How to Configure HP Laptop Headphones That Are Not Working
By Robert Ceville
When you are experiencing a problem getting audio to come through your Hewlett-Packard laptop's headphone jack, you probably only need to configure the device in the Control Panel. Lots of times, accidental changes are made by mistake, or other devices become attached, disabling the headphones. If you have never had to configure your HP laptop headphones before, don't stress over it. HP has made adjusting the settings for the internal sound card simple.
Go to "Start," then select "Control Panel." The Control Panel is where you make custom settings to your HP devices and their functionality, and even add or remove programs.
Click "Hardware and Sound," then select "Sound."
Click on the "Internal Headphone/Speaker" device, then click "Configure."
Choose the type of setup that you wish to use, then click "Test."
Click "Properties." There you will find four different tabs for editing the functionality and configuration of your HP laptop headphones. The four different tabs are "General," "Levels," "Enhancements" and "Advanced."
Click "Enable this Device" on the "General" tab, in the "Device Usage" box. This will restore functionality of the headphones, if it has been disabled.
Click the "Levels" tab to go to the volume settings for the headphones.
Move the volume slider all the way to the right on "Internal Headphones/Speaker." This will ensure that audio levels are being fed through the headphones jack once it has been enabled. The rest of the configuration process is a matter of taste.
Tips
- Use the "Enhancements" tab to add desired effects to your headphones overall sound. If you are looking to have the most accurate representation of the sound, you may want to leave these enhancements alone.
Writer Bio
Based in Florida, Robert Ceville has been writing electronics-based articles since 2009. He has experience as a professional electronic instrument technician and writes primarily online, focusing on topics in electronics, sound design and herbal alternatives to modern medicine. He is pursuing an Associate of Science in information technology from Florida State College of Jacksonville.