Recent Windows 11 updates have occasionally resulted in unexpected issues with audio devices, including the removal of audio drivers and devices, replacing them with a virtual audio cable. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve these issues, ensuring you can return to normal audio functionality.

Understanding the Issue

The virtual audio cable is a third-party device driver, not included with Windows by default. If you no longer see audio output devices listed, it's likely that your sound card drivers have been removed. To check, open the Device Manager (Type “device manager” in the Windows search box) and navigate to “Sound, video and game controllers.” If your sound card isn’t listed there, you may have a hardware issue.

Steps to Resolve Audio Driver Issues

Here are the steps you can follow to resolve the audio driver issue:

Open the Device Manager.

Locate Sound, video and game controllers, then right-click on your sound card and choose to Update driver. If your sound card is not listed, proceed to the next steps.

Go to Settings > Update Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > Device installs other software. You might find a new entry mentioning the “DEVICEINSTALLOTHERS” prompt. Click on it and download the related drivers. This action may restore your sound card drivers.

Alternatively, visit the manufacturer’s support page to download the necessary drivers. If your device is not supported by Windows 11, select the closest available driver version.

Reboot your computer after the update to see if the issue is resolved.

If none of the above steps work, uninstall the virtual audio cable and any associated software. Navigate to Control Panel > Device Manager > Audio, video and game controllers, right-click on the virtual audio cable and delete it. Restart your computer to let the system reinstall the default audio settings.

Additional Considerations

For users experiencing complex audio driver issues, such as with external audio interfaces (e.g., Behringer), you may need to wait for driver updates from the manufacturer, such as Realtek, to become available for Windows 11. Alternatively, you can use compatible audio interfaces, such as a Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen., which can provide audio input and output while bypassing your laptop's built-in speakers.

Managing audio devices manually can be risky, as it can lead to misconfigurations. To avoid this, always refer back to the default settings by uninstalling virtual audio devices and letting the system reinstall them automatically. This ensures a stable and supported audio configuration.