Gigabyte Laptop, Windows 11 - Headset Audio Only

Hello, nothingman1

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Even though you've tried updating the drivers, according to the Gigabyte official website, there is a newer version of the Realtek® Audio driver for the GIGABYTE G5 MD laptop than the one you currently have. Have you updated the driver from the GIGABYTE website?

Some software might also conflict with the audio driver. I suggest you try a clean boot. A clean boot is a troubleshooting technique that helps identify software conflicts by starting the system with only the essential drivers and startup programs. This minimizes interference and can help determine if a third-party software or service is causing the issue. If the problem goes away in a clean boot, it indicates that a third-party program might be the culprit. You can then gradually enable the disabled services and startup items to pinpoint the exact software causing the issue. These steps might seem a bit complex at first glance, but make sure to follow the instructions step-by-step to avoid unnecessary trouble.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

Additionally, make sure your computer isn't running any non-Microsoft security programs temporarily, as these can often cause various strange issues. You can re-enable them after testing to ensure your device's security.

As for the issue where the laptop switches audio from the headset to the laptop speakers when the battery reaches 7%, this might be to save power or ensure important notifications are played through the built-in speakers. You can check the power management settings in Windows, BIOS, and any Gigabyte-specific power management software to see if there are related options.

If none of these solutions work, it might indeed be a hardware issue, such as a stuck spring or broken pin inside the headset jack, causing the laptop to think the headset is always plugged in. In this case, it's best to take it in for repair.

Yuhao L

Microsoft Community Technical Support

Hi Yuhao,

First up, I have not tried updating from the Gigabyte website. Could you link me to that, and what would be the process for carrying that out? Assume I am a tech-illiterate child in explanations please - I will take no offense.

As to the 7%, I don't mind it doing that; in fact, at present, that's the only way to get my laptop to play audio through the speakers - let it reach 7%, whereupon it shunts back to laptop speaker for audio, and it remains thus until I stop playing audio.

Next, when you say non-Microsoft security programs, I assume something like Norton or MacAfee would be included therein? I will try disabling any such programs and seeing if it has an effect, especially when I pursue a clean boot.

Clean boot will be my next approach, after attempting to update the driver (hoping to get some insights from you on that one), at which point I'll report back as to the outcome.

Thanks!

Hi, nothingman1

I have not tried updating from the Gigabyte website. Could you link me to that, and what would be the process for carrying that out? Assume I am a tech-illiterate child in explanations please - I will take no offense.

Check this out:

https://www.gigabyte.com/Laptop/G5--Intel-11th-Gen/support 

Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.

Next, when you say non-Microsoft security programs, I assume something like Norton or MacAfee would be included therein? I will try disabling any such programs and seeing if it has an effect, especially when I pursue a clean boot.

Yes. Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Avast, etc.

Yuhao L

Microsoft Community Technical Support

Hello Yuhao,

I followed that link to the Gigabyte support site, but I've already registered a support order with them, with no response thus far (I think they are shut down until the end of the year).

That said, on said site, I do not see reference to the driver update you mentioned previously.

I did find this section:

However, it appears to be the same version I am using.

What about clean boot? And have you tried turning off all the security software?

Hello Yuhao,

I temporarily disabled the only non-Microsoft security software that I have installed, but it had no effect on the issue.

Further developments: I still have to use the device for voice calls, so I have been using a headset with it, and I have noticed that on occasion when I have the headset plugged in, audio comes through both the headset (still only the right-side speaker) AND the computer speakers, which can be rather frustrating. It appears that closing out the source of the audio - for example, a browser playing a Youtube video - can sometimes cause it to revert back to headset-only.

I have not yet attempted a clean boot, as admittedly I am somewhat hesitant due to limited knowledge in this field and unfamiliarity with this device (previously I've only ever purchased Microsoft devices such as Surfaces and the like; Gigabyte appears to offer little-to-no active support options, and the functionality of the device is more-complex due to having variable software/hardware in play - it took me quite awhile to realize previous audio issues were due to my failure to adjust settings in DTS/Realtek), but that appears to be the next step.

A question: At one point, a notification pop-up appeared from my Norton security software, attempting to sell me a 'Driver updater'. Normally this wouldn't catch my attention, but presently it did due to the fact that I believe I saw several of the theoretically-offending software packages listed in the preview of drivers needing updated.

Would software like that be likely to succeed in solving my issue if indeed it is a software/driver concern?

Also, I am not sure if of any relevance or insight, but I took notice of an icon in my tray that I hadn't before, NVIDIA GeForce. When I opened the app, it attempted to tell me about an update.

Attempting to install however, leads to this:

Not sure if would/could impact this situation, but I figured its a dead-end of confusion on my part, so perhaps of note.

Thanks again for your help, I know its a busy time of year.

Since you haven't tried a clean boot yet, do it. Just follow the steps one by one. Don't say your problem can't be solved before you've even tried it.

As for the driver issue, refer to these two articles:

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10/~/nvidia-app-driver-installation-failed.-how-do-i-manually-clean-install-the 

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4223/~/solving-nvidia-installer-issues 

Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.