Realtek Audio Console "Cannot Connect to RPC Service" & External Mic Not Detected

[Windows 11]

I have a separate condenser microphone for audio input and an earphone for output. Since my laptop has only one audio port, I use a 3.5mm jack splitter to connect both devices. For this setup to work, Realtek needs to detect it as a headset. However, the external microphone is not being detected—only "Microphone Array" appears as an option. What exactly is "Microphone Array" in the first place?The issue is that the Realtek device selection popup does not appear when I plug in my headset. Instead, the system automatically registers it as a headset, causing my laptop's built-in microphone to be

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