Windows expert Ed Bott finds a useful feature in Windows 7: you can play an external audio device through your computer’s speakers without any extra software using a simple configuration setting.
To activate the setting, you’ll need to plug the device into the Line In or microphone jacks, head to the Sounds panel, and then find the new Listen tab under the input jack. You’ll be able to direct the input from your iPod or other device to play directly from your speakers, an extremely useful feature if you’ve got a nice set of speakers connected to your PC.
Readers will note that you can always play your iPod’s music using iTunes, but this method works even if you connect a friend’s iPod or any other sound input you would like to use—and this method doesn’t require using any software.
Westy
July 31, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Seriously, is this article really necessary?
Report PermalinkYing Lee
July 31, 2009 at 1:50 PM
You can play music from the PC’s line input! No way!
Haven’t we had that capability since Sound Blaster?
Jeez… Windows 7 is scrapping the bottom of the barrel to remarket features that users have always had.
Report PermalinkJack Miriklis
August 7, 2009 at 3:20 PM
I actually use this sometimes, especially if i am at work.
I sync my iPod at home, but rarely charge it. So when my iPod (eventually) dies, I just plug it into my computer at work and let it charge, and continue listening without interruption.
It’s come in handy many times, particularly when I’m listening to an instructional podcast.
Report PermalinkByron Dowell
August 17, 2009 at 3:11 AM
Once again Microsoft bashing WITHOUT understanding. Yes, PC sound hardware has generally had the ability, UNTIL recently. Hardware makers started taking out the circuitry to do this to cut costs for apparently Microsoft had heard a lot of complaints about this and added a software solution that DOES NOT depend on hardware. http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2009/08/04/a-few-of-my-favorite-win7-sound-features-capture-monitor-aka-listen-to.aspx
So for those who think this is nothing well no its not. But its attention to detail that you obviously missed and you’re attacking Microsoft for listening to its customers. Now that’s LAME.
Report PermalinkSteven
September 6, 2009 at 6:15 AM
This is using the headphones/line-in jack, right?
Report PermalinkIs there a way to turn my iPod’s USB connection into a line-in jack, so I don’t have to connect anything else? (My car’s iPod FM-transmitter can do this, shouldn’t my computer do the same?)
Fernando Axmess
October 7, 2009 at 5:11 AM
very useful infomation. windows7 rocks Thanks
Report PermalinkJemi
January 3, 2010 at 6:08 AM
i use this feature to play my xbox 360 on my computer monitor with my computer speakers. win 7 rocks!
Report PermalinkChristopher Kinard
March 10, 2010 at 7:01 AM
Many thanks for this. I knew how to do it back in WinXP days but was lost in Win7.
Glad this feature was not taken out with the psycho crackdowns on music coping.
Report PermalinkPhillip
July 14, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Thanks. To answer another comment, this post was useful – with XP the feature was just there, with 7 (and Vista?), for whatever reason, the whole system has been made much more complicated and I needed pointing in the right direction.
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