Route Audio to Different Monitors in Windows 11

Windows 11 allows users to route independent audio streams to different monitors and speakers simultaneously using built-in settings. By taking advantage of the integrated Volume Mixer, you can assign specific applications—such as a media player, a web browser, or a video game—to output sound directly to the built-in speakers or headphone jacks of individual monitors connected via HDMI or DisplayPort.

Step 1: Ensure Your Monitors Are Recognized as Audio Devices

Before routing audio, ensure Windows detects your monitors as active playback endpoints:

  1. Connect your monitors to your PC using HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C cables that support audio transfer.
  2. Press Win + I to open Settings, then navigate to System > Sound.
  3. Under the Output section, review the list of available devices to verify that each monitor appears.
  4. If a monitor is missing, click Add device or check your monitor’s internal menu to ensure its built-in speakers are enabled and not muted.

Step 2: Assign Specific Apps to Different Monitors

Windows 11 includes a per-app sound configuration tool that routes audio streams independently:

  1. Open the applications you want to route (e.g., Spotify, Chrome, VLC Player) and start playing audio in them so Windows registers their active audio sessions.
  2. Go to Settings > System > Sound.
  3. Scroll down to the Advanced section and select Volume mixer.
  4. Under the Apps list, locate the program you want to assign to a specific screen.
  5. Click the dropdown menu next to Output device for that app.
  6. Select the specific monitor you want that application to play through.
  7. Repeat this process for other applications, assigning each to your preferred monitor or audio device.

Windows automatically saves these preferences, routing the selected applications to the assigned monitors every time they are opened.

Step 3: Quick Switching with the Taskbar Sound Menu

To quickly adjust the primary output device without opening the full Settings menu:

  1. Click the Sound icon on the system tray (or press Win + A to open Quick Settings).
  2. Click the Select a sound output icon (a small arrow next to the volume slider).
  3. Choose the monitor you want to set as the default playback device for any app not specifically assigned in the Volume Mixer.

Advanced Routing with Third-Party Tools

For complex audio workflows—such as splitting a single app’s audio across multiple monitors at once or adding custom EQ controls—free third-party tools provide additional control: