How To Play Audio on Dual Devices in Windows 11: A Complete Guide
If you’ve ever tried to blast music from your PC and wanted it to come out of two places at once — say, your headphones and some external speakers — you’ve probably figured out Windows doesn’t make that super straightforward. But, surprisingly enough, there’s a trick that lets you do it, kind of like juggling audio streams. It’s not perfect and can be a bit finicky, but with some patience, you can get both outputs working together on Windows 11. Here’s what’s worked in the past, and yeah, it’s a bit of a workaround.
How to Output Audio to Two Devices on Windows 11
This method involves using the Stereo Mix feature—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than it should. The gist: you set up Stereo Mix as a kind of virtual cable, letting you mirror your primary audio to a second device. Sounds fancy, but it’s really just some toggling in the sound settings.
Step 1: Open Sound Settings
Start by heading into Settings (Win + I), then go to System > Sound. Or just search “Sound settings” in the start menu. Easy quick way. Once you’re in, double-check that all your relevant devices are plugged in and recognized — especially if you just plugged in new speakers or headphones.
Step 2: Access Advanced Sound Options
Scroll down in the Sound settings page and click on Advanced sound options — it’s a link at the bottom. That’ll open a new window where you can tweak per-app output if needed, but what we’re after is setting up a system-wide mirroring.
Step 3: Enable Stereo Mix
This part is a little weird because Stereo Mix isn’t always enabled by default. Head over to the Sound Control Panel — it’s under Related Settings, or just search for it. In the window that pops up, go to the Recording tab, right-click in an empty space, and check Show Disabled Devices. If you see Stereo Mix, right-click it and select Enable.
Note: On some systems, Stereo Mix either isn’t available or won’t enable. If that’s the case, updating your sound drivers via Device Manager — Device Manager > Sound, video, and game controllers — might bring it back. Sometimes, certain onboard audio chips or driver combinations just don’t support Stereo Mix.
Step 4: Set Stereo Mix as Default Recording Device
Back in the Sound Control Panel, still on the Recording tab, right-click Stereo Mix and pick Set as Default Device. This sets up your system to route all output through this virtual source.
Step 5: Configure Listening to Your Secondary Device
Now, switch over to the Playback tab in the same window. Find your secondary output (say, external speakers or headphones you want to use in addition to your main setup). Right-click it, choose Properties, then go to the Listen tab. Check the box that says Listen to this device and, in the dropdown below, pick Stereo Mix.
Expect some delay or slight echo on one of the outputs—that’s kind of normal with this workaround. It’s not perfect; it’s more like a makeshift solution, but it works most of the time if you don’t mind some minor lag.
And yeah, sometimes you have to reboot or re-enable Stereo Mix if it’s not sticking around. Also, on some setups, the calls to toggle these settings don’t always stick — so, save your settings, and if things go weird, a quick restart usually fixes it.
Tips for Outputting Audio to Two Devices on Windows 11
- Double-check both devices are detected and selected in your sound settings before messing with Stereo Mix.
- Update your sound drivers — sometimes outdated drivers cause Stereo Mix not to show up or work right.
- Mixing audio like this might introduce a tiny delay, so if syncing matters (say, watching videos), you might need some adjustments or accept some lag.
- If you run into performance issues or audio glitches, consider temporarily switching back to a single device.
- Another thing: keep in mind that not all hardware plays nice with Stereo Mix, especially on some integrated audio chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Bluetooth and wired audio devices at the same time?
Yeah, that generally works — as long as your driver supports multiple outputs and Stereo Mix can handle it. But sometimes Bluetooth adds extra delay, so it’s not perfect sync-wise.
What if Stereo Mix is not available on my PC?
This is pretty common. When that happens, updating your audio drivers or switching to a different sound card might help. Some onboard sound chips totally hide Stereo Mix due to manufacturer restrictions. In those cases, third-party virtual audio cables, like VB-Audio VoiceMeeter or similar, are alternatives, but they’re more complicated.
Does using two devices mess with sound quality?
It might, especially if your second device isn’t the same quality as your primary. There can be slight differences, and delays might make things feel out of sync.
Can apps be assigned different outputs directly?
Not with this setup. Windows doesn’t really let you assign individual apps to separate outputs easily without third-party software. But, in Settings > System > Sound, some apps can be configured for their own outputs.
Will this method work for all audio hardware?
Mostly, but some older or very specialized sound hardware might not support Stereo Mix or similar virtual routing. It’s trial and error.
Summary
- Enable Stereo Mix in your sound settings.
- Set it as the default recording device.
- Use the Listen tab on your secondary device to mirror the audio.
- Be ready for some minor lag or sync issues—they come with the territory.
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Nowadays, it feels like Windows makes simple stuff—like outputting to multiple speakers—way more complicated than it should be. But at least with a bit of tinkering, it’s doable. Good luck, and don’t forget to save those settings after you get it working!