How to output audio to multiple devices in Windows 11?

Hi,

Thanks for your post in Microsoft Community.

If you have more than one sound card device, then you can activate the stereo mix.

Right click on the Volume Icon in the Taskbar - Sound Settings - More Sound Settings - Recording - right click on the blank area of the tab - Show Disabled Settings - if there is an option for Stereo Mix at this time, then you can Enable this option - Set stereo mix as Default - double click on stereo mix - go to "Listen" tab - tick "Listen to this device" - select default playback device - Save

Let us know if it works.

Kirk | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

No one wants to use two sound cards, but there should be an option under "choose where to play sound" that lists your main speakers, SPDIF, bluetooth speakers, et cetera that let's you chose multiple outs at once. Where is this function? It's vital. Apple has this for their products. It's a glaring deficiency in Windows.

I have multiple sound cards in my system. My system uses the Creative sound card, but I have Audeze headphones that work through their own sound card. I do not see the settings you are showing for Stereo Mix. Single source or system output to multiple outputs (audio mirroring) needs to be added to Windows 11.

No one wants to use two sound cards, but there should be an option under "choose where to play sound" that lists your main speakers, SPDIF, bluetooth speakers, et cetera that let's you chose multiple outs at once. Where is this function? It's vital. Apple has this for their products. It's a glaring deficiency in Windows.

100% this comment.

This use case comes up a lot for me when gaming. I use headphones and want to play with my son or friend, so mirroring audio to another headset would be helpful. This should be easy for the user to do, with an option to select multiple output devices.

You could just get two 3.5mm headsets and y cable. That's what people used to do. You may even be able to find a way to y USB for all I know. External 3.5mm speakers can be y'd as well.

Windows 99.9% isn't likely to go to add multi device output so you should find an alternative way if you want it that bad.

Otherwise just buy a $20 usb speaker and listen to it at the same time :)

Complete fail for an answer to the issue. Very retro-as in 1970s approach. My phones (both android and iOS) even have this function. My use case is not one where a dual headset splitter would even work. a 3.5 cable or even USB would not solve it. You are missing the point. I need the output to be mirrored to multiple sources. This means I could choose the outputs - for this specific case, BOTH the Creative and the Audeze...or whatever my needs are. It is now an industry standard. Windows is lagging in this regard. Period. Audio mirroring as a feature is the norm across many platforms. Windows needs to catch up.

Completely agree MS needs to fix this. People don't seem to understand that if you are using a USB gaming headset but want to also stream your audio from a game to a hardware recording device. You cant send the audio stream easily. I don't want my gaming machine running a bunch of extra streaming software. You have to use special software like voicemeter potato and it is a pain.

can you tell me how you mobile does this sound mirroring thing.

This was not helpful. The instructions listed were for Windows 10. I am using windows 11 and the whole sound settings UI is different of that from W10. I can see all of my connected audio devices but I want to connect to them all and stream audio from all of them at once. I do not have the ability to use stereo mix nor do I even have it.

You can use software like Voicemeeter or similar.

Just select the 2 hardware out from the dropdown and it works fine. Works with USB DAC, Bluetooth and the onboard audio. I was able to get Stereomix to get audio out from my laptop stereo jack while connecting to my bluetooth speakers but was not able to do the same using Stereo Mix so installed Voicemeeter and it works and is just 2 clicks to set up.