A headphone with a built-in microphone is an essential device not just for your phone but your pc as well, especially now that “work-from-home” has become our norm. The last thing you need is to be attending important meetings on your desktop using a speaker and cause inconvenience to all your family members. Highly functional headphones with mic are also popular among gamers. But no matter how good the tool is, you won’t be able to obtain the best experience if it’s not set up properly on your pc. To help you figure it out, we are here with the simplest explanation.
You can also read: How to Record Audio on Chromebook?
How To Set Up Headphone Mic On PC
Simply put you have to either connect the headphone mic on pc by using one of the available ports or via wireless. So, start by locating the ports on your desktop which you’ll find either on the sides of the device or in the front. For your gaming headset or regular headphones, you have to choose from any of the below three ports. If not, you can opt for a wireless connection as well.
3.5mm jack
Usually, older headphones are suitable for ports with two 3.5 mm jacks where the green one is for audio and the pink one is for the microphone. Since these 3.5mm jacks belong to analog audio signals, you’ll also come across similar names including aux input, audio jack, or phone jack. If you’re connecting gaming headsets with your pc, you should be able to do so easily because your headset should have connectors with the colors green and pink as well. So, you can just plug them in the corresponding ports.
USB 3.0
USB 3.0 ports may be available in your pc only if it was manufactured after 2008. The location however depends on the specific model but you should be able to identify it by a blue plastic inside the port. USB ports are also known as SuperSpeed USB. Although in terms of quality USB ports do not differ much from 3.5mm jacks they do have added features such as inline amps and faster transfer rates. Therefore, gamers usually opt for headsets that are powered by USB. Once you locate the port, connect your headphone to start using them.
HDMI
HDMI ports can be used to transmit high-definition video and up to 8 digital audio channels between electronic devices. Usually located either in the front or back of the desktop, HDMI ports are easy to identify as “HDMI” is written right above the port. It looks quite similar to a USB port but the insides of the port are more angled and flatter. If your gaming headset has a jack that resembles this appearance, it should fit right in the HDMI port of your pc.
Wireless
Using wireless to connect your headphone to your pc is the most tangle-free option as it doesn’t require using of any jacks or ports. As long as your desktop has a Bluetooth or a USB wireless receiver you should be able to connect it.
How To Check Sound Output
Now, that you’re done connecting the relevant headphone jack with the corresponding port in your pc it’s time to check the sound output. In some cases, the sound level configuration takes place automatically. If not, you must do so manually in a few simple steps.
First, you need to check whether your desktop has the headphone selected as the default audio setting option. To check this, simply right-click on the sound icon and further click on “open sound settings”. A new window will appear where you’ll find “Choose your output device” under “Output”. Now, select the connected headset. This should set up the configuration. To play music on your desktop and you should be able to hear the sound on your headphone.
How To Test Mic Settings
After you’ve figured out the desired sound settings, it’s time to test out the mic. To check it follow the previous steps up to “Open sounds settings” and then click on “Sound Control Panel” on the new window that appears. Now, choose the “Recording” tab and select the mic from your headset. If you “Select as default” a green tick should appear on the “Properties” window. Finally, click on the “Levels” tab to adjust the volume as you prefer.
What To Do If Your PC Does Not Have The Audio Output For Your Headphones?
In case of mismatched audio output, you should get your hands on an audio converter or adaptor. So, if your headphone has a USB 3.0 jack but there’s no USB 3.0 port in your pc, you should use a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adaptor. Or, if your headphone has only one 3.5mm jack you should buy a converter that splits the 3.5mm jack into two separate jacks that go in the audio and video port of your pc.
Troubleshooting Tips
Double-check before using a port as the connection to a wrong port can damage your device
Re-install the drivers from Device Manager in your pc if you cannot hear any sound after playing an audio clip
Unplug and plug again
Fully charge your gaming headset before using it
Check if you’re muted
Test your headphone on a different device to check the problem isn’t with the audio device itself
Final Words
As you can see, this guide on how to use a headphone mic on pc is pretty simple. Therefore, you should be able to set it up on your desktop in no time. You can always check out this article if you face any confusion. As long as you have invested in a good quality headphone and set it up according to our instructions you should experience amazing sound quality. Hope this article was helpful to you!
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