Drivers for headphones with in-line mic and remote control

Is there a way to get the in-line microphone and remote controller on headphones to work on Windows?

I've got Koss iSpark designed to work with iPhone, but also other smartphones. It has in-line microphone and also push-to-talk button with ability to accept/decline calls and pause/play/next/previous song. Since I use it on my laptop a lot I was wondering if it can be used as a microphone (e.g. for Skype calls) and as a media controller (common practice for keyboards).

I assume some kind of driver would probably be required, at least for the media control part. Yet I haven't found anything useful so far and despite this question being asked before in several situations there was no conclusive answer.

SysGen

Posted 2013-06-14T07:49:16.580

Reputation: 247

Answers

Since this is using them in a way they aren't designed, this may or may not work.

The headphones you are using have more connections on the plug than the standard headphone jack on your computer can handle. Most computers have separate headphone and microphone jacks. So, in order to use them, you would need an adapter like the one below.

enter image description here

Product recommendations are off topic here, so you will have to search for 3.5mm Mic Stereo Audio Y Splitter 1 Female to 2 Male Adapter Cable.

As far as drivers, Windows 7 will likely just recognize it as a generic microphone and headphone. Koss does not provide drivers.

CharlieRB

Posted 2013-06-14T07:49:16.580

Reputation: 21 303

now my computer supports the 3 ring jack. Can I ge the remote to work somehow? – nimsson – 2014-08-14T20:05:23.117

@nimsson You need to ask your own question rather than ask it in a comment of an answer to another question. – CharlieRB – 2014-08-15T11:11:11.643

Ok will do in the future, but this question is asking the same as me, but I am to a further extent. – nimsson – 2014-08-15T20:10:37.560

Thanks for the answer, I will try that out. But as for the media control - is there any way to achieve that? I have a keyboard with keys to control media players (it works with iTunes for instance), would it be possible to associate those actions with the button on the headphones? – SysGen – 2013-06-15T08:42:26.023

I seriously doubt it. That keyboard likely has software or drivers specific to connecting to a PC and performing those functions. Again, you are trying to use these headphones in a way they were not intended, so you may not get all the features you desire. – CharlieRB – 2013-06-17T11:07:55.983

I've finally tested it and can confirm that it's working! Bought myself that cable and both speakers and microphone on my headphones now work with my laptop. Thanks a lot for an advice. Too bad there's no chance to get the remote control to work, but I guess it was a long shot. – SysGen – 2014-01-03T17:10:08.847

This depends on the connector, look at the tip of the headphone jack, and count the stripes:

The jacks on computers (PCs anyway, not Macs!) are typically 3 conductor TRS so they will only work for

left
right
ground (required)

If the connector is 3 stripe (TRRS) and is compatible, the TRRS signalling methods (for volume control, pause / play, etc) depend on the vendor and there literally is no standard for that, as of 2017 anyway.

Jeff Atwood

Posted 2013-06-14T07:49:16.580

Reputation: 22 108

For those of you who have this problem on a Mac running windows via Bootcamp: upgrade to Windows 10. Apple's new BootCamp drivers (win-10 version) support headphones volume control in full.

jazzcat

Posted 2013-06-14T07:49:16.580

Reputation: 268

41. Your suggestion "upgrade to Windows 10" doesn't apply to anyone except a niche group of Mac users who installed Windows on their Macs. 2. Apple's drivers are not helpful in any computer except a Mac running Windows on BootCamp. 3. Headphones and earphones designed for Android won't have volume control ability even on a Mac with Windows 10. 4. You assume everyone has a Mac, BootCamp and Windows license. Oh did I mention that already? – ADTC – 2016-05-31T09:25:29.943

Bonus: The asker did not mention anywhere that the laptop is a Macbook. I hope you didn't infer that from the use of an iPhone :) – ADTC – 2016-05-31T09:34:38.067

@ADTC Yeah, sorry I thought i'm answering a question at https://apple.stackexchange.com/ I'm NOT assuming everyone has a mac. Just confused the sites....

PS. with SE network you always have to run a background thread in your brain, monitoring on which site you're at...

– jazzcat – 2017-05-16T11:34:50.017

Edited the answer – jazzcat – 2017-05-16T11:42:28.243