Both my mic and my headphone wont show up in the Sound control panel

Troubleshooting Audio Device Recognition Issues in Windows 10: Microphone and Headphone Not Detected

If you’re experiencing issues where your microphone and headphones are not appearing in the Sound Control Panel after a Windows reinstallation, you’re not alone. Such problems can be frustrating, especially when hardware that previously worked suddenly stops being recognized. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to resolving these common audio device recognition issues on Windows 10.

Understanding the Issue
In some cases, after reinstalling the operating system—due to system errors like automatic repair loops—hardware devices such as microphones and headphones may not be detected or shown in the Sound settings. This can be caused by driver issues, hardware connection problems, or system configuration errors.

Common Symptoms:
– Microphone and headphones do not appear in the Sound Control Panel.
– Devices do not produce feedback or are unrecognized in applications like Discord.
– Plugging devices into different ports (front or back) yields no detection.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Verify Hardware Connectivity
2. Ensure that your microphone and headphones are properly plugged into the correct ports. The front panel ports may sometimes have hardware issues or poor connections; try using the rear ports if available.
3. Test your devices on another computer to confirm they are functioning correctly.

4. Use different cables or ports to rule out physical connection problems.

5. Check Device Manager

6. Press Windows + X and select “Device Manager.”
7. Look under “Sound, video and game controllers” and “Audio inputs and outputs” for your devices.
8. If devices are listed with a yellow exclamation mark, right-click and select “Update driver.”

9. If devices are missing, proceed to reinstall or install drivers manually.

10. Reinstall Audio Drivers

11. Download the latest audio driver compatible with your motherboard or sound card from the manufacturer’s website.
12. Alternatively, you can let Windows attempt to find and install drivers automatically:
13. In Device Manager, right-click your audio device and select “Uninstall device.”
14. Restart your PC and allow Windows to reinstall the drivers automatically.

15. After installation, restart your PC again and check if devices are recognized.

16. Enable Devices in Sound Settings

17. Right-click the sound icon in the system tray and select “Open Sound settings.”
18. Under “Input” and “Output,” see if your devices are listed.
19. Click “Manage sound devices” or “Device properties.”

20. Make sure the devices are enabled; if disabled, enable them.

21. Use Windows