How do I get my Windows system sounds to work again?

Question

How do I get my Windows system sounds to work again?

Gina Rose 20

Hi, recently after using the Windows Clock app I noticed that I could not hear the alarm/sound that plays during in between Focus/Break sessions. I then realized that I couldn't hear any notification sounds and any system sounds such as error sound that plays when you try close a Word file without saving it. Not even the sound that plays when you change your volume using the bar in the corner plays anymore.

I've tried a lot of things to fix this, mostly from running the audio troubleshooter and from other online forums:

Tried looking at notification settings for apps (all of them are enabled, including the play a sound setting)
Tried changing the output/input device for System sounds in the volume mixer (only showed default as an option, could not change)
Turned off audio enhancements and spatial sound for my laptop speakers
Tried updating to the latest version of Windows (updated, but still no system sounds were playing)
Tried using my earbuds and my other headphones as output devices instead of the laptop speaker (no difference)
Reinstalled audio device drivers for my headphones, the laptop speaker etc under Sound, video and game controllers through Device Manager (no success)
Looked at the Registry at Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound to check if Beep was set to no (it wasn't)
Checked if the Windows Audio and Audio Endpoint Builder services were running and tried restarting them in the Services window
Ran sfc /scannow in Command Prompt to see if it could fix anything (it came back with nothing)

I even made a new user profile on my laptop to see if I could hear the system sounds there and they were so I'm thinking it's something to do with my main user profile settings? But I'm not sure and can't find anything.

I only realized this happened about a week ago (?) but I didn't pay much attention but now it's getting annoying since I keep overrunning my focus sessions by accident.

If anyone can help it would be much appreciated ^^

Viorel 122.9K Reputation points

2025-06-13T18:46:22.73+00:00

Does the hardware work well in case of video and audio players?
Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-06-14T17:56:21.1033333+00:00

Same here. I may have found a solution, though. I accessed Sound through Control Panel, then selected Sounds and scrolled down to Notifications, clicked on that and selected Windows Default. Then I was able to test it and I got the proper sound.

It looks like everything has been disabled for some reason. Once I re-enabled Notifications, it appears everything reenabled. But I won't be sure until a few messages come in.
Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-06-15T00:59:14.6033333+00:00

UPDATE: My solution didn't work. Situation same as before. One thing I did come across is the possibility it's related to Phone Link, but I don't have the technical ability to fix it. Support recommended uninstalling and reinstalling. I'm trying to avoid that.
Don 20 Reputation points

2025-06-16T12:38:01.9466667+00:00

Having the same problem. Problem started after either one of these updates: 2025-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5060842) or 2025-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5063060).

Sound from Control Panel "test" button makes the correct sound. The windows system is not allowing the sound to play when activated via Windows 11.

Tested with Speakers and Headset and no MS notification sounds. All other sound functions are correct.
Andre Zanoncello 40 Reputation points

2025-06-18T13:04:39.13+00:00

This seems to be related to a recent update in 24H2. I have multiple laptops in my office (Intel, AMD and even ARM based) that are all experiencing the same issue.

Sound drivers and sound does work if you test it, but notification sounds do not make a sound when the notification is triggered. Easiest way to confirm this is to click within the volume bar in the task manager. If you click anywhere on the slider, you should hear a tone, but you do not anymore.
BartolomeKiana-0078 0 Reputation points

2025-06-20T16:15:53.7266667+00:00

I have the same issue problem and it is super bothersome, especially since I use the Windows Clock timers daily. My work desktop is single user so I can't test to see if main user profile issue. I have never use Phone Link but it is installed.

Until there is a solution for this, I've turned on "Flash my screen during audio notifications" in Accessibility > Audio. Unfortunately, this setting only flashes once so it won't be helpful if you happen to be looking away from your screen for a moment.
Bowen Li 10 Reputation points

2025-06-21T14:23:54.8766667+00:00

Same issue! Just notice it. Must be fix
pharwald 5 Reputation points

2025-06-25T20:24:46.96+00:00

Same issue here. I also just noticed it. Sound plays fine in applications but no sound on "program events" and no sound clicking on sound volume slider in task bar. I hope this gets fixed quickly
Kristin Mellon 0 Reputation points

2025-07-07T12:51:36.2033333+00:00

I'm having the same issue as well. My IT department checked everything and found nothing. HAS to be a Microsoft issue. It's very frustrating because I get no sound from Teams and Outlook, both of which I rely heavily upon being in HVAC and having service calls come in.

3 answers

Your answer

Viorel 122.9K Reputation points

2025-06-13T18:46:22.73+00:00

Does the hardware work well in case of video and audio players?
Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-06-14T17:56:21.1033333+00:00

Same here. I may have found a solution, though. I accessed Sound through Control Panel, then selected Sounds and scrolled down to Notifications, clicked on that and selected Windows Default. Then I was able to test it and I got the proper sound.

It looks like everything has been disabled for some reason. Once I re-enabled Notifications, it appears everything reenabled. But I won't be sure until a few messages come in.
Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-06-15T00:59:14.6033333+00:00

UPDATE: My solution didn't work. Situation same as before. One thing I did come across is the possibility it's related to Phone Link, but I don't have the technical ability to fix it. Support recommended uninstalling and reinstalling. I'm trying to avoid that.
Don 20 Reputation points

2025-06-16T12:38:01.9466667+00:00

Having the same problem. Problem started after either one of these updates: 2025-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5060842) or 2025-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5063060).

Sound from Control Panel "test" button makes the correct sound. The windows system is not allowing the sound to play when activated via Windows 11.

Tested with Speakers and Headset and no MS notification sounds. All other sound functions are correct.
Andre Zanoncello 40 Reputation points

2025-06-18T13:04:39.13+00:00

This seems to be related to a recent update in 24H2. I have multiple laptops in my office (Intel, AMD and even ARM based) that are all experiencing the same issue.

Sound drivers and sound does work if you test it, but notification sounds do not make a sound when the notification is triggered. Easiest way to confirm this is to click within the volume bar in the task manager. If you click anywhere on the slider, you should hear a tone, but you do not anymore.
BartolomeKiana-0078 0 Reputation points

2025-06-20T16:15:53.7266667+00:00

I have the same issue problem and it is super bothersome, especially since I use the Windows Clock timers daily. My work desktop is single user so I can't test to see if main user profile issue. I have never use Phone Link but it is installed.

Until there is a solution for this, I've turned on "Flash my screen during audio notifications" in Accessibility > Audio. Unfortunately, this setting only flashes once so it won't be helpful if you happen to be looking away from your screen for a moment.
Bowen Li 10 Reputation points

2025-06-21T14:23:54.8766667+00:00

Same issue! Just notice it. Must be fix
pharwald 5 Reputation points

2025-06-25T20:24:46.96+00:00

Same issue here. I also just noticed it. Sound plays fine in applications but no sound on "program events" and no sound clicking on sound volume slider in task bar. I hope this gets fixed quickly
Kristin Mellon 0 Reputation points

2025-07-07T12:51:36.2033333+00:00

I'm having the same issue as well. My IT department checked everything and found nothing. HAS to be a Microsoft issue. It's very frustrating because I get no sound from Teams and Outlook, both of which I rely heavily upon being in HVAC and having service calls come in.

Answer 1

Andre Zanoncello 40

There is a fix.

Open your registry
go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Does "(Default)" have a value? It should not. Right click on Default and delete.
Sound works right away. No restart or anything required.

Mine had a value of the following. Not sure why this got added at some point in the last few months but it should be blank (value not set) is what it should read. User's image

Kristin Mellon 0 Reputation points

2025-07-07T14:28:32.63+00:00

I sent this to my IT department and they've got it working for me!! Thank you!
Justin Barker 10 Reputation points

2025-07-07T14:57:34.26+00:00

Worked for me as well - thank you :)
BartolomeKiana-0078 0 Reputation points

2025-07-07T15:03:48.4333333+00:00

Worked for me too! Thank you so much!
Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-07-07T15:41:03.61+00:00

Excellent. It worked immediately. Thank you!
Don 20 Reputation points

2025-07-07T15:57:20.7933333+00:00
Fixed my issue! Thanks.

Additional information: Field Breakdown

CrashedSessionId A unique identifier for this particular crash event. It ties together all data—memory dump, log files, and metadata—so you know which files belong to the same failure.

HandlerType: UnHandledExceptionHandler Indicates which error‐handling routine caught the fault. “UnHandledExceptionHandler” means the crash wasn’t managed by the application’s own code and fell back to Windows’ default exception handler.

CrashedAppVersion The version string of the executable that terminated unexpectedly. If empty, the application did not report its version at crash time.

ExceptionCode: 0xc0000005 A standard Windows NTSTATUS code for access violations. It means the process tried to read or write protected memory—often due to a null pointer, buffer overrun, or bad driver interaction.

Why You See ExceptionCode 0xc0000005. Most Likely Causes !

Memory corruption from third-party plugins or extensions [Phone Link???]

software bugs leading to invalid pointer dereferences [24H2 Windows 11 updates???]

faulty or unsigned device drivers [Maybe, not probable for symptoms]

hardware faults (failing RAM, overheating CPU, etc.) [Run Diagnostics to find out]

interference by security tools (antivirus hooks, sandboxing) [Always a risk]

Answer 2

Jody MacKercher 10

This issue has been fixed in the July 8, 2025 Windows 11 24H2 update (KB5062553):

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/july-8-2025-kb5062553-os-build-26100-4652-523e69cb-051b-43c6-8376-6a76d6caeefd

[Multimedia] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where notification sounds didn’t play. Affected sounds included those for on-screen alerts, volume adjustments, and sign-in.

Answer 3

Justin Barker 10

I have the same issue - just found out that our internal IT team have disabled Phone Link - trying to establish time frame to see if they are related. The only other sounds that aren't working for me our things in Outlook main window, such as the alert for Shift+Delete, but Calendar Reminder notifications or Teams inbound calling, all work fine.

Kevin J Rogers 5 Reputation points

2025-06-17T17:58:08.35+00:00

I'm almost certain it's related to Phone Link somehow. It's always been a little (or more than a little) janky, but it's been improving steadily, which tells me they're working on it.

Everything is working fine except for some of the system sounds. And when I did my bi-weekly system cleanup a couple days ago, I got a system sound on restart again. So, I'm sure it will be cleared up soon.
Don 20 Reputation points

2025-06-17T18:38:51.44+00:00

Justin, seeing the same symptoms you describe. I am not on a corporate network or using a server, I am an individual Windows 11 Microsoft Office 365 user. I do have Phone Link v1.25042,96,0 installed.

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How do I get my Windows system sounds to work again?

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