Headphones only play from one ear when plugged into laptop

[itsKhang]

Recently, my headphone jack has stopped working correctly.  Whenever I insert headphones, no matter what pair of headphones, sound will only come out of the left headphone.  The right is completely silent. Utilizing the windows "configure speaker" tool, I have found that both right and left channel audio is playing through only the left headphone. I have used multiple different pairs of headphones which I tested on a totally different device (my phone) to make sure that it really was the laptop and not the headphones.  It is.  For some reason, my headphone jack is just not working correctly.  I've tried redownloading drivers repeatedly, but it hasn't done anything. I have also tried restoring my entire PC.

Here's a quick run-down and potential FAQ to show you what I've done.

Have you tried testing other headphones to make sure it's really the laptop?

Yes.  Multiple pairs.

Is sounding coming out of your speakers just fine?

Yes.  My speakers are completely unaffected by whatever is going on with the headphones.  All the speakers are of the same volume.

Have you tried unplugging them and plugging them back in again?

Yes.

Have you checked the volume balance in the volume mixer to make sure one headphone isn't accidentally set to silent?

Yes.  The volume mixer is completely equal, but only the left headphone plays any sound whatsoever.

Have you tried using the troubleshoot option to reinstall drivers or find other potential fixes?

Yes.  It didn't work.  Changing the drivers and doing troubleshoot changed the sound quality and volume coming out of the left ear, but it didn't make sound suddenly start coming into the right.  I've gone through the entire process: try installing a new driver, try using the general Microsoft Audio driver.

[asmita6658]

Hi @itsKhang

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

This looks like a hardware issue. Please reach out to the HP Support in your region regarding the service options for your computer.

Hope this helps!

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Have a great day! 

[Doobleshaft2]

While it does look like a hardware issue it is possible that cleaning the jack socket could work.

It won't be that easy but if you put a lint free cloth onto an appropriate object such as a small stiff plastic straw, put some isopropyl alcohol onto the cloth and then move rotate it carefully and move it in and out carefully then it's possible this will be fixed. I'd say it is worth a try having had to do this on other audio sources in the past and found it worked.

Otherwise, if the laptop has built in bluetooth (or even with a cheap USB bluetooth 5 dongle) it will mean you can connect wireless headphones to resolve the problem. At least this is likely to be cheaper than repairing the socket if that is faulty.

[itsKhang]

I will try cleaning the socket with isopropyl alcohol to see if this works. If anything, I will most likely be purchasing a wireless Bluetooth headphone as this was my plan to begin with once I had the problem. I agree fixing the socket itself would not be cost efficient. Thank you for the reply! Have a nice day.