Audio devices both input and output stopped working

Question

All audio devices, input and output, such as those native to my Dell laptop, Jabra Bluetooth headset, and Bose Bluetooth, no longer work. Dell said that all drivers are up to date. I can pair Bluetooth devices and confirm that they are paired in Settings, but they don't work. What should I do?

Answer 1

Hi Gene, it seems the Windows audio service or driver stack rather than the hardware. Please check that the Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services are running by pressing Win + R, typing services.msc, and checking their status; restart them if needed. If Bluetooth devices pair but produce no sound, remove them completely from Settings > Bluetooth & devices, reboot, and re‑pair to force Windows to rebuild the audio profile. For built‑in audio, reinstall the Realtek or Dell‑provided audio driver manually from Dell’s support site rather than relying on automatic updates. If none of this restores functionality, run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth from an elevated command prompt to repair system files that may have been damaged by updates.

I hope it's helpful. If it does, please Accept Answer or give it a thump up, really appreciate :)

Harry.

Answer 2

If all audio devices, both input and output, are not working on your Dell laptop, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Device Manager: Open Device Manager and ensure that there are no yellow exclamation marks next to your audio devices. If there are, it may indicate a driver issue.
2. Run the Audio Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the Playing Audio troubleshooter. This can help identify and fix common audio problems.
3. Reinstall Audio Drivers: Even if Dell states that the drivers are up to date, try uninstalling and then reinstalling the audio drivers. You can do this in Device Manager by right-clicking on the audio device and selecting "Uninstall device." Then restart your computer, and Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers.
4. Use System File Checker: Open the command prompt with administrative privileges and run the command sfc /scannow. This will check for and repair any corrupted system files that might be affecting audio functionality.
5. Check Bluetooth Settings: Since you mentioned Bluetooth devices, ensure that they are set as the default playback device. You can do this by right-clicking the sound icon in the taskbar, selecting "Playback devices," and ensuring your Bluetooth headset or speaker is set as default.
6. Update Windows: Ensure that your Windows operating system is fully updated, as updates can resolve underlying issues with drivers and system functionality.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider further assistance from Microsoft support or your device manufacturer.

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References:

• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A