Share via

Apple Music not playing thru earphones

Joy Dang 0 Reputation points
2026-04-18T13:27:58.0966667+00:00

I'm using Apple Music on Surface Laptop 4, Windows 10 22H2. The sound was playing when I connected with the Airpod Pro but not with the 3.5mm headphones. I tried to tbs but show no error.

Surface | Surface Laptop | Sound and camera
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. S.Sengupta 30,891 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-04-19T01:53:25.12+00:00

    This isn’t an Apple Music issue—it’s almost certainly Windows not switching audio output correctly or a hardware/driver problem with the headphone jack on your Surface Laptop 4.

    Use a USB audio adapter (USB → 3.5mm)

    Cheap, plug-and-play, and bypasses the faulty headphone jack entirely.

    Works instantly on Windows 10

    No driver headache

    Better than repairing the jack

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-04-18T13:28:10.8866667+00:00

    On Surface Laptop 4 with Windows 10, if Apple Music plays correctly over AirPods Pro (Bluetooth) but not over 3.5 mm wired headphones, the likely issue is the selected output device or the wired connection itself.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Select the correct output device in Windows
      1. Open Sound settings:
        • Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Open Sound settings, or use this link: Open Sound settings.
      2. Under Output > Choose where to play sound (or Choose your output device), open the drop-down list.
      3. Select the device that corresponds to the 3.5 mm jack (often named Speakers/Headphones, Realtek, or similar), not the AirPods/Bluetooth device.
      4. Test Apple Music again.
    2. Check the physical 3.5 mm connection
      1. Make sure the headphone plug is fully inserted into the Surface Laptop 4 audio jack.
      2. If possible, test the same headphones on another device (phone, another PC) to confirm they work.
      3. If available, try a different 3.5 mm headset on the Surface to rule out a cable/headset issue.
    3. Force Windows to re-detect the audio jack
      In some cases, devices on the 3.5 mm jack are not detected immediately:
      1. If using a Surface power/dock connection, disconnect the Surface Connect cable.
      2. Wait a few seconds, then reconnect it to force re-detection of audio devices.
      3. Re-open Sound settings and confirm the correct output device is selected again.
    4. Close and reopen audio apps
      1. Close Apple Music and any other audio apps.
      2. Unplug the headphones, then plug them back in.
      3. Reopen Apple Music and test playback.
    5. Check Bluetooth priority
      If AirPods are still paired and connected, Windows may keep routing audio to them:
      1. In Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, temporarily turn Bluetooth off or disconnect the AirPods.
      2. Confirm that the wired output device is now selected in Sound settings and test again.

    If sound works from the built-in Surface speakers but not from any wired headset after these steps, the issue is likely with the jack, cable, or drivers and further hardware/driver diagnostics would be needed.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.