Logitech is a great headphone brand to consider if you’re looking for a good pair for general use.
But before you consider buying, you should know about some problems common problems with Logitech headphones.
Here are some of the issues you may encounter with Logitech headphones.
1. The Computer Doesn’t Recognize Logitech Headset USB
One of the main great features of Logitech is its USB connectivity.
Currently, Logitech has three options for USB connectivity.
- Wired USB
- USB receiver/transmitter
- Unifying Receiver
These connections are quite stable, compared to the usual Bluetooth and 3.5mm plug.
But you may run into the issue of your computer not recognizing the USB plug, which means you won’t be getting any sound coming through your Logitech headphones.
So how do you resolve this problem?
Don’t boot your computer with the USB dongle or cable plugged in
- Keeping the USB dongle or cable of your Logitech plugged in can create a conflict with other devices in your computer during startup.
- Unplugging the USB mitigates any conflict that you may experience and will allow your computer to boot up without any problems.
- Once the computer is finished loading, you can then plug in the USB receiver or cable of your Logitech headphones.
Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
If you use Windows 10, one cool feature you get is the Hardware Troubleshooter. It helps users troubleshoot errors in devices plugged into your computer.
Here’s how to use it.
- Right-click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar and click on the Troubleshoot Sound Problems.
- Choose your Logitech USB headphones in the list that appears.
- Follow the prompt to initiate the troubleshooting.
Note that Windows 10 Build 1809 won’t be able to access the Troubleshooter through these steps. If you’re using this program, follow these steps:
- Right-click the Start icon and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- If asked to grant access, click Yes.
- With the Windows Power running, run this command: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic.
- The Hardware and Device Troubleshooter will appear. Click Next.
- Follow the prompts, then restart your computer to check if the problem is fixed.
After you try these steps, play some music and check if the sound comes out of your headphones.
If there isn’t any sound, go to the next steps.
Make your Logitech headphones the default audio device
If you’re still having issues with your computer recognizing your Logitech USB headphones, you can try making it the default audio device.
Here’s how to do it.
- For Windows users, right-click the speakers/headphone icon and click on Open Sound Settings.
- Click Sound Control Panel under Related Settings.
- In the Sound Setting window, click on your Logitech USB headphones and set them as Default.
- Click Ok to save your settings.
- For Mac users, open System Preferences and go to Sound.
- In the drop-down menu for Selected Sound output device, select your Logitech USB headphones.
Then check if your USB headphones are recognized and playing sound through it.
Update the Audio Driver
It would be a good idea to update the audio driver of your computer should it still fail to recognize the Logitech USB headphones.
There are three ways of doing this: via the Device Manager, download the update manually, or a third-party system that automates the update process.
If you want to use the Device Manager:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Enter devmgmt.msc then click OK.
- Expand the contents of the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers category in the Device Manager.
- Look for your Logitech USB Headset, right-click and select Update Driver.
- Click on Search Automatically for Updated Driver.
For manual installations of the USB driver, you will have to go to the manufacturer’s website and check for updates. Luckily, while other brands have a more complicated process, Logitech has a rather simple interface to help you get the right driver.
All you need to do is input your computer’s operating system and version, device category, and the specific model of your headphones. Make sure you get the headphones model right because installing the wrong driver may yield some issues.
And you can also try using third-party driver update tools. These apps consolidate, scans your computer for any driver issues that you may have, and downloads the appropriate updates to improve the performance of your computer.
Adjust Privacy Settings
Some privacy settings in your computer may prevent your Logitech headphones from working properly.
You might be able to get sound into the ear cups, but your microphone isn’t working.
To fix this, you need to adjust your Privacy Settings.
- Open the Settings by pressing the Windows key + I and go to Privacy.
- On the left side, select Microphone and enable the Allow apps to access Microphone option.
- You may also select apps that you will allow microphone access to.
- Test the Logitech Headphones and see if the problem is fixed.
2. Logitech Unifying Receiver is Not Working
Logitech offers a Unifying receiver that allows you to consolidate all your Logitech wireless devices into one USB dongle, including headphones, keyboards, and mice.
This is perfect for those who don’t have many USB ports to spare but don’t want the possible interference from Bluetooth connections. And it’s also great for those who transitioned from wired connections, as having only one dongle takes away the clutter of wired connections.
If you are having issues with the unifying receiver, the fix is a bit different than the USB dongle of the headphones. Note that for the most part, this issue happens with Windows-based computers.
Here’s how to remedy it.
Install the Unifying Software
You can download the official Unifying app of Logitech on the page listed at the bottom of this article under Sources. Install it, restart your computer and run the app as administrator by right-clicking it and selecting Run as Administrator.
Then connect your Logitech devices, including your headphones, and see if it works.
Remove conflicting software
You might have some software that functions like the Unifying app that may cause some conflicts.
As these apps also function like drivers, they may be problematic and cause conflict between devices. Uninstall them and restart your computer to check if it solves the problem.
As a rule of thumb, make sure that you only have one driver installed for your hardware.
Power Cycle your Computer
A good cleanout of your computer can remove temporary configurations and give you something like a clean slate.
Power cycling is easy to do, too. Here’s how to do it.
- Turn off your computer by selecting shut down.
- Unplug all devices linked to it, including USB hubs.
- Unplug the power cable and press the power button for 30 seconds.
- For those using laptops, remove the battery and return it after 30 seconds.
- Let your computer rest for 5 – 10 minutes before turning it on.
- Check if the problem is resolved.
Uninstall last Windows Update
Many Logitech users have noted that a Windows update caused issues with the Unifying service. Often, the compatible devices were not compatible with the Windows update.
Here’s how to fix it.
- Press Windows + R and type appwiz.cpl and press enter.
- In the Application Manager, open the View Installed Updates on the left side.
- Look for KB4074588, right-click and select uninstall.
- Restart your computer after and check if the problem gets solved.
To make sure that this problem doesn’t repeat until a fix becomes available, download a hotfix that will prevent reinstallation of driver updates, which is linked in the Sources at the bottom of this article.
Disable Power Saving for USB
Computers have Power Saving features for USB ports that allow wireless devices to save energy when idle.
This can be a problem if it launches at random when you’re listening to something. It’s a good idea to disable this setting, especially if your computer is plugged in all day.
To disable Power Saving:
- Press and hold Windows Key and then press X.
- Open Device Manager and look for the Logitech driver in the USB section.
- Right-click it and open Properties.
- Under the Power Management section, deselect all options to disable the Power Saving feature.