How To Get Stereo Mix On Windows 11 A Step by Step Guide

Want to record system audio — the sound playing from your speakers — on Windows 11? Stereo Mix is the classic Windows feature that makes this easy. In this comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide we’ll show you how to get Stereo Mix on Windows 11: what it is, why it’s useful, how to enable it (or recreate it), and reliable troubleshooting tips so you can capture internal audio like a pro.

This guide is written for anyone — whether you’re recording podcasts, capturing game audio, creating tutorials, or troubleshooting audio routing. We’ll use clear steps, screenshots-friendly instructions (described), short paragraphs, and practical tips. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

What is Stereo Mix? (and why you might need it)

Stereo Mix (also labeled “What U Hear”, “What You Hear”, or “Mix”) is a Windows recording device that captures the mixed output of your sound card — all the audio being sent to your speakers/headphones. Think of it as a virtual microphone that records exactly what your PC is playing.

Why use it?

Record internal audio (music, game sound, system alerts) without using a microphone.
Capture audio for tutorials, livestreams, or podcasts.
Save audio from applications that don’t offer built-in exports.

Synonyms & related search terms: “record system audio Windows 11”, “enable stereo mix Windows 11”, “what-you-hear Windows 11”, “loopback recording”.

Stereo Mix vs. “What you hear” vs. loopback — what’s the difference?

Stereo Mix / What U Hear: A Windows recording source that taps into the audio output on the driver level.
WASAPI loopback: An audio API-level method apps use to capture playback stream (software-based, no additional driver).
Virtual audio cable: Third-party virtual devices that route audio between apps.

All three let you capture system audio; which one you choose depends on drivers, use case, and whether you want a driver or software solution.

Can Windows 11 still use Stereo Mix? (short answer)

Yes — but not always by default. Many modern audio drivers hide Stereo Mix, or manufacturers disable it. You can usually restore it by enabling hidden devices, installing/updating drivers, or by using a loopback or virtual audio cable solution.

Prerequisites — what you need before enabling Stereo Mix

Before attempting to enable Stereo Mix, make sure you have:

Windows 11 PC (any edition).
Administrative access (some changes require admin rights).
Up-to-date audio drivers (Realtek or OEM drivers recommended).
A recording app (Audacity, OBS, Voice Recorder) for testing.
Optional: internet access to download drivers or software.

Method A — Enable Stereo Mix (Realtek and generic drivers)

This is the most direct approach when Stereo Mix is available but disabled.

Step-by-step: Enable Stereo Mix

Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sound settings.
Scroll to Advanced and click More sound settings — this opens the classic Sound control panel.
Go to the Recording tab.
Right-click in the blank area and enable Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices.
If Stereo Mix (or What U Hear) appears, right-click it and choose Enable.
Set it as the Default Device or Default Communication Device if you want apps to automatically use it.
Click Properties → Levels and adjust the input level as needed. Click OK.

✅ Tip: If Stereo Mix is present but greyed out, make sure no other app exclusively uses the audio device. Restarting audio apps or the PC can help.

Method B — Use WASAPI loopback in apps (e.g., Audacity)

When Stereo Mix isn’t available, apps like Audacity can use Windows WASAPI loopback to record system audio directly (no driver change).

Steps (Audacity example)

Download and open Audacity.
In the device toolbar, set Host to Windows WASAPI.
Choose the playback device (e.g., Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio)), but select the loopback capture device (it will appear as Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio) (loopback)).
Click Record — Audacity captures the system audio playing through that device.
Save/export the recording as WAV/MP3.

WASAPI loopback is great because it’s driver-independent and works on Windows 11 out of the box.

Method C — Use virtual audio cable software (VB-Audio, VoiceMeeter)

Virtual audio cables create virtual devices that route audio between apps — powerful for streaming, mixing, and advanced routing.

Popular options

VB-Audio Virtual Cable (free/donation) — creates virtual input/output lines.
VoiceMeeter Banana / Potato (free/donation) — mixer with virtual I/O, EQ, and routing.
Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) — paid — robust commercial option.

Basic setup with VB-Audio

Download and install VB-Audio Virtual Cable.
Set Virtual Cable as your default playback device (Settings → Sound → Output).
In your recording software, choose Cable Input as the recording device.
To still hear audio, set cable output to feed speakers using VoiceMeeter or enable Windows “Listen” options.

This lets you record system audio and route it into OBS, Audacity, or streaming software with full control.

Method D — Use manufacturer control panels (Realtek HD Audio Manager)

Some OEMs provide a control panel that can enable Stereo Mix or equivalent.

Steps

Open Realtek HD Audio Manager or your laptop’s audio control app (found in Control Panel or system tray).
Look for Device advanced settings or Recording options.
Enable Stereo Mix or enable an option like Enable recording from playback.
If not found, update your Realtek/OEM drivers (see next section).

Update or reinstall drivers (if Stereo Mix is missing)

If Stereo Mix never shows up:

Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
Right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek(R) Audio) → Update driver.
Choose Search automatically or download the latest driver from your PC manufacturer’s support page or Realtek’s site.
After installing, reboot and check Recording devices again (see Method A).

If generic drivers don’t restore Stereo Mix, try installing the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver from the Realtek website or the OEM support page for your laptop/board.

How to record system audio once Stereo Mix is enabled (step-by-step)

Open your recording app (Voice Recorder, Audacity, OBS).
In audio settings, set Input/Recording device to Stereo Mix (or virtual cable/loopback).
Start playback of the audio you want to record.
Click Record in your app.
Stop when finished and export/save the file.

For streaming (OBS): Set Audio Input Capture to Stereo Mix or add a Desktop Audio source routed via virtual cable.

Troubleshooting: Stereo Mix not showing or not working

Common problems and fixes:

Stereo Mix missing: Show disabled devices in Recording tab; update audio drivers; install Realtek drivers.
No sound in recording: Make sure Stereo Mix is not muted (Properties → Levels). Ensure the correct playback device is selected.
Only mic records: Set Stereo Mix as default recording device or choose it within the recording app.
Exclusive mode locked: In Stereo Mix Properties → Advanced, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
Virtual cable issues: Reboot after installing VB-Audio; check sample rates match between devices (Sound Control Panel → Advanced).

Security and privacy considerations

Recording system audio may capture sensitive notifications (messages, VOIP). Mute or disable notifications while recording.
Respect copyright — don’t distribute copyrighted audio without permission.
Be mindful when sharing recordings that include private conversations.

Best practices and tips for clean recordings

Record in a quiet environment if using microphone alongside Stereo Mix.
Use lossless formats (WAV) for master recordings; export compressed (MP3) for sharing.
Match sample rates (44.1kHz vs 48kHz) between playback and recording devices to avoid resampling artifacts.
Test recording with a short clip before starting a long session.
Use VoiceMeeter to add EQ and gain control if levels are low.

Quick comparison: Which method should you choose?

Scenario	Best Method	Why
Simple, driver-supported PCs	Enable Stereo Mix (Method A)	Easiest and native
No Stereo Mix available	WASAPI loopback (Audacity)	No drivers needed
Streaming / routing multiple sources	VoiceMeeter / Virtual Cable	Flexible routing/mixing
Professional audio routing	Virtual Audio Cable (paid)	Low latency, stable
Quick one-off recording	Windows Voice Recorder + Stereo Mix	Fast & easy

FAQs — Common Questions (short answers)

Q1: Why don’t I see Stereo Mix in Windows 11?
A1: It’s often hidden or disabled by the audio driver. Show disabled devices in the Recording tab, update drivers, or use loopback/virtual cable as alternatives.

Q2: Is Stereo Mix safe to use?
A2: Yes. It’s a system-level recording source. Be cautious about capturing private audio and copyrighted content.

Q3: Can I record system sound and microphone simultaneously?
A3: Yes — use VoiceMeeter or OBS to mix Stereo Mix and microphone inputs into one recording/stream.

Q4: Which is better: Stereo Mix or WASAPI loopback?
A4: WASAPI loopback is driver-independent and reliable. Stereo Mix is simpler if your driver supports it. Choice depends on availability and workflow.

Q5: How do I fix latency when using virtual cables?
A5: Lower buffer sizes in the virtual mixer, match sample rates, and use ASIO or optimized settings if available.

Summary: Key takeaways

Stereo Mix captures exactly what your PC plays — perfect for recording system audio.
If Stereo Mix is hidden, enable disabled devices, update drivers, or use WASAPI loopback (Audacity) or virtual audio cables (VB-Audio/VoiceMeeter).
For streaming and advanced routing, VoiceMeeter or Virtual Audio Cable provide flexible solutions.
Always test before recording and check privacy/copyright concerns.

If you want, I can provide a short, printable checklist for whichever method you choose (Stereo Mix enable, WASAPI loopback, or VB-Audio setup). Which workflow are you planning to use — simple recording, streaming, or podcasting?