How to connect headphones to a computer and set them up in Windows 7/Windows 10

Few users of modern devices do not know how to connect headphones to a computer, but not everyone can solve the problems that arise when connecting. Consider some of the nuances of connecting and configuring headphones for their quality work on various operating systems.

What are the connectors

Connecting headphones to a computer is not a difficult task, but sometimes there are difficulties directly when setting up the equipment. Almost all PC models have sound card. It can be built into the motherboard, or you need to connect to it through a special connector. In any case, the gadget can be connected either to the back of the computer or to the front (if there are appropriate sockets).

By looking at the figure below, you can understand how to connect headphones with a microphone to your computer.

The headset output is always green, and the microphone input is always pink.. Since gadget plugs are also colored in the appropriate colors, it is very difficult to make a mistake and insert them into other connectors. It is required to insert the green plug into the green socket, and the pink plug, respectively, into the pink one. In the pink socket, you can connect both a microphone from headphones and a third-party microphone to the computer. After that, the connected equipment is configured using special software (in Windows 10, as well as in versions 8 and 7, the configuration should take place automatically).

On a laptop, gadgets are connected in the same way. The manufacturer may place connectors on front panel device or on the left.

Headset jacks are sometimes made tight on laptops to increase their lifespan. Therefore, do not be afraid that the plug does not fit well into the socket.

It should be noted that it is the headset plugs designed for computers that are color-coded if a microphone is provided on the headphones. The plugs of the rest of the headset have no difference in colors. There is a headset, for example, for phone, which has not 2 plugs, but one, in which the contacts for the microphone and audio channels are combined. It clearly shows 3 strips separating the contacts. Two contacts are used for connecting audio channels, and one for a microphone.

New laptop models have combination socketto which you can connect headphones with a microphone that have one plug.

A special marking is placed near such a connector. If there is no such socket, but there are 2 standard ones, then such a headset can be connected via special adapter.

Thus, it becomes clear how to connect headphones from your phone to your computer. Headphones on the front panel are connected according to the same principle: if there is a microphone on the headphones, then it is connected to the pink jack, and the audio channels to the green one.

Connecting the headset to a PC

Now you know how to connect headphones to your computer. But this action is not enough for the gadget to work properly, although most often it immediately starts working, and nothing needs to be configured. But there are times when the connected gadgets do not work, so you need to take some action.

1. Before you set up the sound in the headphones, you need to test them for performance in another device, for example, connect them to the headphone jack on a smartphone or tablet.
2. If the headset is functioning, it means that the PC no required drivers. To detect their presence on your computer, turn on the playback of any audio or video file. If the sound appeared in the speakers, then this means that everything is in order with the drivers, and you only need to make minor changes to their settings.
3. If there are still no drivers, then you need to go to the PC control panel and click on the “Device Manager” item.
   
4. After that, find the line “Sound video and game controllers”. If there is an exclamation mark next to it, then you will have to update the drivers. Before you install the driver, you must have prepared a disk with the necessary programs. After the installed software, the sound should appear. In case there is no disc, select the item to searching for software on the internetafter which we install the found.
   
5. It is also recommended to check set volume levelby clicking on the speaker, which is located in the lower right corner.
   
6. You can also check the volume level through the “Control Panel” tab (in the tenth version of the operating system (Windows 10), all windows look the same). To do this, by going into it, find the “Sound” item and click on the “Volume Settings” line.
   
7. You can check if sound playback on your computer is working by looking at volume controls. If after turning on the file is not played, then there will be no indication (pulsation) on the regulator.
   

Connecting a headset on Windows 7

Before setting up the headphones on a Windows 7 computer, you need to connect them on the back or front panel of the device to the appropriate connectors (you already know how to connect it correctly). Then you need to start playing the music file. If there is sound in the headset, then the connection can be considered completed. If there is no sound, do the following in the headphones on the computer (this instruction is also suitable for setting up the gadget on a laptop).

1. Hover your mouse over the speaker image at the bottom of the screen (right) and right-click.
2. Next, you should select the line «Playback devices» in the tab that appears.
   
3. In the next window you will see a list of devices installed on your computer. There can be from one to several of them in the list (depending on what type of devices will be used for playback). You should make sure that there is a green checkmark next to the “Headphones” item.
   
4. If the checkbox is not checked, you must select this device: right-click and click in the pop-up window “Set as default”.
   
5. In the next step, select the “Speakers” item and click on the “Configure” button located at the bottom of the window (on the left).
6. After, select the “stereo” sound channels and click on “Check”. Testing will start, during which you should hear sound from the channels displayed on the screen. If everything is fine, click «Next».
   
7. In the speaker settings, you need to check the box next to the line “Left and right front”, then click on “Next” and “Finish”.
   
8. In the “Sound” window, opposite the “Speakers” item, there is equalizer scale. When an audio file is playing, the bar should fill in green. If this does not happen, then you need to look for another reason.
   
9. There may be no sound when the indication on the scale is working, when the volume level is set to zero.
   
10. But, if the volume level is set correctly, and there is an indication that the music is being played, but it was not possible to turn on the headphones, then either headset is defectiveor you plugged it into the wrong socket.

The above settings can also be applied to the Windows 10 (Windows 10) operating system if you do not know how to turn on the gadget directly in it.

Microphone setup

Before using the microphone in Windows 7 or 8, as well as in Windows 10, it must be configured.

1. After plugging the microphone into the appropriate jack on the PC, right-click on the speaker icon and select Recording Devices.
   
2. Install the microphone default device.
   
3. In the next menu, check the operation of the microphone, for example, by making some sounds. If it works, the jackal will respond with a pulse.
   
4. If there is no ripple, or it is weak, right-click on the “Microphone” item, and then select “Properties”.
   
5. In the window that opens, select the “Levels” tab and set the value to “80” on the regulator, then test the device again.

There are also headphones with a microphone that can be connected to a computer via a USB connector. In most cases, after connecting them, the configuration occurs automatically.

How to connect wireless headphones to a PC

Having decided to connect a Bluetooth headset to a desktop computer, the first question that arises is — does the latter have a built-in module. Unlike a laptop, it is available in rare expensive system units. If there is no module, then it will have to be purchased separately.

When choosing a headset for a PC, you should pay attention to its parameters. The presence of Bluetooth is not a guarantee that they will be able to work together. There are certain profiles and codecs for Bluetooth technology, designed for different work. Some allow you to make only calls, others listen to music, others are designed for file sharing. The good news is that modern models support all profiles, so it’s quite difficult to face the fact that the headset will not be able to play music from a PC.

Headphone connection

To synchronize a PC on Windows 7 or 10 (there are no significant differences for different operating systems) with a Bluetooth headset, you must do the following.

1. Make sure that PC has bluetooth. To do this, you can look in the tray, next to the clock there should be a corresponding icon. In the control panel, in the «devices» section, see if this type of connection is available. You can also open a command prompt (WIN+R) and type «msc». The wireless module must be listed in the list.
2. If built-in Bluetooth is not provided, then purchase of an external adapter. It connects via USB, requires a driver to be installed — it’s best to download it from the website of the company that released it. The current version of the software will save you from possible problems.
3. On the headset you need enable search mode. How to do this, you can find out in the instructions, but usually this is done by long pressing the power. Accompanied by fast blinking of the LED.
4. Now on the PC we enter Bluetooth settings. Click on the tray icon, go to «devices» — «Bluetooth» and click on «+». The headset will appear in the list. By selecting it, a window will open with entering the code, as a rule, it is “1234” or “0000”, but the option may be different — in this case it is written in the instructions. In some cases, the code may not be required.

Connection problems

Sometimes pairing may fail. In this case, there are possible solutions to the problem.

1. There is no built-in module. We use an external USB adapter.
2. no driver. It can be downloaded from the website of the company that released the adapter. When installing, you need to take into account the version of the OS and its bit depth.
3. Multimedia keyboards may have hotkeys to enable/disable Bluetooth. This is a combination of the Fn keys and one of the functional F keys. Sometimes the power button is placed separately.
4. The device does not see the headphones. Re-activate the search mode on the headphones, after turning them off / on. Sometimes the headset is not visible to the new device if it is already paired with another.
5. No sound. You should check the volume on the PC and headphones. If it doesn’t help, then you should enter the “playback devices” through the volume icon in the tray and switch to the headset. If the situation repeats, then when activating the headphones, you must enter their settings and select the “use by default” item.

Advice! Also, in case of problems, it is worth checking whether Bluetooth is turned on on the PC, whether the headset is discharged, and whether there is interference from other devices. You should make sure that the distance between the PC and the headset is no more than 10 meters.

Most often, connection failure is caused by trivial problems that do not require complex solutions.