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No audio: Windows 11, Acer laptop w/Realtek soundcard, USB audio interface, headphones (both wired and bluetooth)

Anonymous
2023-07-07T19:02:17+00:00

UPDATE: This was an issue with my Logitech webcam. I unplugged all my USB devices and plugged them back in, and as soon as the webcam connected, audio dropped.

Hi! I'm right at my wit's end. My speaker icon randomly had an X over it one day a couple of weeks ago, no audio devices found. I rebooted and it operated as expected. Then it happened again, rebooted again, worked again.

Eventually this cycle got frustrating enough that I decided to try real troubleshooting. Before I list the troubleshooting steps I've tried, here's the hardware and software I'm working with:

  • Acer Aspire 5 laptop (this one)
  • Realtek sound with current drivers
  • Intel HD sound (whatever that means) with current drivers
  • Scarlet Focusrite USB audio interface with current drivers

Here's what I've tried:

  • Reboot (obviously)
  • Uninstall and reinstall drivers for all of the above through Device Manager
  • Uninstall and reinstall all software thru Add/Remove Programs
  • Bluetooth headset
  • Headphones plugged into the computer
  • Headphones plugged into the USB interface
  • Speakers built in to my monitor, transmitting via HDMI
  • Uninstalling all of the above (Realtek, Intel, Scarlet) and installing them one at a time
  • I even did a full system restore and didn't recover from backup

After the restore, everything was working as expected until yesterday when I had a meeting on Google Meet. As soon as I clicked into the meeting and my browser asked for permission to access the mic and camera, everything pooped the bed. I got the little X over the speaker icon and no audio devices were found.

I repeated all the troubleshooting steps above, save for the system restore, and now I don't have an X and all my devices are identified in the audio properties, but still no sound. I've tried rebooting and playing an MP3 file to see if maybe it was Chrome causing the issue, but no dice. VLC media player won't even open, and Windows Media Player throws this error:

We can't find an audio playback device. Make sure your headphones or speakers are connected then try again. 0xC00D36FA

This is starting to feel like a hardware issue, but it was so sporadic prior to yesterday that I just want to make sure I'm covering all my bases before I delve into the wild world of laptop repair/replacement.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-07T19:45:36+00:00

    My name is Kenneth. I m an Independent Advisor and fellow consumer of Microsoft products, I will be more than happy to help you. I’m sorry to hear that you are having trouble.

    https://www.technewstoday.com/realtek-audio-dri...

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/upd...

    After installing windows 11 if the sound is not working

    Try windows x

    Go to device manager - Go to sound video and game controllers. Expand it

    Uninstall the sound driver from device manager. Please uninstall all the items below the sound video and game controllers.

    Don’t restart the computer.

    Go to support.acer.com

    chose your country

    type snid or chose your model - chose the drop down below operating system - chose windows 10

    go to drivers

    Install the sound driver

    I hope this helps, please feel free to reply to this if you need any further Assistance.

    Kindly

    Kenneth

    Disclaimer:

    Please note, this is a peer-to-peer support forum meaning I'm just a fellow regular MS Team forum user like you who are trying to help other MS Team forum users with their MS Team issue. So in this case, I'm Non-Microsoft Staff I don't have access to your account nor I'm authorized to do so.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-22T19:33:26+00:00

    Hello m8. so i am searching for a solution more than a month and today i fixed the problem!

    i used the logitec c920 hd pro webcam for streaming on obs studio, first stream perfect

    second stream webcam plugged in the whole windows sounds are disabled and non existent!

    so i went to the device manager on windows system controlpanel

    when you plug in the cam check if the device pops up in camera section!

    now you have to look on audio video and gamecontroller section and find the hd pro webcam c920 do a right click and deactivate the device.

    after that you do the normal audio problem fixing tool and then you could use the logitec webcam + normal realtek sound interface! hope it works and sorry for my bad english :P its been for a while

    P.s try to deactivate the laptop integrated cam/mic

    much love
    MajorKrabbi

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-07T20:01:16+00:00

    Thanks Kenneth! Unfortunately, I tried all those steps multiple times with no success. I tried again just now, still no success. I'll keep waiting for other answers.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-12T01:23:40+00:00

    If you want to use the microphone and cam then just update the audio drive in game controllers section to usb audio device

    I can use my webcam and mic now. Such a pain with so many attempts at fixing this

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