Check Default Playback Device
Windows may have automatically switched your default playback device to another speaker or monitor when the headset was plugged in or unplugged. The microphone continues to work because it uses a separate logical channel within the same USB composite device. To verify this, open the Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound > Sound. Alternatively, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Open Sound settings.
In the Sound window, click the Playback tab. Look for Logitech H390 in the list of devices. If it is present but has a gray icon or no checkmark, it is not set as the default device. Right-click the Logitech H390 entry and select Set as Default Device. You should see a green checkmark appear next to it. Click OK and test your audio. If you do not see the H390 in the Playback tab, proceed to the Driver section below.
Verify Audio Drivers and Services
If the device does not appear in the Playback list, the USB audio driver may have crashed or been disabled. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu. Expand the Audio inputs and outputs and Sound, video and game controllers sections. Look for Logitech H390 or USB Audio Device.
- Disable and Re-enable: Right-click the Logitech H390 entry under both categories and select Disable device, then immediately right-click again and select Enable device. This forces Windows to re-initialize the audio stream without requiring a reboot.
- Update Driver: If disabling/enabling does not help, right-click and choose Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows Update typically installs the generic USB Audio Class driver which is stable for most headsets.
Ensure that the Windows Audio service is running. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find Windows Audio in the list. If its status is not Running, right-click it and select Start. Set the Startup Type to Automatic to prevent future issues.
Check Application-Specific Volume Controls
It is common for individual applications to mute their own audio output while leaving other programs unaffected. Even if the system default is correct, an app like Discord, Zoom, or a web browser might be sending audio to a different device or muting itself. Open the specific application where sound is missing and look for its internal audio settings.
For example, in many communication apps, there is a separate setting for Speaker or Output Device. Ensure this is explicitly set to Logitech H390 and not "Default" or another device. Additionally, check the Volume Mixer by right-clicking the speaker icon in the taskbar and selecting Open Volume Mixer. Here, you can see if the volume slider for the specific application is muted or turned down to zero while the master volume remains high.
Headphone/Microphone Working Partially often shares similar root causes with full audio dropout, particularly regarding driver conflicts or port power management.USB Power Management Settings
Windows may turn off the USB hub port to save power, causing the audio component of the headset to disconnect while the microphone component stays active due to lower power requirements. Open Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Find each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub entry, right-click, and select Properties.
Navigate to the Power Management tab. Uncheck the box that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Click OK and repeat for all USB Root Hubs listed. This prevents Windows from suspending the USB bus, which can intermittently drop audio streams while keeping data connections alive. After changing these settings, unplug and replug the H390 headset to ensure the new power policy takes effect.
Test on Another Computer
If none of the software solutions resolve the issue, perform a hardware isolation test. Connect the Logitech H390 to a different computer or laptop. If the sound works correctly on the second machine, the issue is definitely with your primary computer’s configuration, drivers, or USB ports. If the sound also fails on the second computer, the headset’s internal audio circuitry may be damaged, and replacement is likely necessary.
When testing on another machine, ensure that the operating system is up to date and that any pre-installed Logitech software (such as Logitech G Hub or Logitech Options) is either updated or temporarily uninstalled, as conflicting overlay software can sometimes hijack audio routing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my mic work but speakers don't?
This happens because the Logitech H390 presents two separate logical devices to Windows: one for audio input and one for audio output. A failure in the software routing for the playback channel will silence speakers while leaving the recording channel fully functional. It indicates a configuration error rather than a broken headset cable.
How do I reset the Logitech H390 to factory defaults?
The Logitech H390 does not have a physical reset button or dedicated software utility for resetting. To effectively reset it, uninstall the device from Device Manager, restart your computer, and then unplug and replug the USB connector. This forces Windows to reinstall the generic drivers from scratch.
Can I use the H390 with Bluetooth devices simultaneously?
No, the Logitech H390 is a wired USB headset and does not support Bluetooth connectivity. It cannot pair with phones or tablets via wireless standards. You must connect it directly to a USB-A port on a computer, console, or compatible mobile device using the included cable.
What if the H390 appears in Device Manager but not in Sound settings?
This usually means the driver is installed but the audio endpoint service is not recognizing it as a playback device. Restarting the Windows Audio service or updating the chipset drivers for your motherboard can resolve this discrepancy. It is rarely a hardware fault if the device is detected in Device Manager.
My built microphone is not working on installed apps provides additional context on how to troubleshoot isolated audio channel failures within specific software environments.