XPS 15 7590: switching sound between headphones and speakers

Not sure if you can switch to that other Realtek audio management application -- it's possible that the management application is determined by the specific Realtek chipset in the system.  But if you can't do that, then if the system's audio chipset and/or driver only "exposes" a single Headphones/Speakers output device and then decides whether to route to the laptop's built-in speakers or to your external headphones/speakers, you wouldn't have any control over that because you only have that single device.  One workaround would be to use a USB-based audio solution, either native USB headphones or even a USB to headphone jack adapter like this one.  In that case, the USB device would be seen as a completely separate audio output device unrelated to the Realtek device, so you'd be able to manage it independently.

The answer is pretty . I have tried to solve this problem for hours, but I didn't found a solution for my XPS. There are some solutions for old XPS. Why Dell removed this useful feature. My wife uses Macbook pro and it is very easy to switch the built-in speaker and headphone on Mac, but Dell's answer is telling customers to buy a use audio adapter. The experience of using Dell XPS is not great. Dell, you are pulling your customers away.

@wadehuang  To be clear, my answer is not "Dell's answer".  I am not an official Dell Support rep.  Dell Rockstars are just regular community members who are recognized for helping others.  Official Dell Support reps have usernames that actually begin with "DELL".

  I have spent hours! looking for an answer for the same question! Every time I put my headphones on and I forgot to turn the volume down, I got deaf because the laptop doesn't differentiate if there is a headphone connected or the regular speakers of the laptop. It's extremely annoying! How a machine that expensive can't recognise different devices? My old Inspiron from 2011 was able to do that job perfectly, why this laptop can't do it?

have you guys tried opening MaxAudioPro (it comes preinstalled) and selecting your output device?

I have tried even black magic. Nothing changed.

It may not be understood. The problem is that (I at least) don't want to play speakers and headphone at the same time. There is not the point. The problem is that the headphone is not recognized as an external device, therefore I can't configure what kind of volume default should be used when I connect my headphone. Because of that glitch, I need to have extreme care when I'm going to use headphone because if I forgot to put the volume down before use it every time I got deaf with the louder volume. The only thing I want - even my phone does it and other laptops and devices - is the laptop could differentiate speakers and headphones. Nothing else. Ex. when I click on the icon of volume, it showed me the name speakers/headphone no matter if the headphone is connected or not. Of course, when I connect the headphone, the speakers stops to play, but nothing changes in terms of configuration. Why? All devices in the world identify and differentiate headphones and speakers. Why a device worthy 1,5 thousand pounds doesn't? That is.

I have the same issue with my Dell XPS 2720. I cannot add a headset to get two output options -- but only have one output option at all times. And once my headset becomes the default, I cannot get the regular speakers back as a choice. I can, however, hear sound through them when testing. Very frustrating. If I figure this out, I'll post again.