Eliminating Output Sound Devices: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to remove output sound devices

If you're looking to remove an output sound device from your computer, there are several ways to go about it. The specific steps depend on the operating system you're using. For instance, if you're a Windows user, you can disable or uninstall the device through the Control Panel or Device Manager. On the other hand, if you're a Gnome user, you may try the Gnome shell extension Sound input and output device chooser, which allows you to hide devices in its settings.

Characteristics Values
Operating System Windows, Ubuntu, Gnome
Method Using Control Panel, Settings app, Device Manager, Sound input and output device chooser, or Registry Editor
Steps Open the Control Panel or Settings app, find the audio output device, right-click and select Enable or Disable; Open the Device Manager, find the audio output device, right-click and select Uninstall device; Open the Sound input and output device chooser, find the device and hide it; Open the Registry Editor, find the audio output device and delete the corresponding registry entries

soundcy

Using the Control Panel on Windows

If you want to remove output sound devices on Windows, you can do so through the Control Panel. Here are the steps you can follow:

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type "control" in the box and press Enter.
  • In the Control Panel window, use the "View by" drop-down menu in the top right corner to select "Large icons".
  • Click on "Sound".
  • Under the "Playback" tab, right-click on the audio output device you want to remove and select "Disable".
  • If you want to permanently delete the device, open "Device Manager" and expand the "Audio inputs and outputs" section.
  • Right-click on the sound output device and select "Uninstall Device".
  • Make sure to check the option "Delete the driver software for this device".
  • Click "Uninstall" and restart your computer.

By following these steps, you will be able to remove the output sound device from your Windows computer. Keep in mind that you need to be signed in as an administrator to make these changes. Additionally, if you want to re-enable the audio device, you can follow similar steps and select "Enable" instead of "Disable" in the "Playback" tab.

soundcy

Using the Settings app on Windows

To remove output sound devices on Windows, follow these steps:

  • Press the Windows key and I simultaneously to open the Settings app.
  • Navigate to the System menu by clicking/tapping on it in the left sidebar.
  • Click/tap on Sound in the right sidebar.
  • Under Output, find and select the output device you want to remove.
  • Click/tap on "Don't allow" to disable the device. Alternatively, you can right-click on the device and select "Disable device".

If you want to remove an audio device that is no longer installed, you can do so through the Device Manager:

  • Right-click on the Start menu or press Windows + X to open the Device Manager.
  • Expand the "Audio inputs and outputs" category and locate the audio device you want to remove.
  • Right-click on the device and select "Uninstall device".
  • Check the option to "Delete the driver software for this device" and click Uninstall.
  • Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Keep in mind that disabling or uninstalling audio devices will prevent them from appearing in the Output section of the Sound settings page. If you want to re-enable a disabled device, you can follow similar steps by clicking "'Allow" instead of "Don't allow" in the Sound settings.

soundcy

Using the Device Manager on Windows

To remove output sound devices on Windows, you can use the Device Manager. Here is a step-by-step guide:

First, open the Device Manager. You can do this by pressing Win + X to open the Power User menu and selecting Device Manager from the list. Alternatively, you can press Win + R, type "devmgmt.msc", and hit Enter.

Next, expand the "Audio inputs and outputs" section by clicking on the arrow next to it. This will display all the audio devices connected to your computer.

Now, locate the output sound device you want to remove. You can identify it by its name or type. If you don't see the device, make sure to enable "Show Hidden Devices" from the View menu.

Once you have found the device, right-click on it and select "Uninstall device". If you want to delete the driver software as well, make sure to check the option "Delete the driver software for this device". Click "Uninstall" to confirm.

Finally, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect. The output sound device should no longer appear in the Device Manager or the Sound settings.

It is important to note that you should avoid disabling core audio drivers under the "`Sound, Video, and Game Controllers` tab", as this can cause your device to lose its audio functionality. Always make sure to save any unfinished work before implementing these changes, as some methods may require a system reboot.

soundcy

Using the Sound Input and Output Device Chooser on Gnome

If you are using Gnome, you can try the Gnome shell extension Sound Input and Output Device Chooser. This extension shows a list of sound output and input devices in the status menu below the volume slider. To use this extension, you first need to remove the older version and then clone the current version. Here are the steps:

  • Open Terminal and use the command: `cd ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/` to navigate to the correct directory.
  • Remove the older version of the extension using the command: `rm -rf *sound-output-device-chooser`*.
  • Clone the current version of the extension using the command: `git clone https://github.com/kgshank/gse-sound-output-device-chooser.git`.
  • Install the extension using the command: `cp -r gse-sound-output-device-chooser/[email protected] .`
  • Remove the cloned folder by running the command: `rm -rf "gse-sound-output-device-chooser"*.
  • Enable the extension from the GNOME Extensions App.

Note that this extension may conflict with other extensions that modify the volume menu. However, it is known to work with the Volume Mixer extension.

Once the extension is installed and enabled, you can access it from the status menu below the volume slider. You will see a list of available sound input and output devices, and you can choose the one you want to use. If you want to hide certain devices, you can do so from the settings of the extension.

soundcy

Using the Registry Editor on Windows

To begin, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Then, type "regedit" and hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor. You may be prompted by User Account Control (UAC); select “Yes” to continue.

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path by pasting it into the address bar and pressing Enter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render

Within the "Render" key, you will find several GUID entries, each representing an audio device. To locate your specific sound output device, expand the "Render" key in the left pane and open the Properties subkey of each long number GUID until you find the desired device.

Once you have identified the correct GUID key for your sound output device, proceed to the right pane. Here, you will find the "DeviceState DWORD." Double-click on it to modify its properties. To disable the device, input "1" in the Value data field. To enable it, change the value to "10000001".

After making the necessary changes, you can close the Registry Editor. If you need to re-enable the audio device in the future, simply follow the same steps and modify the "DeviceState DWORD" value accordingly. Remember to exercise caution when using the Registry Editor, as incorrect alterations can lead to system instability.

Frequently asked questions

If you're using Gnome, try the Gnome shell extension Sound input and output device chooser. In the settings, you can hide the devices. Alternatively, you can use the Device Manager to uninstall the device. Right-click on Start or press Windows + X, then select Device Manager. Expand "Audio inputs and outputs," right-click on the device, and select "Uninstall device."

Yes, open the Control Panel and select "Large icons" from the "View by" drop-down menu. Click on "Sound" and under the Playback tab, right-click on the audio output device. Select "Disable" from the menu.

To disable a sound output device in Windows, press Win + X to open the Power User menu and select Device Manager. Expand "Audio inputs and outputs," right-click on the sound output device, and select "Disable device." To enable a device, right-click and choose "Enable device."

Modifying registry entries can involve risks. It is recommended to back up your registry files or create a restore point before making any changes. This can be done through the Registry Editor by pressing Win + S, typing "regedit," and running it as an administrator.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment