Inspiron 5502, Realtek MaxxAudio issues

Well, I've tried everything. I assume it's the latest Realtek driver messing things up. Everything works fine when I boot the computer with external speakers connected, but if I disconnect, then connect again, they are not detected.

Another observation: When I go to Device Manager, Sound video and game controllers, and update driver from there, it updates to Realtek version 6.0.9363.1, but if I do a search at Dell for the latest Realtek driver for my laptop, it suggests Realtek version 6.0.9499.1 I don't know what the difference is, which one I REALLY should have?

Both seem to be problematic. Perhaps is MaxxAudio Pro which is the problem.

Ok, I think I found the solution (KIND OF)  from another poster here on the dell community board from several years ago. I finally was able to navigate to Dell Audio. I did all this yesterday, but mysteriously it undid itself. I made a desktop shortcut to Dell Audio so I can re-establish the external speakers. However, EVERY time I reboot the laptop, it won't recognize the headphones/external speakers when I plug them in, I have to go back to Dell Audio and set the Jack settings again, then I immediately get audio through external speakers. Maybe it has to do with my Webroot SecureAnywhere antivirus not allowing system changes? I doubt it, but I'll disable and try again. 

This is getting ridiculous just to have dependable audio, just like I had before any driver updates.

It does sort of sound like something is installing after you get it working and is messing up the configuration.

Do you know for sure you have to install Waves and not just let it install by itself after you install the Realtek drivers?

I do see this statement on your support page.  But the systems I have, will install the Waves with or just after the Realtek drivers are installed.

This audio driver requires the Waves MaxxAudio Pro or Dell Optimizer application to be installed to have full functionality

When you clean everything out, are you taking the sound back to the basic Windows version of the drivers, then starting over?

The system seems to be Windows 11 compatible, any reason you have not moved up?

I'm having this issue as well. It was fine until an unwanted Windows update. Now it won't recognize the fact that I've plugged headphones into the jack. It does nothing. Doing Troubleshooting, it's asking me to plug in the headphones, as if there's nothing connected to the jack.

I don't even have RtkNGUI64.exe file anywhere on my computer.  

Update: Weirdly enough, after updating to Realtek driver 6.0.9499.1, it didn't switch automatically until I checked my Processes.

Task Manager > Processes

There were THREE "Realtek HD Audio Universal Service" processes running. I ended the task for the 2 processes that did NOT have a drop down arrow next to them. Now I only have 1 "Realtek HD Audio Universal Service" running and I can remove and add the headphones without issue. It switches automatically like it used to. So I don't know why that fixed the issue, but just check and make sure you don't have multiple instances of "Realtek HD Audio Universal Service" running.

Still having this problem with audio on my Dell 5502 laptop.

I use external speakers constantly, but also routinely disconnect, and move my laptop a few times throughout the day. If I boot the laptop with external speakers attached, they work, if I disconnect, then reconnect after laptop is on, they will not recognize. I have to go to:

Dell Audio/Advanced,Jack Information, click on the jack icon, then choose,

"Which Device did you plug in?"

I choose either Speaker out, or Dell Speaker out. I don't know what the difference is, but both choices work. After I do this procedure, then I can disconnect / reconnect the external speakers, and it will switch back and forth each time. It seems as if, Dell Audio is a process that needs to start at booting, but is not.

I do not have Waves Maxxaudio installed anymore, because the stupid thing will be running with 25% or more CPU usage sometimes. apparently you no longer need Maxxaudio, if you are not using a "headset" (headphones with microphone).  I only need external speakers, so I don't need Maxxaudio anyway.

Dell support assist is completely useless. Actually worse than useless because it sends you on frivolous Goose Chases, (like downloading the latest Realtek driver that you ALREADY have installed).

If you are experiencing issues with Realtek MaxxAudio on your Dell Inspiron 5502, such as sound distortion, no sound, or other audio-related problems, you can try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

1. Check Audio Settings: Ensure that the audio settings in Windows are configured correctly. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and select "Open Sound settings." Under the "Output" section, make sure that the correct audio output device is selected. Also, click on "Device properties" to check the audio enhancements and disable any effects that might be causing problems.

2. Update Realtek Audio Driver: Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can lead to audio issues. Visit Dell's official website, go to the "Support" section, and download the latest Realtek audio drivers for your Inspiron 5502 model. Install the drivers and restart your computer.

3. Rollback or Reinstall Audio Driver: If updating the driver didn't resolve the problem, you can try rolling back the audio driver to a previous version. Alternatively, uninstall the driver completely, restart your computer, and let Windows automatically reinstall the appropriate driver.

4. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows 10 installation is up to date. Microsoft regularly releases updates that may include fixes for audio-related issues. Go to "Settings" > "Windows Update" and click on "Check for updates."

5. Disable Audio Enhancements: Some audio enhancements provided by Realtek MaxxAudio may not work well with certain configurations. Try disabling all audio enhancements in the MaxxAudio settings and see if that helps.

6. Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter: Windows has built-in audio troubleshooters that can diagnose and fix common audio problems. Go to "Settings" > "System" > "Troubleshoot" and run the "Playing Audio" troubleshooter.

7. Perform a System Restore: If the audio issues started after a recent software change, you can try using System Restore to revert your system to a state before the problem occurred.

8. Check for Conflicting Applications: Some third-party audio applications or utilities might interfere with Realtek MaxxAudio. Try disabling or uninstalling any audio-related software you installed recently and check if the problem is resolved.

9. Check for Audio Firmware Updates: In some cases, audio-related issues can be caused by outdated firmware. Check Dell's official website for any available firmware updates for your Inspiron 5502 model.

10. Test with External Speakers/Headphones: To determine if the issue is related to the internal speakers or audio output, try connecting external speakers or headphones to your laptop and check if the audio problem persists.

If the issue persists despite trying the above steps, there might be a hardware problem with the audio chipset or speakers. In such cases, it's best to contact Dell's customer support or take your Inspiron 5502 to an authorized service center for further diagnosis and repair.