Input/Output audio problem

Question

Input/Output audio problem

Con Mcay 0

I'm consistently facing an issue with my HyperXCloud stinger 2 headphones disconnect every time I load specific games, I know it isn't a headphones problem because I've heard of the same problem with other devices. Most consistent times it happens is loading Grand Theft Auto but it also happens with small indie games so I know it can't be a specs problem. It often takes between 1-5 minutes to get them to turn back on their audio. During that time I cannot see them on my settings sound systems or my control panel, it is almost like I don't have them on or plugged in. Can anybody shed some light on the problem?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Ferdinand Nanalig 33,825 Independent Advisor

Hi, let me help you.

Is yours the wired version with a USB adapter, or the wireless one with a dongle? And are you on a desktop or a laptop?

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Answer 2

This usually points to Windows temporarily losing the audio device rather than a game performance issue. Since the headset disappears from both Sound settings and Control Panel for 1–5 minutes, focus on device detection and the audio driver.

Try these steps in order:

Check the selected output device when the issue starts
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, confirm the correct headset is selected.
- If multiple devices are listed, Windows may have switched outputs.
Set the headset as the default playback device
- In Windows 11: Start > Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings > Playback.
- Right-click the headset and select Set as default.
- If the headset is missing here during the problem, continue to the next steps.
Turn off audio enhancements
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Select the audio device being used.
- Under Advanced settings, set Audio enhancements to Off.
- Audio enhancements can interfere with playback and device stability.
Check Device Manager when the headset disappears
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- If the audio device appears, right-click it and select Enable device if that option is available.
- If it does not appear, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Reinstall or update the audio driver
- If the device keeps disappearing, install the latest audio driver from the PC or sound card manufacturer.
- In Device Manager, under Sound, video and game controllers, uninstall the audio device, then restart the PC.
- After restart, if needed, install the latest manufacturer driver and restart again.
- Prefer the manufacturer’s driver over relying only on Windows Update.
Run the automated Audio troubleshooter
- On Windows 11, run the automated Audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
- It can automatically diagnose and attempt to fix audio detection problems.
Restart the PC after the issue occurs
- If the headset only returns after a delay, a restart can confirm whether this is a temporary driver detection problem.
- Go to Start > Power > Restart.
Check the physical connection
- Make sure the headset cable is fully seated.
- If using USB, try a different USB port.
- If using a 3.5 mm jack, verify it is connected to the correct audio jack.

If the headset disappears entirely from Windows during game loading, the strongest indicators are:

the audio device driver is failing or reloading,
Windows is not detecting the device correctly,
or the connection/port is unstable.

References: