Windows 10: My headset was just working but now it wont recognize the mic and headphone part at the...

i've tried troubleshoots but it only gives me one kind of audio troubleshoot. it used to give me pop up options earlier today and a headset w/ mic wasn't an option then? i have never had a pop up before today and it had automatically connected both. i am on a PC.

:)

 

Computer Won't Use Headphone Mic

Are you using a wired or wireless connection?

If you are using Bluetooth you will find there is a gotcha when using a headset with a microphone. With Bluetooth 4.x there is not enough bandwidth for both the headset's stereo speakers and the microphone at the same time. If the headset's speakers are used in mono mode then the microphone will work. Here is the information from my computer:
I I left-click on speaker icon on taskbar tray I see my options for the speakers:

• Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) = Laptops built-in speakers
• Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Stereo) = Headphones stereo mode
• Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio) = Headphones mono mode

I found out that if I select "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio)" the headset microphone will work.




However, I found that next time the computer might choose "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Stereo)". Then the headset speakers will work but the the headset microphone will not work.

To ensure that the right selection is always done automatically I have to go further and set the default to "Headphones (Arctis 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free AG Audio)".
Note I can always override this at any time. To do this...
I right-click on speaker icon on taskbar tray and left-click on Sounds




The first tab Playback is for the speakers

• Headset = Headphones mono mode
• Headphones = Headphones stereo mode
• Speakers = Laptops built-in speakers

The second tab Recording is for the microphone

• Headset = Headset's microphone
• Microphone Array = Laptop's built-in microphone
• Stereo Mix = N/A

To ensure that both the headset speakers and microphone work at the same time I set the default playback to Headset. This will put the headset in mono mode and allow the microphone to work. Note that if I disconnect the headset the computer will automatically revert back to using the built-in speakers and microphone.

 

Computer won't recognize headset microphone

This is what i see in device manager. Im not sure if the Speakers/Headphones (Realtek High Definition Audio) is the one your saying to disable, as that is what is default in playback devices in the sounds panel.

Setting Stereo Mix as the default recording device and disabling everything else still didnt get the mic working, even when the headset is plugged into the microphone only audio port or the mic + sound audio port.

 

Headset Mic and Realtek drivers

Hey so funny thing, like I said, when i plug in my gaming headset vie splitter (mic, headphone), the mic does not work, it is if it only picks up noise, nothing else, like a little whitenoise generator. So after reading some stuff I tried something funny, I actually unplugged my microphone from my headset and plugged it directly via the mic input on my laptop, while headset was plugged in via headphone jack and what do you know, the mic works, so WTF is happening? lol I read somewhere that the realtek manager app is messing everything up and not recognizing headphones or headsets, not sure if it's true, but was wondering if anyone has some thoughts about it.