Your monitor is probably set as the default audio output instead of your speakers or headphones

When only game audio plays through your monitor while everything else comes from your speakers or headphones, the issue is almost always that Windows or your game has routed audio to the monitor's built-in speakers as the default device. Monitors with speakers send sound through the same HDMI or DisplayPort cable that carries the picture, so if that cable is plugged in and the monitor is set as your primary audio device, that's where the sound goes — even if you have better speakers sitting right next to it.

The fix depends on whether this happens in all your games, just one game, or only when you first launch. Most of the time you'll change one setting in Windows and be done. Sometimes a single game has its own audio settings that override Windows. Either way, the solution takes a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Your monitor's built-in speakers become the audio output when it's connected via HDMI or DisplayPort and set as the default device in Windows.
  • Check Windows Sound Settings first and set your actual speakers or headphones as the default playback device.
  • If only one game sends audio to the monitor, that game likely has its own audio output setting that overrides Windows.
  • Disconnecting the monitor's audio cable or disabling it in Device Manager prevents Windows from ever routing sound there by accident.
  • Some games remember the last audio device you used, so changing it once in Windows may not stick until you restart the game.

Check your Windows default audio device first

Open Windows Settings and go to System > Sound. Under "Output," you'll see a dropdown that says "Choose your output device." Click it and look at what's selected. If it shows your monitor's name (often something like "ASUS Monitor" or "LG Display"), that's your problem. Click the dropdown and select your actual speakers or headphones instead.

Once you change it, test by playing a game or a video. The audio should now come from your speakers. If it does, you're finished. If game audio still goes to the monitor while other sounds come from your speakers, move to the next section — your game has its own audio settings overriding Windows.

Look for audio output settings inside the game itself

Many games, especially larger titles, have their own audio device selection buried in the settings menu. Launch the game, go to Settings or Options (usually in the main menu), and look for Audio, Sound, or Output. Some games call it "Audio Device" or "Speaker Configuration."

If you find an audio device dropdown in the game settings, make sure it's set to your speakers or headphones, not your monitor. Change it, explore the setting, and restart the game. The game will remember this choice the next time you launch it. If the game doesn't have an audio device selector, it's using whatever Windows has set as default, so the Windows fix in the previous section should have worked.

Disable the monitor as an audio device in Device Manager

If you want to prevent Windows from ever accidentally routing audio to your monitor, you can disable it as an audio device entirely. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Look for Audio inputs and outputs and expand it by clicking the arrow next to it.

Find your monitor in the list — it will usually have the monitor's brand name in it. Right-click it and select Disable device. Windows will no longer see it as an audio output option. If you ever need to use the monitor's speakers again, you can come back here and right-click it to Enable device. This is the most permanent fix if you never plan to use your monitor's speakers.

Check if your monitor's audio cable is actually connected

Some monitors have a separate 3.5mm audio input jack on the back, in addition to the HDMI or DisplayPort cable. If both are connected, the monitor might be receiving audio through both paths. Look at the back of your monitor and trace the cables. If there's a 3.5mm cable plugged into the monitor's audio input, unplug it. This removes one path for audio to reach the monitor's speakers.

The HDMI or DisplayPort cable will still carry audio, but unplugging the 3.5mm cable eliminates confusion about where sound is coming from. If you need the monitor's speakers later, you can plug the 3.5mm cable back in.

Restart your game after changing the default audio device

Some games read the Windows audio settings only when they launch, not while they're running. If you changed the default device in Windows Sound Settings but the game is still playing audio through the monitor, close the game completely and relaunch it. The game should now use your speakers.

If restarting doesn't work, check whether the game has its own audio device setting (covered in the earlier section). Games that let you choose the audio device in their settings will override Windows no matter what you set as default.

Verify your speakers or headphones are working in Windows

Before you assume the monitor is the problem, confirm that your speakers or headphones actually work in Windows. Go to System > Sound in Settings, and under "Output," click the speaker icon next to your speakers or headphones. You should hear a test sound. If you don't hear anything, your speakers might be muted, unplugged, or not recognized by Windows.

Check the physical volume knob on your speakers or the volume slider in Windows. Make sure the speaker cable is plugged into the correct jack on your computer (usually a green 3.5mm jack on the back of a desktop, or the headphone jack on a laptop). If your speakers still don't produce sound, the issue isn't the monitor — it's your speakers or their connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my monitor have speakers if I'm not supposed to use them?

Monitor speakers are built in for convenience when you're using the monitor for general computing — watching videos, listening to music, or video calls. They're not designed for gaming or high-quality audio. Most people prefer their own speakers or headphones because they sound better and sit at a better angle. The monitor's speakers are a fallback, not the primary option.

Can I use both my speakers and my monitor's speakers at the same time?

Windows will only send audio to one default device at a time. If you want sound from both, you'd need to manually switch the default device back and forth, which defeats the purpose. Some audio software can split output to multiple devices, but it's complicated and not worth it for gaming. Pick one and stick with it.

What if I don't see my monitor listed in the audio devices?

Your monitor might not have speakers, or the audio cable might not be connected properly. Check the back of your monitor for a 3.5mm audio input jack or verify that the HDMI cable is fully seated. If the monitor truly has no speakers, it won't appear in the audio device list, and you can ignore it entirely.

Does this problem happen with all games or just some?

If it happens with all games, Windows has your monitor set as the default device. If it happens with only one game, that game has its own audio settings. If it happens randomly, your game might be remembering the last device you used — restarting the game usually fixes it.

Will unplugging the HDMI cable stop the audio from going to the monitor?

Yes, but you'll also lose the video signal, which defeats the purpose of having a monitor. Disabling the monitor in Device Manager or changing the default audio device in Windows is a better solution because you keep the display working while stopping the audio.