How to Hide or Show Disabled Sound Devices in Settings on Windows 11
Hiding or showing disabled sound devices in Windows 11 lets you clean up your audio list by removing mics and speakers that are turned off. This setting controls what appears on the Settings Sound All sound devices page
Starting with Windows 11 build 26340.9354 (Experimental 26H2) for Insiders, Microsoft added quick switches to hide or show disconnected and unplugged gear. You can turn this on or off in just a few clicks to keep your sound menu tidy.
Open Settings System Sound All sound devices and toggle the switch under Show devices for flow on this page. This lets you hide or show disabled audio input and output devices on your Windows 11 computer so your sound list stays clean or shows everything you need.
Option One
Hide or Show Disabled Sound Devices in Settings
- Open Settings by pressing the Win and the I key together (Win+I).
- Click on System on the left side of the screen, and then click on Sound on the right side.
You can hide or show disabled sound devices in Settings on Windows 11 by opening the main system menu, going to the sound section, and changing the view options. This lets you clean up your audio list so you only see the speakers and headphones you actually use every day.
- Scroll down to the Advanced section and click on All sound devices.
Open “All sound devices” Settings
- Look under System defaults and click on Show devices for flow on this page to open up the menu.
- Turn the switch on if you want to show disabled audio devices, or turn it off if you want to hide them. Showing them is the default setting.
When you turn on the setting to show disabled devices, you will see them appear at the very bottom of the page in gray text.
- You can now close the Settings window when you finish.
Option Two
Hide or Show Disabled Sound Devices in Settings using Registry Editor
Setting the ShowDisabledDevices value to one shows the hidden audio gear, while changing the ShowDisabledDevices value to zero hides the disabled sound devices from your main list.
Summary
This tutorial showed you how to easily hide or show disabled sound devices in Windows 11 using either the main Settings app or the Windows Registry Editor.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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