How to enable dual audio outputs in Windows 11

On many occasions, we find ourselves in situations where it would be very useful to have the audio on our computer with Windows 11 can be played through two devices simultaneously. For example, we might want the sound to come out of both speakers and headphones, or we might want the audio from a video game to be heard through headphones and the audio from a movie to be heard on the connected TV. Getting this is not so simple nor intuitive in Windows 11, but with the right steps, it is totally possible.

In this article, we are going to explain to you all the possible ways to achieve having Two simultaneous audio outputs on your Windows 11 computer. From the simplest methods using the options built into the operating system, to third-party tools and programs specific to sound cards, we offer you all the available solutions so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

How to set up audio on two outputs using stereo mixing

Windows 11 allows you to use the Stereo Mix feature, a tool built into some sound drivers, especially Realtek cards. This feature makes it possible to manage multiple audio signals and, most importantly, allows sound to be played through two different devices simultaneously.

To activate this option, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings. Click on Home and select Configuration.
2. Go to System and then select Sound.
3. Within the Sound section, in Choosing where to listen, select the audio device you want to use as primary.
4. More sound configuration options. Click on the bottom of the screen where it says More sound configuration options.
5. In the pop-up window, go to the tab of Recording, right click on the blank area and select Show disabled devices.
6. Active Stereo Mix. Once visible, right click on it Stereo Mix and select Set as default device.
7. Properties and Activation. Click on Properties from the stereo mix and, within the tab Escuchar, check the option Listen to this device. There you can choose the additional device where you want the audio to be played.

With these steps, the audio that would normally be played through a single device will now be output through two, provided that your sound card supports the function of Stereo Mix.

Assign audio outputs by applications

Windows 11 also lets you assign different audio outputs for each app you have open. This is useful if, for example, you want the audio from a browser to be heard through your speakers, but the audio from a video calling app to be played through your headphones. To set this up, follow these steps:

1. Open the Configuration Menu (press the keys Windows + I).
2. Choose System and then Sound.
3. Scroll down until you find the Advanced sound options and select Device preferences and app volume.
4. On this screen you will be able to see the devices of input and output for each of the running applications. You can adjust the costumes or select a different output device for each program.
5. Make the necessary changes and Windows will remember the settings the next time you open those applications.

This method is especially useful for creating custom configurations depending on the applications you use most.

How to quickly change audio output in Windows 11

If you just need to switch between output devices without having to configure complex settings, Windows 11 lets you do so quickly from the taskbar. It's a useful method if you need to switch between speakers and headphones depending on what you're doing.

1. Click on the speaker icon found on the taskbar.
2. You will see a volume bar accompanied by a small right arrow. Click on that arrow.
3. A list of all the audio output devices available on your system will appear.
4. Select the device you want to use and the change will be applied immediately.

With this option, you can quickly switch between different devices without having to enter the advanced settings of the operating system.

Using third-party applications to manage audio outputs

In some cases, the tools included in Windows 11 are not enough to freely manage audio outputs, especially if we want more advanced settings. There are several third-party applications that can help you better manage the sound on your PC, such as audio routers, Ear Trumpet o WALE, among others. Below we detail some of its features.

audio routers

audio routers is an open source application that allows you to redirect the audio of each program to one or more specific devices. This means that you can have the audio of a video player come out of your speakers while the sound of a video game is heard through your headphones.

To use Audio Router:

1. Download the application from its official website.
2. Run the application (no installation required).
3. Select the application whose audio you want to redirect and choose the appropriate output device from the list.

It is a simple and free solution to manage multiple sound devices.

Ear Trumpet

Another very useful tool is Ear Trumpet, which acts as an improvement over the native Windows volume control. It allows you to manage the volume of each application individually and assign different output devices to each of them.

The highlight of Ear Trumpet is its intuitive interface. By installing this application, a new volume icon appears in the system tray, from which you can control the audio levels of all active applications, ensuring quick and easy access to sound settings.

WALE

WALE is an advanced application that offers a wealth of options for controlling the sound of each application. In addition to allowing you to redirect the audio of programs, it includes features such as the ability to adjust the maximum volume for each application or configure equalizers customized for different devices.

If you are an advanced user and need more complex customizations, WALE offers a robust solution. You can download it from its GitHub page.

Controlling audio from sound card tools

Most sound cards from manufacturers such as Realtek o Creative include additional software when installing the drivers of the device. These tools provide advanced options for managing audio inputs and outputs.

You can usually open the control panel for that card from the system tray or the start menu. There, you will find settings for:

• Change default audio output directly to any connected device.
• Enable the stereo mix to listen to sound on two devices at the same time.
• Adjust the equalizer and other audio effects to improve sound quality.

While these tools are more complex than the Windows options, they also offer greater flexibility and advanced control over the sound on your PC.

Conclusion of the process

As you can see, Windows 11 includes several ways to manage audio outputs, either using the built-in system settings or with the help of third-party applications or sound card software. These options allow you to increase the versatility of your computer, allowing, for example, to direct different applications to different audio outputs or to use two output devices simultaneously. Although it may take a little time to configure everything to your liking, the results are quite satisfactory.