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What do i do if my computer's sound stops working?

Elise Maranya 0 Reputation points
2026-05-22T21:27:15.3766667+00:00

my computer's sound system suddenly stopped working and im not sure why or how. whether it has something to do with the speakers breaking or it's something else.

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  1. Ferdinand Nanalig 30,525 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-22T22:03:02.1833333+00:00

    Hi! Let me help you.

    Please hover your mouse over the sound icon in the lower-right corner, then right-click it and select Troubleshoot Sound. Let the troubleshooter finish its task, then this should either resolve the problem or display an error message.

    If that doesn't work, we need to remove the Audio driver from the Device Manager and restart the PC to reinstall it.

    Here are the steps to completely remove a Device from your computer.

    Step 1. Use the Windows key + X shortcut.

    Step 2. Select Device Manager.

    Step 3. Expand the entry Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. Right-click the problematic device, which is either Realtek Audio, or AMD High-definition Audio, or High-Definition Audio, depending on the audio device installed in your PC, and select Uninstall device.

    Step 4. You need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device and then click the Uninstall button.

    Step 5. Reboot the computer.

    After the reboot, please see if the problem is fixed.

    If that still does not work, please visit the support website of your laptop or desktop and then download and install the latest Audio driver, then restart the PC.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-22T21:27:30.9333333+00:00

    Use a step-by-step approach to find whether the issue is Windows or the speakers.

    1. Check basic hardware and volume
      • Make sure the speakers/headphones are firmly plugged in and powered on.
      • If using 3.5 mm jacks, confirm they are in the correct port (often green for output, pink for mic).
      • Turn up the volume on both the speakers and in Windows, and make sure nothing is muted.
      • If using USB speakers/headphones, try a different USB port.
      • Unplug any headphones to see if the built‑in or external speakers start working.
    2. Confirm the correct output device is selected
      • On Windows 10: select the Speakers icon on the taskbar, then the arrow to open the list of audio devices. Choose the device that should play sound (e.g., speakers or headphones).
      • On Windows 11: select Start > Settings > System > Sound. In the Output section, select the device that should be used for playback. This also sets it as the default.
      • If using HDMI/USB to a monitor without speakers, make sure that monitor is not selected as the default output.
    3. Turn off audio enhancements (Windows 11)
      • Go to Start > Settings > Sound.
      • Under Output, select the device in use.
      • Scroll to Advanced settings and set Audio enhancements to Off.
    4. Run the audio troubleshooter (Windows 11)
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • In the Audio section, select Run and follow the prompts.
    5. Check Windows Update and restart
      • On Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
      • On Windows 11: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
      • Install available updates, restart the PC, and test sound again.
    6. Update or reinstall audio drivers
      • Open Device Manager (search for “device manager” from the taskbar).
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Right‑click the sound card or audio device (e.g., Realtek, speakers, headphones) and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers (Windows 11) or Search automatically for updated driver software (Windows 10).
      • If no update is found or it does not help, right‑click the device again and select Uninstall device. If available, check Attempt to remove/Delete the driver software for this device, then select Uninstall.
      • Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.
      • If issues started after an update, open the device’s Properties > Driver tab and use Roll Back Driver if available.
    7. If no device is detected at all
      • Open Device Manager and verify that an audio device appears under Sound, video and game controllers.
      • If nothing appears or there is an error icon, install the correct audio driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support site.
      • Run the Playing Audio troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and follow its guidance.

    If, after these steps, Windows shows sound output working (volume bar moves, no errors) but there is still no audible sound from one specific set of speakers while other audio devices work, the issue is likely with that speaker hardware or its own controls/cables.

    References:

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