Windows – How to switch between headphones and speakers without unplugging the headphones

audioaudio-outputheadphone-jackspeakerswindows 10

When i'm using Ubuntu 18, I'm able to freely switch the audio output between my plugged-in headphones (with a jack plug) and the PC speakers using PulseAudio, without unplugging the headphones .

I would like to be able to do the exact same thing on Windows 10 (installed on the same computer) with a software switch just like for Ubuntu.
Contrary to a lot of answers to similar questions, this doesn't seem to be a hardware-switch only setting, or else I would be unable to do that on linux.

In case this interests you, here's the command i used to achieve that on ubuntu : 

amixer -c 1 set 'Auto-Mute Mode' Disabled

Thanks for your tips 🙂

edit : Windows 10 pro 64 bit, version 1809 , OS build 17763.615

edit2: I only see Speakers (Realtek High definition audio) when selecting the sound output device in the settings and in the taskbar

Best Answer

  1. Open Realtek HD Audio Manager [C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RtkNGUI64.exe]
  2. Click on the settings 'cog' in the top right corner of RealTek HD Audio Manager and then select "Make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams simultaneously".
  3. Seamlessly switch between audio devices via the Taskbar or Control Panel.
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