How to Hide or Show Disconnected Sound Devices in Settings on Windows 11
Hiding disconnected sound devices in Windows 11 clears out old speakers, headphones, and microphones that clutter your audio list. The All sound devices page in Settings holds a simple toggle to hide unplugged gear so you only see what is actually connected and ready to use.
Microsoft added these controls in Windows 11 build 26340.9354 (Experimental 26H2) for Insiders. You can turn them on or off whenever old audio devices start getting in your way.
Open Settings System Sound All sound devices and change the Show devices for flow toggle. This hides or shows disconnected audio equipment on Windows 11. Alternatively, open the Registry Editor, go to 🗝️HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
Hide or Show Disconnected Sound Devices in Settings
- Open Settings by pressing the Win and the I key together.
- Click on System on the left side of the window, and then click on Sound on the right side.
You can hide or show disconnected sound devices in settings on Windows 11 by opening the main sound menu and changing your system defaults. This lets you clean up your audio list so you only see speakers and headphones that are actually plugged in and ready to use.
- Scroll down to the Advanced section, and click on All sound devices.
Open “All sound devices” Settings
- Under System defaults, click on Show devices for flow on this page to open it up.
- Turn the toggle on to show disconnected audio devices, or turn it off to hide them. Showing them is the default choice.
When you turn on the setting to show disconnected audio devices, you will see them listed and grayed out at the very bottom of this page.
- You can now close the Settings window if you are finished.
Hide or Show Disconnected Sound Devices using Registry
You can hide or show disconnected sound devices using the registry on Windows 11 by changing a specific value in the registry editor. This advanced method lets you control your audio device visibility by creating a new DWORD value and setting it to show or hide your unused gear.
To show disconnected sound devices in Settings:
This is the default setting.
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Navigate to the appropriate Registry key. Create or modify a DWORD value named ShowHiddenDevices and set its data value to 1.
To hide disconnected sound devices in Settings:
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Navigate to the appropriate Registry key. Create or modify a DWORD value named ShowHiddenDevices and set its data value to 0.
Summary
You can control whether disconnected sound devices appear in your Windows 11 settings. By using either the main settings menu or the Registry Editor, you can choose to show or hide these devices depending on your personal preference.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
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.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!