How to Effectively Disable the Built-in Sound Card on Windows and Mac

In this article, we will explore how to disable the built-in sound card on Windows and Mac OS X computers. On Windows, this can be done through device settings, while on Mac OS X, you can use the Soundflower application.

Instructions for Windows

Step 1. Open the Start Menu {"smallUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/0/07/Windowsstart.png","bigUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/07/Windowsstart.png/30px-Windowsstart.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"","zoomWidth":30,"zoomHeight":30,"zoomUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/07/Windowsstart.png/30px-Windowsstart.png"}.

Start by clicking the Windows logo in the bottom left corner of the screen or simply press the ⊞ Win key.

Step 2. Go to Settings {"smallUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/d/d0/Windowssettings.png","bigUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d0/Windowssettings.png/31px-Windowssettings.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":445,"bigWidth":31,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"","zoomWidth":31,"zoomHeight":30,"zoomUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d0/Windowssettings.png/31px-Windowssettings.png"}.

In the menu that appears, select "Settings"—the gear icon in the bottom left corner.

Step 3. Navigate to Devices

Click on the "Devices" section in the settings menu. This will open a new window.

Step 4. Select the "Bluetooth & other devices" tab

While in the "Devices" window, choose the "Bluetooth & other devices" tab located on the left side.

Step 5. Click on "Sound"

Go to the "Sound" option in the right section of the window.

Step 6. Double-click the speaker icon

Double-click the speaker icon. Make sure there is a checkmark on a green background stating "Default Device" next to it. This will open a new settings window.

• If the speakers are active, you will see a sound indicator on the right.

Step 7. Open the "Device usage" dropdown menu

At the bottom of the "Speakers Properties" window, find and open the "Device usage" dropdown menu. It will likely state "Use this device (enable)."

Step 8. Select "Don't use this device (disable)"

Choose the option "Don't use this device (disable)" from the dropdown menu.

Step 9. Click "Apply"

Click the "Apply" button to disable the built-in sound card. The speaker icon will disappear from the settings window.

Step 10. Confirm by clicking "OK"

Press "OK" to complete the process. The built-in sound card is now disabled, and volume control will be unavailable until you enable it again.

Instructions for Mac OS X

Step 1. Install Soundflower

First, download Soundflower. Go to https://www.fluxforge.com/blog/soundflower-os-x-10.11-10.12-macOS-sierra/ and click on the link "soundflower_2.0b2.zip". The installation file will be downloaded to your computer.

• You may need to choose where to save the file or confirm the download.

Step 2. Install Soundflower

To install Soundflower, follow these steps:

• Extract the archive "soundflower_2.0b2.zip" by double-clicking on it.
• Open the "soundflower" folder (do not touch the "_MACOSX" folder).
• Double-click on "Soundflower.pkg."
• Enter your administrator password when prompted.

Step 3. Complete the Soundflower installation

Click "Continue" and follow the instructions to complete the Soundflower installation.

Step 4. Restart your Mac

To do this, open the Apple menu, select "Restart," then confirm the action. After restarting, Soundflower will be fully installed.

Step 5. Disconnect Headphones

Make sure that headphones are disconnected from the computer, especially if they are plugged into the 3.5mm jack.

Step 6. Launch Finder

Open the Finder application, which looks like a blue face and is located in the dock.

• If Soundflower hasn't opened automatically, do it now.

Step 7. Go to the "Go" menu

Click on the "Go" menu located at the top of the screen.

Step 8. Select "Utilities"

In the dropdown menu, select the "Utilities" option to open the corresponding folder.

Step 9. Find "Audio/MIDI"

Double-click the "Audio/MIDI" icon located at the top of the "Utilities" folder. If it’s not there, scroll down to find it.

Step 10. Click the “+” sign

In the lower left corner of the window, click the "+" sign.

Step 11. Create a Multi-Output Device

Select the option "Create Multi-Output Device" from the dropdown menu that appears.

Step 12. Check Soundflower settings

Make sure the option "Soundflower (2ch)" is checked, and uncheck the option for "Built-in Output."

Step 13. Gear settings

Click the gear icon located at the bottom left.

Step 14. Disable the built-in sound card

Ensure the options "Use this device for sound output" and "Play alerts and sound effects through this device" are enabled for Soundflower. Now the sound will output through Soundflower instead of the built-in sound card.

• Note that this method does not mute the sound during the Mac's boot process.