microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

Power Display: Add changing audio output with profiles

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#47,435 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Needs-Triage Product-PowerDisplay
Dominant language
C
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

Change Windows audio output device with each monitor profile.

### Scenario when this would be used?

My PC is connected to two monitors, a TV and a soundbar. I currently use DisplayFusion to manage profiles to switch between combinations of them. I wonder if PowerToys could do the job instead with just a little addition to the new Power Display feature.

I have one profile for just the monitors for when I am at my desk and another profile for the TV and soundbar for when I am playing games on the couch.

When the monitor profile is active then the TV and soundbar displays are disconnected in Windows, and when the TV profile is active the monitors are disconnected.

The monitor profile also switches the audio output to my main desktop audio (VoiceMeeter) and the TV profile switches the audio output to the soundbar.

I have to connect the PC to both the TV and soundbar with two separate HDMI cables because if I only plug the TV in then I will get 4K HDR, but Windows will only detect the TV speakers so it will only output stereo sound.

I have the soundbar plugged in with another HDMI which technically creates another display, but I simply make it the smallest resolution (800x600) and ignore it, it just allows Windows to see the audio device and send Dolby Atmos to it.

I have tried other display profile software but they all fail to work because they will try to switch the audio output first, but since the soundbar is disconnected in Windows while I'm currently in the monitor profile, that audio output doesn't exist in Windows and it fails to switch the profile.

DisplayFusion switches the displays first, connecting the TV and soundbar and then disconnecting the monitors for example, BEFORE trying to switch the audio so it's the only software that works for this use case.

I hope this functionality could be added to Power Display. DisplayFusion is fine, but it is has a hundred other functions I don't need or use. It would be nice to remove it entirely and just have PowerToys installed.

### Supporting information

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

No files or tests are named. Start by tracing the Power Display profile activation flow and how Windows audio output devices are represented; determine how display changes and audio selection should interact. Done means a profile can switch its displays and associated audio output reliably, including devices that are initially disconnected.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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