How to Enable Missing Stereo Mix Option in Windows 10 and 11

Stereo Mix is a software program that captures the audio from the computer’s audio device. It may be anything from movies to music to system noises. For the bulk of Windows 10 users, the function is turned off by default and must be enabled separately. If you seem unable to locate the missing ‘Stereo Mix’ feature in Windows 10, then this article will explain how to enable missing Stereo Mix option in Windows 10.

There are several possible explanations for this mysterious disappearance. It usually appears after installing a big Windows update. Windows is continually removing functions that it deems to be superfluous, and Stereo Mix may be one of them. Stereo Mix is, however, linked to the audio driver you’ve installed, and it’s doable to get it back. There are a few various reasons why it may go missing, so have a look at the ones listed below for more information:

Stereo Mix will be deactivated if your mic equipment is not available for voice tape. In Windows 10 Configuration, you must enable applications to use your mic.

Stereo Mix may have been deactivated as a virtual audio device under Sounds options, therefore ensure you re-activate it to fix the issue.

Only drivers supplied by your vendor are compatible with Stereo Mix. If you’re still using Microsoft’s default ones, you’ll need to change them.

The Process to Enable the Stereo Mix Option in Sounds

As previously stated, the majority of customers in Windows 10 have the stereo mix option deactivated by default. There is an option under ‘Sounds’ that prevents the ‘Disabled Devices’ from appearing. As a result, you must disable that feature before enabling ‘Stereo Mix.’

  • You need to right-click on the ‘Speaker’ symbol in the ‘Settings Menu’ in the lower right to display and activate ‘Stereo Mix’. Now, in the pop-up window, choose ‘Sounds’.
  • The ‘Sounds’ item will be active by default when the ‘Sounds’ screen appears.
  • From the top, go to the ‘Recording’ section and right-click anywhere on the blank white area. Then, from the options, choose Show Disabled Devices.
  • Underneath the recording gear tab, the ‘Stereo Mix’ button will now display. Right-click on the item and choose ‘Activate’ from the menu that appears to activate it.

Install the most recent driver

If you still can’t see the ‘Stereo Mix,’ it’s possible that perhaps the ‘Sound’ driver is out of date, and that upgrading it would cure the problem. Windows will usually seek for and update drivers on its own. However, you may need to reinstall it in some situations.

To get the most recent edition of the driver, go to the product’s website, and then you should download it to your computer. Use the terms ‘Computer Model,’ ‘Operating System,’ and ‘Driver Name’ in Google to find the driver. Alternatively, you may use any other search engine. After you’ve downloaded the driver, follow the instructions below.

  • First of all, you need to find ‘Device Manager’ in order to update the driver.
  • For this to do,  go to the Start Menu and type in ‘Device Manager,’ then tap on the results page to open it.
  • Find the ‘Audio, video, and gaming controllers’ box in the ‘Device Manager,’ and double-click it to enlarge it.
  • Afterward, you are required to right-click on the available sound drivers in the list of choices.
  • Then navigate to the menu bar and choose ‘Update driver.’
  • The ‘Update Drivers’ screen will appear, giving you two choices.
  • The first option is ‘Either let Windows choose the best possible driver for your PC’. The second option is ‘Manually update it’.

It’s best if you just let Windows handle it. Pick the second choice if you intend to update it independently. Find the software on the computer and continue the setup by following the on-screen directions.

When the driver has been updated. To activate the ‘Stereo Mix’ feature, reboot the system and continue the instructions outlined in the first part.

The Process of Downloading and Installing the Driver

If upgrading the driver did not function or if no updates were accessible. The manual process of downloading and installing the driver is a good idea. There is, obviously, a condition. It’s possible that the driver doesn’t support the ‘Stereo Mix’ utility for the loaded windows version since the present version didn’t function. As a result, try installing the software for a previous operating system, such as Windows 8.

When you’re making use of an HP laptop, the screenshots will be customized to fit your needs. Alternatively, if you’re using a different brand, update the keywords as needed and download the driver from the appropriate page.

It’s a good idea to establish a backup file on your system before starting the installation, just in case something goes wrong.

To get the audio driver, use a search tool to look for it. You can input the terms ‘Computer Model,’ ‘Operating System,’ and ‘Driver Name’ to find the appropriate driver. Also, if the driver for the prior copy of Windows doesn’t function, attempt the driver for the current windows operating system first, and then go up the list if that doesn’t operate.

To get the driver, pick the correct search term. It is advised that you obtain the software from the company’s online webpage. Nevertheless, if the software is not available on the company’s online webpage, as is the situation with certain brands. There are various places from which you can get the driver (third-party websites).

There is a danger of obtaining drivers from unofficial sources. As a result, double-check everything before moving further.

It’s ready to implement the driver after you’ve acquired it.

  • To load the driver, go to your computer’s file system and look for it. The installer should then be launched by double-clicking on it.
  • To finish the procedure, follow the on-screen directions when the installer has launched.
  • Reboot the system after the setup is finished. Then, to activate the driver, repeat the procedures from the first part.

Conclusion

The ‘Stereo Mix’ tool is now available in the ‘Sounds’ box and maybe readily activated. Employing ‘Stereo Mix,’ you may now capture the audio output or play audio over various audio devices.