No audio device installed

Question

No audio device installed

Peter Mueller 0

I have an older HP laptop, originally with Windows 10 now with Windows 11. After a major update I have no audio = ‘No audio device installed’. So far, I have tried the following:

Step 1: Uninstalled and reinstalled Intel and Realtec drivers from within the Device Manager. Restarted the laptop in the hope that the system would look for and install the required drivers.

Step 2: Uninstalled and then manually reinstalled the drivers. When checked they are apparently the most up-to-date drivers but still not recognised.

Step 3: Right‑clicked the speaker icon in the taskbar → Open Sound settings. No device appears. No other apparent options.

Step 4: Under System – Troubleshoot – Other Troubleshooters è all it comes up with is that I have no device installed.

I also ran an Operating System Check from the HP website, but that could not find any problems either.

Here in Q&A I looked at previous enquiries with this problem, but it seems I have already gone through all the suggestions posted.

Is the only other option to reinstall Windows 11?

Many thanks

4 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Igor Leyko 110.3K Independent Advisor

Did you install Realtek drivers from HP site or from Realtek site? Correct sound drivers are at HP site.

Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-03-02T19:08:39.57+00:00

I used a driver update programme. I imagine it got them from Realtec.

Answer 2

Igor Leyko 110.3K Independent Advisor

Peter, please reinstall sound driver from HP site.

Answer 3

Emma1-N 4,515 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Welcome Peter Mueller,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand how frustrating it can be when a major Windows 11 update on your older HP laptop, the system now shows “No audio device installed” and none of the usual driver reinstallation or troubleshooting steps have restored sound.

So, I can help you faster, could you please confirm the following information

When you check Device Manager, does Sound, video and game controllers show at all, or is the category missing entirely?

In the meantime, you can try the steps below to troubleshoot the issue:

Option 1: Verify Windows audio services

Press Windows key + R > type services.msc > and press Enter
Make sure Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder are set to Automatic and running
If stopped, start them and restart the PC

Option 2: Force hardware re-detection

Open Device Manager from the Start menu
Click Action, then Scan for hardware changes
If Sound, video and game controllers is missing, also check View, then Show hidden devices

Option 3: Roll back the recent Windows update (if still available)

Go to Settings > System > Recovery
Under Recovery options, select Go back if the option is available
Follow the on-screen instructions and restart

The above steps are provided based on the information I have learned so far, I wish that will be helpful to you. If your problem still cannot be solved by these steps, you could tell me about the specific situation in the next reply. I will continue to assist you in solving the problem.

P.S: 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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Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-02-25T15:55:28.8233333+00:00
Hi, thank you for your advice. Unfortunately, it is worse than before.

Yes, 'Sound, video and game controllers' is there and it shows

Intel (R) Display Audio

Realtek (R) Audio

according to the device manager both are running properly and are up-to-date

Option 1: Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder are set to Automatic and are running

Option 2: when I do that the display just flips and then seems to be exactly the same as before. 'Sound, video and game controllers' is still there.

Option 3: Did that, but it did not make any difference to the audio issue. Instead, I can now not even open programmes such as Word, Excel or Outlook. Error code: 0x426-0x0

Reverted back to the latest version = Windows 11, 25H2, but that did neither resolve the audio issue nor bring back Word, etc.

Option 4: I had done that numerous times before with no tangible result. As these are all automated now, I just get stuck in a loop, and I do not get any direct support because the laptop is not in warranty any longer. I did it again on your advice but the outcome was the same = none.
Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-02-25T15:58:41.1366667+00:00

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the HP Audio Diagnostics came up with "No speakers found" and "No microphones found",
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-26T07:27:04.8766667+00:00
Hello Peter Mueller,

I sincerely apologize that the solutions I provided have not helped you resolve the issue. You can try performing an In‑place Upgrade to see if it fixes the problem

Go to Windows 11 website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO)

Once done downloading the ISO, kindly right-click on ISO then click Mount> then Click Setup.exe

You may be prompted by User Account Control. If so, click on Yes.

In the Install Windows 11 dialog, click Next.

Setup will check your PC and show a license agreement. Click on Accept in the license terms dialog.

Wait for the setup program to check for the available free space.

On the Ready to install page, make sure Keep personal files and apps has been checked.

Then click Install and just follow the prompt.

Windows 11 will restart your device several times and lead you to the lock screen. Depending on the options you set, it will keep all your files, apps, and user accounts.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-28T07:13:44.73+00:00

Hello Peter Mueller,

May I know whether your issue has been solved or not?

If not, please share your updates here. We can work together to figure it out.
Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-03-02T19:06:48.7966667+00:00

Apologies, I couldn't get back to you sooner because of other issues.

I am afraid, I still get 'No audio devices installed'.

At least I managed to resurrect Word, etc., but no audio.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-03T07:36:28.0933333+00:00
Hello Peter Mueller,

Thank you for your response. You can try the other ways to see if the issue is resolved.
Restart the laptop

Press F10 (or Esc > F10) to enter BIOS

Look for:

Advanced

Built‑in Device Options

Onboard Audio / HD Audio

Ensure it is Enabled, then save and exit.
Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-03-03T11:50:13.69+00:00

Thank you for continuing to try and help. I got into BIOS but could not find Advanced, etc., although I went through all the tabs.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-04T08:02:31.3933333+00:00
Hello Peter Mueller,

Thank you for your information you provided.

In BIOS, do you see anything at all mentioning Audio, Sound, HD Audio, Azalia, or Onboard Devices?

If you plug in a USB headset or USB sound card, does Windows list it as an output device?
Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-03-04T16:15:03.3666667+00:00

No, I don't see anything like that (see attached images).

I don't have either a USB headset or a USB sound card. When I plugged in a traditional headset I went through all the items in Device Manager but it wasn't listed.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-05T07:36:27.0733333+00:00
Hello Peter Mueller,

I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to help you resolve the issue right away. You can try the following steps:

Go to the support page for your PC on the manufacturer’s website, then download and reinstall the HP audio drivers and graphics drivers provided there.

And if you have already updated the driver, try rolling back to the previous version to see if that works.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-06T06:53:23.83+00:00

Hello Peter Mueller,

Have you had the chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.
Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-03-06T13:38:37.0866667+00:00

I am sorry, I had received a notification email regarding your reply and logged in three times yesterday, but your answer didn't appear.

I'm afraid I had already tried your suggestions several times previously. As my laptop is out of warranty, I only get as far as the automated check features within the HP website, and they tell me I have the latest and best drivers / system elements for my laptop.

I now suspect this is something far more serious and more a hardware issue. That it happened after I cleaned up the system and the drivers was probably just coincidence. Because it is quite an old laptop I do not want to spend a lot of money on IT services at the risk of still ending with an unresolved problem. I have, therefore, decided to buy a new one instead.

Many thanks for not abandoning me and trying for so long to help.
Emma1-N 4,515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-07T02:07:48.25+00:00

Hello Peter Mueller,

Thank you for the update and for sharing the details. I understand your decision, and it makes sense given the circumstances. I appreciate your kind words, and I’m glad I could assist as much as possible.

Wishing you all the best with your new laptop.

Answer 4

Igor Leyko 110.3K Independent Advisor

Hi,

Please run Device manager and show a list of sound devices.

Peter Mueller 0 Reputation points

2026-02-25T15:56:20.4033333+00:00

Thank you for trying to help, but I am not quite sure what exactly you mean.

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No audio device installed

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