Solution to Windows audio switching to Xbox headphone audio.

Are you playing on a Xbox console?

If so, go to the audio settings in the console settings and set up the console audio to output game audio via headset.

In the headphone settings you can also set up spatial 3D audio, by turning the audio output for headphones to Windows Sonic, or if you have purchased the Atmos App (the free app only works 14 days with headphones), you can also set Dolby Atmos for headphones.

If you are on the PC, you need to make the headphone your device for audio output (not only voice communications).

Click on the speaker icon in the lower right, and choose the output channel for the headphone. Depending on your soundcard or USB headset, you need to select the proper audio output.

Hey, just to update on this I think I can help you narrow down the problem a bit. The issue seems to be that when using Windows Audio Session for audio output the Surface Pro 2 will not switch to headphones when plugged in. This is not the case when using
Direct Sound instead. Direct Sound properly switches to the headphones when plugged in. Maybe you guys can yell at Microsoft to get them to fix Windows Audio Session to properly follow the default sound device as it seems to affect all the Microsoft Studios
games I've got and a few other Modern UI apps as well.

Hello Izaiah,my name is Vanessa, I will be happy to help you.

I understand that you are having trouble playing audio through your wired headphones on your Xbox console.

Here are some things you can try to fix the problem:

Make sure your wired headphones are properly connected to the 3.5mm audio port on the controller. Make sure the connector is securely inserted into the port.

Make sure your wired headphones are turned on and in playback mode. If your headphones have a power switch, make sure it is turned on.

Make sure your Xbox console is set to use your wired headset as the default audio device.

To do so, follow these steps:

Press the Xbox  button to open the guide.

Select the Settings icon.

Select General.

Select Devices and accessories.

Select Input and Output Devices.

Select Audio Headphones.

Make sure "Default audio device" is selected.

Make sure your Xbox console's audio settings are set correctly. To do so, follow these steps:

Press the Xbox button to open the guide.

Select the Settings icon.

Select General.

Select Devices and accessories.

Select Input and Output Devices.

Select Audio Headphones.

Make sure the "Audio Output" option is set to "Headphone Audio."

Source: https://support.xbox.com/help/hardware-network/accessories/set-up-and-use-chat-headset

These are basic solutions to these problems, but they can lead to a solution, remember that this is a public forum where we are players like you who want to help, good luck and happy day.

Sincerely,
Vanessa.

This is headphone post processing, it happens after the audio is decoded to PCM. This is a system level function applied to all audio when enabled, which is why it doesn’t switch.

The Xbox audio settings I have available are as follows:

HDMI audio:

* Stereo Uncompressed

* Dolby Digital

* Dolby Atmos for Home Theater

Headset Format:

* Stereo Uncompressed

* Windows Sonic for Headphones

* Dolby Atmos for Headphones

* DTS Headphone:X

Tried all of them. Nothing helped.