To change media output to speakers, you primarily need to adjust the audio settings on your device, selecting the internal speakers as the default output. This process varies slightly depending on your operating system or device type, but generally involves accessing media output controls or sound settings.
How to Change Media Output to Speakers
Here's a breakdown of how to route audio back to your device's internal speakers across various platforms.
On Android Devices
Android devices offer a flexible way to manage audio output, especially when connected to multiple devices like Bluetooth headphones or smart speakers.
1. Using the Media Output Selector (Most Common Method)
This is the quickest and most frequently used method to switch audio on modern Android versions (Android 10 and newer).
- Play any media: Start playing audio or video (e.g., from YouTube, Spotify, or a video player).
- Adjust Volume: Press either the volume up or volume down button on your device.
- Tap Media Output Icon: On the volume slider that appears, you'll see a small icon (often resembling a speaker, headphones, or a Cast icon). Tap this icon.
- Select "This Phone" or "Speakers": A "Media output" menu will pop up, listing all available output devices (e.g., Bluetooth headphones, connected casting devices, or your phone's internal speakers). Select "This phone" or "Speakers" (the exact wording may vary slightly) to direct audio to your device's built-in speakers.
2. Through Connected Devices Settings (For Specific Device Management)
This method is useful if you want to manage audio settings for a particular connected device, which can indirectly switch output to speakers if that connected device's audio is disabled.
- On your Android device, open the Settings app.
- Tap Connected devices.
- Next to your device (e.g., a previously paired Bluetooth headphone or speaker), tap Settings (often represented by a gear icon).
- Look for and tap an option like "Audio switch" or a similar audio-related setting. Within this menu, you might find options to toggle media audio for that specific accessory. Disabling media audio for an external device will typically revert output to your phone's speakers.
3. Via Notification Shade / Quick Settings
Many Android phones also offer a quick way to access media output controls directly from the notification shade (pull down from the top of your screen).
- While media is playing, pull down the notification shade.
- Look for the media playback notification. It often includes a small output icon (similar to the one on the volume slider).
- Tap this icon to bring up the "Media output" selection panel and choose "This phone" or "Speakers."
On iPhone / iPad (iOS/iPadOS)
Apple devices make it straightforward to manage audio output via the Control Center or within the app itself.
- Open Control Center:
- For iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later) or iPads: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
- For iPhones with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the AirPlay Icon: In the music playback control section of Control Center, tap the AirPlay icon (a triangle with concentric circles at the bottom).
- Select "iPhone" or "iPad": A list of available audio devices will appear. Choose "iPhone" or "iPad" to play audio through the device's internal speakers.
You can also often find this AirPlay icon within the media playback screen of apps like Music, Podcasts, or YouTube.
On Windows PC
On a Windows computer, you can change the default audio playback device through the taskbar or Sound settings.
- From the Taskbar:
- Locate the Speaker icon in the system tray (usually bottom-right corner of the screen).
- Right-click the Speaker icon and select "Open Sound settings" or click the icon and then click the small arrow next to the volume slider to expand output options.
- Under "Output" or "Choose your output device," click the dropdown menu.
- Select your desired internal speakers (e.g., "Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)" or "Speakers (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)" – names vary based on your sound card).
- Through Settings:
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under "Output," use the "Choose your output device" dropdown menu to select your internal speakers.
On Mac (macOS)
Mac users can switch audio output via the menu bar or System Settings.
- From the Menu Bar:
- Click the Sound icon (looks like a speaker) in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- From the dropdown menu, under "Output Device," select "Internal Speakers."
- If you don't see the Sound icon, go to System Settings > Control Center and ensure "Sound" is set to "Show in Menu Bar."
- Through System Settings:
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- Click Sound.
- Select the Output tab.
- Choose "Internal Speakers" from the list of output devices.
On Smart TVs and Streaming Devices
Smart TVs and streaming devices (like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) usually have their own audio output settings, typically found in their main settings menu.
- Navigate to Settings: Go to the main "Settings" menu of your TV or streaming device.
- Find Audio/Sound Settings: Look for sections like "Audio," "Sound," "Audio Output," or "Speakers."
- Select Internal Speakers: Choose "TV Speakers," "Internal Speakers," or ensure that any external audio systems (like soundbars or home theater systems) are deselected or disconnected if you want sound from the TV's built-in speakers.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Check Physical Connections: Ensure no headphones are physically plugged into the audio jack, as this often overrides internal speakers automatically.
- Bluetooth Disconnection: If audio is going to a Bluetooth device, ensure it's disconnected or turned off. Your device might automatically route sound to speakers once the Bluetooth connection is severed.
- App-Specific Settings: Some apps (e.g., communication apps like Zoom or Discord) have their own in-app audio output settings that can override system defaults. Check these if you're only having issues with one specific app.
- Restart Device: A simple restart can often resolve minor audio routing glitches.
By following these steps, you should be able to effectively switch your media output to your device's internal speakers.
