Audacity does not recognize Line In

I am trying to set up Audacity (2.3.2) to input (record) a Cassette tape to my Win 10 desktop PC . I must not have some Windows settings correct because Audacity does not recognize my Line In Device and I do not hear anything from my speakers. I have consulted the Help Manual but still no sound. Does anyone have a suggestion?

I must not have some Windows settings correct because Audacity does not recognize my Line In Device

It doesn’t show-up as a Recording Device in Audacity? Does the microphone input show-up? Does the soundcard show-up at all?

Right click on the Windows Speaker/Volume Icon and go to “Open Sound Settings”. See if it shows-up as an “Input device”. You may have to navigate-through some screens to make sure it’s enabled. You can also open the Sound Mixer window if you find line-in there, make sure the line-volume is up and it’s not muted.

…Microsoft keeps changing things and moving things but there is a way to [u]Listen To This Device[/u] without running Audacity or any other application.

Yes in Audacity Line In lists Conexant HD Audio
And when right click speaker, the Line In also lists Conexant HD Audio

I have also tried to use my iPhone iTunes to Line In and also nothing from the speakers

When I turn on the cassette player and open Audacity there is nothing in the window which indicates anything.

Thank you for the suggestion DVDdoug. Also, the link takes me to a Win7 help screen which didn’t seem to help me.

I can’t believe that this is soooo difficult.

Thanks for your help.

I can’t believe that this is soooo difficult.

If “listen to this device” fails, that “narrows it down” to the soundcard, driver, or some Windows setting…

If it’s worth it to you, you can try a USB audio interface. That’s a gamble if it turns-out to be a Windows setting… The popular Behringer UCA202 is about $30 USD (I don’t own one). You can pay more if for a “better” interface with a recording-volume control. You can find something cheaper but I’d suggest something like the Behringer that’s known to work for lots of people… (With higher-end audio interfaces you are mostly paying for “real” microphone preamps for stage/studio microphones and/or multiple inputs which you don’t need, and higher resolution which you probably don’t need.)


Don’t buy a regular “USB soundcard” because they only have microphone-in-and headphone-out (no line-in). …Unless you just want to have it around for “troubleshooting purposes” or as a backup soundcard. (I have one just for troubleshooting, and I used it for awhile when the headphone-connector on my laptop broke.)