How to Connect a Guitar to a Laptop: Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn what gear you'll need to connect your guitar to your computer

Co-authored by Scott Cushman and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using an Audio Interface

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Using an Amp or Multi-Effects Pedal

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Using a Direct Audio-In Connection

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As technology became more accessible and less expensive, independently recording and editing your own songs and covers became a reality. Today, guitarists of all levels can produce raw recordings or create stylized masterpieces from the comfort of their own home. You don’t need fancy equipment to record your music; just a laptop, a guitar, a few cables, and an audio interface, multi-effects pedal, or an amp with a USB output. This wikiHow article teaches you how to plug a guitar into a PC laptop or MacBook.

What You'll Need to Connect a Guitar to a Laptop

To connect a guitar to a laptop, you'll need to get an audio interface, multi-effects pedal, or amp that connects to the computer via USB. Once you connect the interface, plug your guitar into its audio-in port, select the interface as your audio input, open a DAW like GarageBand or Cubase, and start playing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using an Audio Interface

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1
Buy a USB audio interface. An audio interface is a device that converts analog audio signals into a digital signal for your computer. These devices usually have a combination of XLR, ¼" inputs, and ⅛" inputs, allowing you to connect a guitar, bass, keyboard, and/or microphone. You’ll want to purchase an audio interface that has a dedicated line/instrument input or 48V phantom power settings.^{[1]
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- Audio interfaces can range in price, starting at $50 for a basic audio interface or hundreds of dollars for a device with multiple inputs and professional settings. You can find many audio interfaces on Amazon and online music shops, including:
  - The iRig is a simple option with a single guitar input.
  - The Focusrite Scarlet range offers more robust options with one or more guitar and microphone inputs and built-in headphone amplifiers.
  - Many USB audio interfaces also come with a free DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) you can use to record your guitar, add effects, and more.
2
Download and install a digital audio workstation (DAW). A DAW is software you can use to record and monitor your guitar. The following are some DAWs you can choose from:
- If you have a MacBook, you can record right into GarageBand, which is already installed on your computer.
- Pro Tools by Avid is considered the industry standard for music production. Pro Tools Intro is the free version of Pro Tools.^{[2]
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- Reaper is a good and inexpensive DAW that offers an unlimited free trial. This means you can continue to use it for as long as you want, and you don’t need to pay until you are ready.
- Ableton Live is another popular DAW, known for its intuitive workflow. It's used for both recording and live performance, and the Lite version of the software also comes with many USB audio interfaces (including Focusrite products).
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ASIO is a low-latency audio driver for Windows. If you use the default audio driver on Windows, you will often get a slight delay in the audio monitoring, which is really annoying and makes it almost impossible to record. The ASIO driver can fix that. You can download the ASIO driver for free from ASIO4ALL.^{[3]
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Connect your audio interface to your computer. Use a USB cable to connect your audio interface to your computer. It is recommended that you use a high-speed 3.2 or USB-C cable to connect the audio interface. Some devices may use a FireWire cable or a USB-B-to-USB-A cable.
- Some audio interfaces require you to install drivers or software. If you need to install drivers for your device, you can download them from the manufacturer’s website.
5
Connect the guitar to the audio interface. Use an instrument cable to connect your guitar to a ¼ inch input on your audio interface.
- You can also connect your guitar to any effects pedals you may have. To do so, connect your guitar to your pedals in a chain, the way you usually would when connecting to a guitar amp, then connect the last pedal to the audio interface.
Most audio interfaces have a button you can press to toggle between Line and Instrument (or “Inst”). Set it to the Instrument settings. If the audio interface has a 48V or Hi-Z setting, turning this on will usually produce a better sound.^{[4]
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If there is a pre-amp or gain volume knob on your audio interface, apply just a slight amount. You don’t want to use too much–just enough that your guitar sounds clear.
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Select your audio interface as the audio input device. You can do so in your computer’s audio settings, or in the audio device settings on your digital audio workstation (DAW) or recording software. If your guitar audio interface has multiple inputs, you may need to select the correct input as well.
- To select an audio input device on Windows, click the Windows Start button and click the Settings/Gear icon. Click System followed by Sounds. Then, select your audio interface.^{[5]
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  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
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- To select an audio input device on a Mac, click the Apple icon and select System Settings. Then, click Sounds in the menu bar to the left. Select your input device below “Input.”^{[6]
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- You can generally find the audio device settings in the “Preferences” or “Settings” menu on your DAW or recording software.
- If your DAW gives you the option to select an audio system or audio driver, select ASIO or WASAPI.^{[7]
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- Once your guitar is connected to your computer, you can use VST plug-ins, such as amp sims, to shape your guitar tone. You can find some free effects at plugins4free.com. If you are using a Mac, GarageBand has a variety of free VST plug-ins, including amp sims that come with the program.
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Monitor your guitar. If you want to monitor your guitar, you will need to select a device output. You do so in your DAW's settings or in the audio settings for your computer. You can select your computer speakers, headphones, or audio interface. Most audio interfaces have a headphone jack.
- To monitor your guitar in your DAW, you will need to select a track for your guitar and arm the track for recording. Select the input your guitar is connected to for that track, and then make sure monitoring is enabled on that track.
- If there is a latency delay when you play your guitar, lower the block sample size down to about 128 samples or so.
- If you are using high-gain or distortion and it sounds fuzzy, you probably need to add an impulse response to the end of your effects chain. You can do so in your DAW.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using an Amp or Multi-Effects Pedal

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1
Check if your amp or multi-effects pedal has a USB output. Most multi-effects guitar pedals have a USB audio-out port on the back; some guitar amps may have one too. It may be a USB-A or a USB-C output. Make sure you have the proper USB cable to connect to your computer.
- On some older digital effects pedals, the USB-Out may only be used for firmware updates, but most should allow you to connect to a computer.
- If your amp or multi-effects pedal doesn’t have a USB Out, you can still connect the Line-Out or headphone jack to an audio interface.
- Some popular multi-effects pedals include the Line 6 Helix LT, Line 6 Pod Go, IK Multimedia Tonex Pedal, BOSS GX-10, and BOSS GT-1.
- If drivers are required by your effects pedal, you'll need to download them from the manufacturer or install them when prompted.
Connect it to a free USB port on your computer to connect your amp or multi-effect pedal to your laptop.
3
Download and install a digital audio workstation (DAW). A DAW is software you can use to record and monitor your guitar. The following are some DAWs you can choose from:
- If you have a MacBook, you can record right into GarageBand, which is already installed on your computer.
- Pro Tools by Avid is considered the industry standard for music production. Pro Tools Intro is the free version of Pro Tools.^{[8]
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  Research source}
- Reaper is a good and inexpensive DAW that offers an unlimited free trial. This means you can continue to use it for as long as you want, and you don’t need to pay until you are ready.
- Ableton Live is another popular DAW, known for its intuitive workflow. It's used for both recording and live performance.
4
Select your amp or multi-effects pedal as the audio input device. You can do so in your computer’s audio settings, or in the audio device settings on your digital audio workstation (DAW) or recording software. If your guitar audio interface has multiple inputs, you may need to select the correct input as well.
- To select an audio input device on Windows, click the Windows Start button and click the Settings/Gear icon. Click System followed by Sounds. Then, select your audio interface.^{[9]
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  Trustworthy Source
  
  Microsoft Support
  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
  Go to source}
- To select an audio input device on a Mac, click the Apple icon and select System Settings. Then, click Sounds in the menu bar to the left. Select your input device below “Input.”^{[10]
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- You can generally find the audio device settings in the “Preferences” or “Settings” menu on your DAW or recording software.
5
Monitor your guitar. If you want to monitor your guitar, you will need to select a device output. You do so in your DAW's settings or in the audio settings for your computer. You can select your computer speakers, headphones, or multi-effects pedal. Most multi-effects pedals have a headphone jack.
- To monitor your guitar in your DAW, you will need to select a track for your guitar and arm the track for recording. Select the input your guitar is connected to for that track, and then make sure monitoring is enabled on that track.
- Some amps and multi-effects pedals give you the option of being able to record the dry sound and the processed sound or both at the same time. The dry sound will give you the guitar tone with no effects. This will allow you to apply your own effects or amp sims in your DAW.
- If you are using high-gain or distortion and it sounds fuzzy, you probably need to add an impulse response to the end of your effects chain. You can do so in your DAW.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Direct Audio-In Connection

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1
Locate your computer’s audio-in port. It is possible to connect your guitar directly to your laptop through the device’s audio-in port. This port is typically located on the side of laptops, near the headphone-out port. You may see one of the following icons next to it: a microphone or a circle with two triangles.^{[11]
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- This method generally isn’t recommended as the audio input on your laptop isn’t designed to handle guitar inputs.
2
Purchase the correct cable or adapter. While the average guitar cable has a ¼” phone jack on each end, the audio-in port requires a ⅛” stereo plug. You may purchase a guitar cable with a ¼” phone jack on one end and a ⅛” stereo plug on the other end, OR you may purchase an ⅛” stereo plug adapter to use with your standard guitar cable.
- Your laptop’s audio-in port may require a stereo plug with a TS (Tip/Sleeve) connection or a TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) connection. If you are unsure which tip your computer requires, consult your laptop’s manual.^{[12]
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- If your laptop does not have an audio-in port, you will need to purchase an interface or a special cable that plugs into your audio-out port, also known as a headphone jack. These products allow you to use your audio-out port as an audio-in port. These products are sold at a variety of price points and vary in quality. You may also use these devices with your phone and tablet.
- If your laptop does not have a headphone jack, you can purchase an adaptor that plugs into your USB port.^{[13]
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Insert the ¼” phone jack into your guitar. If you are using a ⅛” stereo adapter, place it over the remaining ¼” phone jack. Insert the ⅛” stereo plug into your laptop’s audio-in port.^{[14]
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4
Test the signal. You can listen to your guitar through your computer’s speakers, a set of external speakers, or a pair of headphones. If you are using external speakers or headphones, insert the speaker cable or headphones into your laptop’s audio-out port. Strum your guitar to test the signal.
- If you are using your laptop’s internal speakers or a pair of headphones, you may notice that the signal is relatively weak. This is due to the fact that the laptop’s audio-in port is not capable of amplifying the signal. A set of external speakers, however, will act as an amplifier.^{[15]
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- You may also experience a significant delay, or a gap between when a sound is input into the computer and when you hear that sound. Before you can hear your instrument, you may need to download and/or open recording software.
- If you can not hear your guitar, open your computer’s sound settings. Make sure your sound is not muted. Make sure the correct port or device is selected (audio-in, audio-out, headphone, microphone, etc.). For specific instructions, consult your computer or device’s manual.^{[16]
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My laptop has a single input jack for the microphone and headphones. How would I connect my electric guitar to my laptop?

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The third method (digital connection) in this article should work the best for you.

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What is the link to the software mentioned in the article?

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They are referring to recording software like Audacity. It's pretty simple and easy to understand. Another example of such software is Amplitude, a program that emulates amplifiers and effect boards/ pedals.

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How do I do away with the latency?

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By using a low latency kerneled operating systems and audio applications designed for the purpose ie: AVLinux, KXStudio, Ubuntu Studio (much better Stabilty wise now, but not sure about the old VST support whines ) with monothithic kernels and low latency apps like Jack, Ardour, "Guitarix" Virtual Amplifier, Rackarack , Burt's Cybernetic continentally joined Twin and effects processing program :) and many Drum machine.Sampler and other great software all quite professional and to all intents and purposes, free. (Read GNU licening documents). Standard operating systems draw to many resources in the desktops amongst other things so are not suitable, as even their CD players often drop out.

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Tips

There are several recording programs to choose from. If you are a Mac user, consider using GarageBand, Logic Express, and Logic Studio; if you are a Windows user, consider using Cubase Essential 5 or Cubase Studio 5.^{[17]
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Make sure you are tuned up before recording!

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Ensure that you've made necessary latency adjustments. Programs like Audacity tend to have latency when recording. Not doing so could cause your recording to be a bit slower/off track.

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