on the internet and download the software to your laptop.
b) Once done, install the software and launch it.
c) After you open it, you will see a series of cards are there, featuring different processes on each that you want to automate.
d) Locate the card that represents Sound under the section named Entertainment.
e) Enable the sound automation task by selecting on the Enable the Card button.
You are all set now. Ellp will continue running this entire setting in the background until you are uninstalling it and automatically mute/unmute the internal speakers of the laptop when needed.
But all the steps we have covered above are for Windows 10/Windows 10 Home laptop users. And, this raises the query how to disable laptop speakers but not headphones on a laptop lower than Windows 10. No issues! We have got that covered as well.
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How to disable the internal laptop speakers but not the headphones on Windows 7 laptop?
In case, your laptop has an OS lower than Windows 10 or Windows 10 Home, you can simply set the headphones as the default, so that Windows can recognize it at the earliest when you connect one.
But alternatively, you can also follow the below mentioned steps:
- Locate the speaker icon on your task bar and right click on it.
- Now choose the Volume Control option.
- Tick on the All Sound Playing Devices.
- Make sure that you have deselected the Default Communication Service.
- Now mark on the options that you want to play and unmark those you want to disable.
But how to switch between headphones and speakers?
Ever wondered what if you need the laptop speakers for a moment? No worries! It is very simple. All you have to do is switch between the headphone and speakers with the following steps:
- Look at the right bottom corner on your laptop display and locate the small speaker icon on the taskbar next to the clock. Click on it.
- Now choose the up arrow to the right of your audio output devices.
- Here you can see the list of the audio devices connected to your laptop. Choose the one you need.
However, this guide is only applicable to Windows 10 laptop users.
What if you have issues with only the one side of the laptop speakers?
For immense use and terrible behaviour, sometime one side of laptop speakers starts to act strange or does not work at all. In this moment, disabling the entire laptop internal speaker will not be necessary. You can just disable or turn OFF the terrible one with the following guide:
- Locate the volume icon on your Windows taskbar and right click on it.
- Choose the Sound option and go to the Playback tab of the newly opened window.
- Find your laptop speaker there and double click on it.
- Now choose the tab named Levels on the newly opened window.
- Here you can see an option named Balance next to your audio output.
- Now locate the terrible speaker and turn it OFF here.
This guide is also only applicable for the Windows 10 laptop users.
FAQs regarding how to disable laptop speakers but not headphones:
Ans. It happens often that even the headphones are connected to the laptop, speaker is still active and making sound. In that moment, all you have to do is go to the Control Panel in your PC and then move to the Sound and Hardware option. Here you will get the Audio Management option where you can select the device you want to use. If it still does not work, then you might have a broken headphone or headphone jack.
Ans. Yes, you can definitely do that. Also, the process is very simple. Make sure that both your PC speakers and headphones are connected. Now do the following:
• Right click the volume icon on your Windows taskbar and select Sounds.
• Go to the Playback tab and right click on your speakers.
• Now select it as Set as Default Device.
Ans. It is very simple. The steps are following:
• Press Windows key + S together on your keyboard or write Device Manager on the left bottom corner search bar on your laptop display.
• Open the Audio Output tab and then right click on the device (headphone).
• Click Disable to turn it OFF.
Ans. Yes, you can. The process is following:
• Click on the volume icon on your Windows taskbar.
• Choose the one small up arrow on the right to your Audio Output Device.
• Select your preferred output device from the list.
Ans. It happens when your laptop speakers are set to be the default sound device. Check whether your headphones are set as Default Communication Device instead of the default device or both the speakers and headphones are as default.
If this is the issue, then set it as the default sound device and uncheck the default communication device.
Ans. It is pretty simple. All you need to do is the following:
• Go to the Control Panel and open the Realtek HD Audio.
• Now locate the Device Advanced Settings in the top right.
• Check on the Play Two Different Audio Streams Concurrently on the front and rear output devices.
• Choose the Set Separate All Input Jacks as Separate Input Devices option.
Conclusion:
Sound settings is one of the most complicated settings in the laptop. It feels more complicated when it is about switching between the speakers and headphones. Often, they get mixed up and make a chaos. But well, this blog post can help you. With the above-written 6 step-by-step guides this can answer all your queries about how to disable laptop speakers but not headphones.