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No Sound? How to Change Your Default Audio Device to Your Plugable Product

Last Update: August 17th, 2022
Article ID: 379342

Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux, it's common to add new audio devices to your computer.

Some examples of additional audio devices you may want to switch to include:

  • Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and speakers
  • Speakers built into a display, such as a TV or monitor
  • A USB sound card, digital audio converter (DAC), or analog to digital converter (ADC)
  • USB microphones
  • Audio jacks on a docking station

These steps don't apply to the Plugable Performance NIX HDMI Capture Card (USBC-CAP60).

Here are the steps that you need to set a new default audio recording or output device on different operating systems.

Set Audio Output Device

Set Audio Recording Device

Set Default Playback Device in Windows

  1. Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
    • It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
  2. Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
    • Windows 7/8.x—Select Playback Devices. The Sound window will open with the Playback tab highlighted

      Accessing sound preferences in Windows 7
    • Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Playback tab
      Accessing sound preferences in Windows 10 or 11
      • Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Output header
  3. Find your device in the window
    • A Plugable USB 3.0 docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
    • A Plugable USB 3.0 Silicon Motion docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as SMI USB Audio
    • A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
    • A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
  4. Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
  5. Click OK to exit the window
Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Playback Device in macOS

  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Click Sound
  3. Select Output
  4. Select the most appropriate device
    • A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device

Set Default Playback Device in Linux

  1. Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
    • If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
  2. Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
  3. Go to the 'Sound' option
  4. Find the dropdown for your 'Output Device', and change it to your preferred output device
  5. For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)

Set Default Recording Device in Windows

  1. Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
    • It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
  2. Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
    • Windows 7/8.x—Select Recording Devices. The Sound window will open with the Recording tab highlighted

      Accessing sound preferences in Windows 7
    • Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Recording tab
      Accessing sound preferences in Windows 10 or 11
      • Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Input header
  3. Find your device in the window
    • A Plugable USB 3.0 DisplayLink docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
    • A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
    • A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
  4. Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
  5. Click OK to exit the window
Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Recording Device in macOS

  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Click Sound
  3. Select Input
  4. Select the most appropriate device
    • A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device

Set Default Recording Device in Linux

  1. Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
    • If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
  2. Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
  3. Go to the 'Sound' option
  4. Find the dropdown for your 'Input Device', and change it to your preferred input device
  5. For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)