

With that said, let’s get back to solving the problem of headphones not showing up in playback devices. This fix will often work for Bluetooth headphones. If they are connected, then turn your Bluetooth off, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on and reconnect. Make sure to open the Bluetooth settings on your device and check that your headphones are connected. Remember, if you are using a Bluetooth headset, not all headsets can be connected to two or more devices at once.

Have a quick look to see if the volume is turned up. Also, many sets of headphones have built-in volume controls. Let’s run through some troubleshooting steps for all the major platforms.

If none of these tests show any signs of helping, then you may have a software issue. On the other hand, if they don’t work, then your device’s 3.5mm jack insert could be the problem. If these work, then there is something physically wrong with your headphones themselves. Grab a spare set of headphones (if you don’t own another pair, then ask a friend) and see if they work with your device. This could give a quick solution to headphones not showing up in playback devices. First Things Firstīefore we dive into any software issues that may be plaguing you, let’s first take a look at what could have gone wrong with the headphones or device physically. So, no matter if you are having issues connecting headphones to a smartphone, a PC, or a Mac, stick around because I have done all the annoying research for you. This exact situation sent me down a rabbit hole of fixes, and I quickly become a little obsessed with fixing the problem, not just for myself but for anyone in a similar situation to mine. And sure enough, the headset icon was nowhere to be seen on my notification bar. “That’s strange,” I thought as I pulled my phone back out from my pocket. There was no satisfying notification click to let me know I had plugged in my headphones. As I plugged my headphones into my phone, something felt different.
