How to Fix Windows 10 Sound not Working

Last Updated on April 10, 2022 by Rick Darlinton

The Windows 10 Sound Not Working may occur after you update the Windows 10 OS. It could frustrate standard users. The speaker not working problem in Windows 10 could be related to the sound driver or the audio hardware. Still, there are simple ways to fix sound problems in Windows 10.  If you do not know what those techniques are, then you have come to the right place. We will share the top 10 simple solutions to fix Windows 10 sound issues.

Check the Sound Settings

If there is no sound on a laptop, then there might be something off with its sound settings. We recommend checking the audio settings and all the devices linked to the computer to see if they have been disabled or not. Moreover, you can verify if someone accidentally muted the sound of the system. The solution is as follow:

  1. Right-click on the Speaker icon from the taskbar.
  2. Select “Open Volume Mixer” from the list.
  3. See if the sound is muted or not!
  4. That’s it!

Run the Audio Troubleshooter

If you do not wish to manually check the Windows 10 sound settings, you can let the Audio Troubleshooter. It will find the problem and may help fix the windows 10 sound not working

. The guide to the time-saving technique is stated below:

  1. Click on the Search Bar right next to the Start button, and type “Audio Troubleshooter.”
  2. Select the “Fix and Find Problems with Playing Sound” and launch the utility.
  3. From the new dialogue box, select the Audio Device that is causing the trouble and click on Next.
  4. The Troubleshooter will start to detect any issue with the sound settings.
  5. Identify the problem and follow the instructions mentioned to fix it!

Update Audio Driver

Almost every computer Hardware receives updates frequently to keep up with modern standards. It is up to the user to check now and then if there is any update available for essential devices such as Audio, Network, Mouse, and Keyboard.

The audio device with an older version will start to malfunction, causing the windows sound not working issue if you do not update it in due time. Here are the steps to install the latest version of the generic audio driver.

  1. Open the Device Manager from the Windows 10 Search Bar.
  2. Double-click on “Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
  3. Locate the malfunctioning audio device’s driver before opening it.
  4. Under the Driver tab, click on Update Driver, and select the “Search Automatically for Drivers” option.
  5. Follow the instructions mentioned in the dialogue box and update the driver accordingly.
  6. Restart the PC, and test whether this method has fixed the no sound issue or not!

Set Default Playback Device

If you have recently connected an HDMI cable or external monitor to your laptop, then this latest development could be behind the no sound from computer issue. The system changes the default audio device to the one connected to the monitor. Under such circumstances, you can set the computer speaker as the default playback device. Here are the steps to perform the method:

  1. Head over to the Windows Control Panel and open Hardware and Sound
  2. Click on Sound and select the Playback
  3. From there, locate your audio device, and right-click on it.
  4. Select “Set a Default Device” and click on OK.
  5. Restart the PC and test the sound!

Select the Correct Output Device

Suppose you have multiple audio devices connected to the computer. In that case, the chances are that the sound is playing on a different device. You can fix sound problems in windows 10 by checking the correct output device from the Speaker settings from the taskbar.

Change Default Audio Format

Sometimes changing the bit-depth or audio sample rate from the Sound settings can fix windows speakers not working. This technique is handy after a major Windows update or when you attach an external audio device to the PC. Follow the list mentioned below to change the audio format quickly:

  1. Open the Control Panel and access the Hardware and Sound
  2. Click on Sound and open the Playback tab.
  3. Right-click on the Default Device that you have selected in Part 4, and choose Properties.
  4. Under the Advanced tab, click on Default Format.
  5. You will see a drop-down menu. From there, select a new Sample Rate/Bit-Depth and click on OK.
  6. Test the audio to see if the method worked.

 Review the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC Settings

If your computer supports the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC, then you would have to install it, primarily after a Windows 10 update manually. If you leave it unattended, then it may lead to the problem of windows 10 sound not working. Here are the steps:

  1. Open Device Manager and click on the Sound, Video and Game Controllers
  2. Locate and right-click on the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC.
  3. Click on Update Driver.
  4. Choose the Browse my computer for driver software option and select High Definition Audio Device from the list before clicking Next.
  5. Reboot the PC after installing the CODEC.

Disable All Audio Enhancements

If you have enabled some audio enhancements on your PC, such settings could be the culprit behind the no sound in Windows 10. You can disable the enhancements or effects to make the audio on the computer operational again. Follow the steps listed below to disable all enhancements:

  1. Open Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Sound.
  2. Under the Playback tab, right-click on Default Device.
  3. Open Properties from the list, and select the Enhancements
  4. Check the Disable all Sound Effects option and click on OK.
  5. It will turn on the audio on your Windows PC.

Roll Back Audio Driver in Device Manager

If the most recent audio driver update has caused the no sound problem in Windows 10, you can roll back to the old version using the Device Manager. Simply open the Device Manager and select the audio driver. From there, click on the Driver tab, and enable the Roll Back Driver option. Restart the PC and check the audio.

Uninstall/Reinstall Audio Driver

You can remove and then reinstall the audio driver from the Device Manager utility. This method is beneficial when the latest Audio Driver has some compatibility issues with your PC. Reinstalling the driver will fix it in no time!

Conclusion

Audio is an essential part of any device, no matter PC or smartphone. It could cause an immense level of frustration if the device’s sound stops working. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions to resolve the problem instantly. Now you know the 10 best ways to fix windows 10 sound not working issue. Feel free to apply any technique as they are effortless and free.

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