I have NO sound

Dear Camilla Barlow, 

Thank you for your question and for sharing the details into Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I understand you currently have no sound and you’re also unable to find anything related to sound on the PC. Have you got the chance to check the AI answer yet? Its advice is excellent and worth a try. To narrow this down, please help me confirm a few details and try the checks below. 

• Which Windows version are you using (Windows 10 or Windows 11)? 
• Is there no sound in all apps (system sounds, music player,...), or only in one specific app? 
• What audio device are you using: built-in speakers, wired headphones, Bluetooth headset, or HDMI/monitor speakers? 
• Do you see a speaker/volume icon on the taskbar? 
• When did it start (after an update, driver installation, or connecting a new device)? 

In the meantime, please try:  

1. Open Sound settings directly 

• Press Windows + R 
• Type: ms-settings:sound 
• Press Enter 
• Under Output, select the correct device and click Test (if available) 

2. Run the built-in audio troubleshooter 

• Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Playing Audio > Run 
• Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Playing Audio > Run 

3. Verify Windows Audio services  

• Press Windows + R > type services.msc > Enter 
• Find and check these services: Windows Audio, Windows Audio Endpoint Builder 
• Status should be Running. If not: 
  • Right-click > Start 
  • Set Startup type to Automatic (if it is not) 

While our initial response may not fully resolve the issue, we truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. 

I hope the steps above help you get sound working again and pinpoint whether the cause is the output device, audio services, or the driver. Wishing you a smooth and trouble-free experience on Windows. 

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

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Open Device Manager, and make sure you've audio drivers installed and properly working.

You can visit your device manufacturer's website to download audio drivers for your system model.

Try updating audio drivers to latest version.

Or if you've already updated them, try to roll back previous version to see if that works.

Run Playing Audio troubleshooter from Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Let us know what it reports back.

If you have no sound on your computer, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Device Manager: Open Device Manager and ensure that your audio drivers are installed and functioning properly. If you see any issues, you may need to update or reinstall the drivers.
2. Update Audio Drivers: Right-click on your audio device (usually found under "Sound, video and game controllers") and select "Update driver" to search automatically for updates.
3. Set Correct Playback Device: Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, select "Open Sound settings," and ensure that the correct output device (like your laptop speakers) is selected.
4. Run Windows Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Sound and use the Troubleshoot option under "Output" to identify and fix any issues.
5. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, audio issues can be resolved with the latest Windows updates, so make sure your system is up to date.
6. BIOS/Firmware Check: Ensure that your BIOS is up to date, as audio initialization can depend on firmware.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may indicate a hardware problem, and you might need to contact support for further assistance.