Start with the simplest thing, which is also the most common: Windows may be sending sound to the wrong device (Solution 1). This happens every time you connect an HDMI monitor, a Bluetooth headset or a dock - the system switches output by itself without saying so. If the right device is selected and there is still no sound, then the driver is the route (Solution 4). If the sound vanished right after a Windows update, go straight there.
What causes this problem
- The wrong output device selected - sound is going to the monitor, to a switched-off headset, or to a virtual output.
- An audio driver corrupted or replaced by a generic one after a Windows update.
- The Windows audio service stopped or stuck.
- Volume at zero, or an app muted individually in the volume mixer.
- A loose connector or a faulty headphone cable - more common than it seems.
- Audio enhancements enabled, which on some cards cause complete silence rather than better sound.
- Test sound in more than one place: a video in the browser, a local file, and the Windows test sound. If it fails in only one app, the problem is that app, not the system.
- Plug in wired headphones to separate a speaker problem from a system problem.
- Check whether the sound icon in the taskbar shows an X - that already indicates a disabled or missing device.
- Recall whether sound stopped after an update, after connecting a device, or after installing a program.
Solutions, in the order to try them
1Check which device is selected as output
This is the number one cause, and the one people check least. Connecting an HDMI monitor, a Bluetooth headset or a dock makes Windows switch the default output by itself - and sound starts coming out of a device you are not using.
- Click the sound icon in the taskbar, then the arrow beside the volume slider.
- Look at the list of available devices and select the one you are actually using.
- If the right device is not listed, open Settings > System > Sound and look under Choose where to play sound.
- Still in Sound, click the device and confirm it is not set to Don't allow (disabled).
2Check the per-app volume
Windows keeps a separate volume for each program, and an app can stay muted indefinitely with no warning at all.
- Right-click the sound icon and choose Open volume mixer.
- Check the master volume and the volume of each open app in the list.
- Raise anything sitting at zero or showing the mute icon.
- Also confirm the volume inside the program itself - video players and browsers have their own control.
3Run the audio troubleshooter
Windows' built-in diagnostic fixes a stopped service, a disabled device and an incompatible format setting on its own. It is quick and resolves a fair share of cases.
- Right-click the sound icon and choose Troubleshoot sound problems.
- Or go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Playing Audio.
- Choose the device that should be playing when it asks.
- Apply the suggested fixes and test again.
4Reinstall the audio driver
This is the route when sound disappeared after a Windows update. The system sometimes replaces the manufacturer's driver with a generic one that does not talk to the card properly.
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device (Realtek, Intel Display Audio or similar) and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart the computer - Windows reinstalls it by itself at startup.
- If that does not fix it, download the audio driver from your laptop or motherboard maker's site, for the exact model.
5Restart the Windows audio services
If the sound icon shows a red X or reports that no device is installed, the audio services may be stuck. Run these in Command Prompt as Administrator, in order.
net stop audiosrv
net stop AudioEndpointBuilder
net start AudioEndpointBuilder
net start audiosrv6Turn off audio enhancements
Audio enhancements promise equalisation and effects, but on some cards they cause exactly the opposite: total silence or distorted sound. Turning them off is a quick, reversible test.
- Open Settings > System > Sound and click your output device.
- Find the Audio enhancements section and set it to Off.
- On the same screen, try changing the Format to something simpler, such as 16 bit, 44100 Hz.
- Test the sound after each change, one at a time, so you know which one fixed it.
Applies to
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 (22H2-24H2) | Confirmed |
| Windows 10 (21H2-22H2) | Confirmed |
| Laptops with Realtek, Intel or Conexant audio | The laptop maker's driver usually works better than the generic Windows one |
Menu names can change slightly between versions. If a step above does not match what you see on screen, the official support page from the manufacturer has the most current wording for your version.
Frequently asked questions
Last checked: Sep 9, 2026 · We review this guide whenever the manufacturer changes the process.