Tutorials

▷ How to restore missing stereo mix in Windows 10

The Stereo Mix function is very useful if you want to have a direct recording of the sound that is being played through the speaker.. It is a virtual audio device and many users have reported that this feature simply disappeared on their computers.

Windows stereo mix is missing 10

There are several scenarios for this sudden disappearance. Most of the time, appeared after upgrading from an older version of Windows to Windows 10 or after performing a major Windows update. There are several ways to put Stereo Mix back on your computer, so be sure to follow the methods below to solve the problem.

What Causes Stereo Mix to Get Lost on Windows 10?

Windows constantly gets rid of features it deems unnecessary, and Stereo Mix can be just another. Even so, Stereo Mix is also related to the audio driver you have installed and it may be possible to restore it. There are a few different causes that can cause it to get lost, so check the following for more information:

The microphone is not accessible: if your microphone device is not accessible for audio recording, Stereo Mix will also be disabled. You must allow applications to access your microphone in Windows settings 10.
Stereo Mix just shows up as disabled: Stereo Mix can simply be disabled as a virtual audio device in the Sounds settings, so make sure to turn it back on to solve the problem.
Audio controller: Stereo Mix is only available for manufacturer-provided drivers and you will need to update them if you use Microsoft's default values.

Solution 1: make sure your microphone is available to access

This problem can also appear if your microphone is not available to access. This automatically disables the use of stereo mixing. This solution is the simplest and can save you hours of effort, so be sure not to skip this method when troubleshooting Stereo Mix missing in Windows 10.

Click the gear icon in the lower left section of the start menu to open the Settings app. You can also search for it. Open Settings from the Start menu
Scroll down until you see the Privacy section and be sure to click on it. On the left side of the window, you should see the App Permissions section. Scroll down to Microphone and click on this option.
First, check if the microphone access option for this device is enabled. If that is not the case, click Change and activate the slider. Provide access to the microphone
Thereafter, change the slider under the option »Allow applications to access your microphone» to On and scroll down the list of applications installed on your computer. Activate the slider next to the apps you want to provide access to in the list.
Restart your computer to see if the problem persists.

Solution 2: show devices for people with disabilities

It is quite possible that Windows 10 has somehow automatically disabled the Stereo Mix function as a virtual sound device. It could be considered unnecessary or it could have been disabled by a third party app. This is a big Microsoft mistake, since hiding the device on the recording devices was definitely unnecessary. Be sure to check if this is the cause of your problem!!

Right click on the volume icon at the bottom right of the screen and choose the Sounds option. An alternative way would be to open the Control Panel of your PC and configure the option View by large icons. Thereafter, locate and click the Sounds option to open the same window.
Navigate to the Recording tab of the Sound window that just opened. Stereo Mix appears as off
Right-click anywhere in the center of the window and check the boxes next to the Show disconnected devices and Show disconnected devices options. Stereo Mix should now appear. Click the right mouse button and choose the Enable option from the context menu that will appear.
Be sure to give it a try to see if it works!!

Solution 3: update the audio driver

Many users have reported that they managed to solve the problem simply by reinstalling the drivers for their audio devices.. This is an easy method to do and is definitely worth your time.. Check it out below!

Click on the start menu at the bottom left of the screen, then type »Device Manager» and select it from the list of available results simply by clicking on the first one.
You can also press the Windows key combination + R to open the Run dialog. Type »devmgmt.msc» in the dialog box and click OK to run it. Execution Device Manager
Since you want to update the driver of your headphones, expand the Sound Drivers section, video and games. Right-click on your headphones in the list and choose Update Driver from the context menu.
Choose the option Search automatically for updated driver software in the new window and wait to see if the utility can find newer drivers. Automatically search for updated driver software
Check if your headphones appear in the playback devices section in the sound settings!!

Solution 4: enable stereo mixing for related HD audio

If your computer's audio device is a Conexant HD audio device, the following steps can help you restore stereo mix in Windows 10. Be sure to carefully follow the steps below, as there is advanced troubleshooting that needs to be done carefully. Good luck solving the problem!

Open the Libraries entry on the problem PC or open any folder on the computer and click on the This PC option in the menu on the left.
Navigate to the following location on your computer to locate the file that needs to be edited to enable Stereo Mixing in Windows 10:
```
C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepositoryCALCC2WA.inf_amd64_07118bd8a2180658
```
You must take ownership of the file $ 0027CALCC2WA.inf $ 0027 found inside the folder provided above before continuing. Right click on the file, click on Properties and then on the Security tab. Click on the Advanced button. The window will appear “Advanced security settings”. Here you have to change the owner of the key.
Click the Change link next to the label “Owner:”. The Select User or Group window appears. Change file owner
Select the user account using the Advanced button or just type your user account in the area that says “Enter the name of the object to select” and click OK. Add the Everyone account.
Click the Add button at the bottom and then click the Select a parent button at the top. Select the user account using the Advanced button or just type your user account in the area that says $ 0027 Enter the name of the object to select $ 0027 and click OK. Add the Everyone account.
In the Basic Permissions section, make sure to choose Full Control before applying the changes you have made. Provide full access
Once you have successfully changed ownership and granted permissions for the file $ 0027CALCC2WA.inf $ 0027, it's time to edit it. Right click on it and choose Open it with Notepad. Use the Ctrl key combination + F and be sure to enter $ 0027stereo in the Find box before clicking the Find Next button.

You should be able to see three lines within the file. The lines should look like this:

;HKR,%EPattributePath%NEpSettingsN-StereoMixEnable,Enable,1,01

;HKR,%EPattributePath%NEpSettingsNStereoMixEnable,MixAssocSeq,1,E0, E0

; HKR,%EPattributePath%NEpSettingsNStereoMixEnable,MuteGainSettings,1,00,00

Eliminate the semicolons in front of each line by erasing them. Click File >> Save to save changes or use the Ctrl key combination + S. Exit notepad and follow the steps below.
Now is the time to reinstall the audio driver. Click on the start menu button at the bottom left of the screen, type »Device Manager« and select your entry from the list of available results by clicking on the first one.
You can also use the Windows key combination + R to open the Run dialog. Type »devmgmt.msc» in the dialog box and click OK to run Device Manager. Execution Device Manager
Since you want to reinstall the driver for your sound devices, expand the Sound Drivers section, video and games by left clicking on the arrow next to the name. Right click on the Conexant HD Audio entry in the list and select Uninstall Device from the context menu. Uninstalling Conexant Audio
Confirm any dialog boxes that may appear asking you to confirm the uninstallation. Do not check the box »Remove the driver software for this device» as you want this driver file to be reinstalled.
Restart your computer and check if the Stereo Mix function has returned to your computer.