How to Connect Speakers to Your Laptop

A simple guide to connecting wireless and wired computer speakers to your PC laptop or MacBook

If you watch movies or listen to music on your laptop, external speakers will greatly improve sound quality. To connect wireless speakers to your laptop, enable Bluetooth and put the speakers into pairing mode. You can connect wired speakers using USB or via the 3.5mm (1/8") headphone jack.

Connecting Your Laptop to Speakers

To connect a wired speaker, plug the audio connector cable (USB or 3.5mm aux cord) into the corresponding port on your laptop. To connect a wireless speaker, turn it on, enable Bluetooth in your settings, and select the speaker to pair it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Connecting Wired Computer Speakers

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1
Choose a set of computer speakers. As long as your laptop has a USB or speaker/headphone jack, you should be able to use most wired computer speakers.
- Most computer speakers have a 3.5mm (1/8") audio input connector, which is the small plug that will fit into a typical headphone jack. These speakers will also need to be plugged into a power source.
- USB speakers are powered by your computer so they won’t need to be plugged into the wall. If you have available USB ports, these might be more convenient.
Most speakers are clearly marked as Left (L) or Right (R) on the back or bottom of the unit. If your speakers come with a subwoofer, you may want to put it behind your system or on the floor. Make sure that wherever you choose to place your speakers, the connector cable will reach its corresponding input on your computer, and the power cable (if you have one) can safely reach an outlet.
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This is done by turning the volume dial on the speakers (there’s only one) all the way to the left.
You can do this by clicking on the sound icon in the taskbar (bottom right corner on Windows) or menu bar (top right corner on Mac) and sliding it up about ¾ of the way from the top. Windows users will probably see two different sliders—use the one that says “Applications” above the slider.
5
Plug the connector into the laptop. With your laptop turned on, plug the audio connector cable (the USB or 3.5mm (1/8") connector) into its corresponding port on the laptop.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you’re using a 3.5mm (1/8") connector, look on the sides of your laptop for a small jack that has a drawing of headphones or a speaker. Don’t plug it into the jack with the drawing of a microphone.
- If you’re using USB, plugging in your speakers may trigger the system to start installing drivers. If you are asked to insert a disk, insert the one that came with your speakers and follow any instructions that came in the packaging.
The On button is usually located on the back of one of the speakers. If your speakers have a power cable, plug that in before turning the speakers on.
7
Play some audio on your laptop. Start some audio (streaming music, a CD, a YouTube video, etc.) on your laptop.
- Find a comfortable listening volume. Slowly turn the volume knob on your computer speakers to the right until you reach your desired volume.
- If you don’t hear anything, make sure the speakers are connected and plugged in if necessary.
- If you’re using Windows and can hear sound but it’s coming through your laptop speakers, you may need to manually change your audio settings. Press ⊞ Win+S and type control. When “Control Panel” appears, select it, then click “Sound.” Under “Playback,” you should see two devices listed—your laptop audio card and your new speakers. Double-click the new speakers to change your default sound device. Click “OK” to hear audio through your new speakers.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Connecting Wireless Computer Speakers (Bluetooth)

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1
Make sure your laptop has Bluetooth. Here’s how to check:
- If you’re using a Mac, open the Apple menu and click “About this Mac.” Click “More Info,” then “Bluetooth” in the list on the left side of the screen. If the right side of the Hardware screen shows any sort of device information (such as “Apple Bluetooth Software Version 4”), you have Bluetooth.^{[2]XResearch source}
- In Windows, press ⊞ Win+X and select “Device Manager.” Click “Laptop.” If you see a category under Laptop called “Bluetooth Radios,” click it to expand a list of Bluetooth devices. If anything appears in this list, you have Bluetooth.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceMicrosoft SupportTechnical support and product information from Microsoft.Go to source}
2
Find a location for your Bluetooth speaker(s). Find a location in your home or office to place the Bluetooth speakers. Some things to keep in mind:
- The speakers will need to be plugged into a power source.
- Having a wall between the laptop and the speaker shouldn’t affect the connection too much, but it can potentially decrease sound quality.
- If you want to be able to turn the speakers on and off easily, you may not want to mount them in a difficult-to-reach location.
- Check your speaker manual to find out how close your laptop must be to your speakers. Typically these speakers can be up to 30 feet away, but some devices may have lower ranges.
This process is different depending on the manufacturer of your speakers. Often there is a button on the speakers that must be held down for a few seconds to put the device into “discovery” mode. Check your manual to be sure.
4
Pair your laptop with the Bluetooth speaker. This process depends on your operating system:
- If you’re using Windows 8 or 10, open the Action Center by clicking on the notification icon in the taskbar (near the clock). Select “Bluetooth,” then “Connect” to begin the search for devices. When the speakers appear, select them to connect.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceMicrosoft SupportTechnical support and product information from Microsoft.Go to source}
- Windows 7 users should open the Start menu, then click “Devices and Printers.” Click “Add a device” to start a search for Bluetooth devices. When the speakers show up, select them and click “Next” to pair the devices.
- Mac users, select “System Preferences” from the Apple menu and click “Bluetooth.” Make sure Bluetooth is set to On, then wait for the speakers to appear in the list. Select them, then click “Pair.”^{[5]XResearch source}
5
Configure your computer to play audio through the speakers. This is a little different on Windows and Mac:
- Windows users, press ⊞ Win+S and type control. When you see “Control Panel,” click it, then select “Sound.” On the Playback tab, select the Bluetooth speaker and click “Set Default.” Click OK.
- Mac users, open the Apple menu and click “System Preferences.” Click “Sound” and select the Output tab. Under “Choose a device for sound output,” select the Bluetooth speaker.
You can do this by clicking on the speaker in either your menu or task bar, then moving the volume slider up to about the 75% level. If you’re using Windows, click the speaker icon near the clock, then select “Mixer.” You’ll want to adjust the slider below “Applications.”
If your Bluetooth speaker has a hardware volume knob, turn it all the way to the left to mute the volume. If not, click the Sound icon on your menu bar or task bar and drag the volume level down.
Play a song, video or sound file as you normally would. Slowly turn up the volume on your Bluetooth speaker or until the volume rests at a comfortable place.

Common Questions

How do I get my computer to play through my speakers?

On Windows, go to Start > Settings > System > Sound, then select your speakers as the default output device. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Sound, select Output on the right, then select your connected speaker.^{[6]XResearch source}

Why isn't my laptop finding my Bluetooth speaker?

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your laptop and that the speaker is turned on. If the speaker has a pairing button, you may need to hold it down to place it into pairing mode. If that doesn't work, try disabling and reenabling Bluetooth, then turning the speaker off and back on.

How do I connect active speakers to my laptop?

If you don't have an external audio interface that has XLR jacks for your monitors, you can connect them e, you can connect studio monitors and other active speakers using a 2x XLR to 3.5mm cable.

Tips

You can use streaming sites like Spotify or Pandora to listen to music for free.
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Some speakers incorporate an MP3 cradle to store your MP3 Player or iPod on whilst using it with your speakers.
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You can also use your new speakers with your MP3 player or iPod. The setup is the same for wired speakers, but will vary for Bluetooth.
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