have gotten "please connect to an audio input device"

Question

I don't know why m computer has stopped any sound coming from my ThinkPad speakers.

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Answer 1

Hi @Tom Burns

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.    

Regarding your issue, since you're on a ThinkPad, this is usually a handshake issue between the Windows drivers and the hardware. 

Here are a few steps you can try: 

1. Check the "Fn" Hardware Mute 

• Press F1 or Fn + F1 to check if the volume is on.

2. Verify the Playback Device 

• Click the Speaker icon in the bottom right taskbar. 
• Click the arrow (>) next to the volume slider. 
• Ensure "Speakers" or "Internal Speakers" is selected, not "Digital Output" or a disconnected Bluetooth device. 

3. Check Device Manager 

• Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. 
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers. 
• Right-click Realtek(R) Audio (or similar) and select Disable device. 
• Wait 5 seconds, right-click it again, and select Enable device. 

Also, please try the steps in the Lenovo support article below to see if it helps solve your issue: Cannot find audio device - ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkStation

(Disclaimer: This is non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.    

Hopefully it will help work with your issue and if you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.       

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Answer 2

If your ThinkPad speakers are not producing sound and you are receiving the message "please connect to an audio input device," there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Audio Drivers: Ensure that your audio drivers are installed and functioning properly. You can do this by opening Device Manager and checking for any issues with the audio drivers. If necessary, visit your device manufacturer's website to download the latest audio drivers for your model.
2. Update or Roll Back Drivers: If your audio drivers are outdated, try updating them to the latest version. Conversely, if the issue started after an update, consider rolling back to a previous version of the driver.
3. Run Audio Troubleshooter: Use the built-in troubleshooter in Windows. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and run the "Playing Audio" troubleshooter to identify and fix any issues.
4. Check Connections: If you are using external speakers or headphones, ensure they are properly connected. If you are using USB audio devices, try unplugging and reattaching them.
5. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, simply restarting your computer can resolve audio issues.

If these steps do not resolve the problem, you may need to look into more specific issues related to your hardware or operating system settings.

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References:

• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A