Volume not working

Question

If I click the volume buttons the little bar appears at the bottom of the screen but they don't actually change the volume or make it move and if I manually move the slider with my mouse it doesn't work and my computer is locked at one volume and even plays noise in mute. Please help

Answer 1

Use these steps on Windows 11 to fix volume controls that don’t respond and sound that plays even when muted:

1. Check the selected output device and basic volume
   1. Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
   2. Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider and choose the correct output device (speakers/headphones actually in use).
   3. Make sure the volume slider there is not at 0 and not muted.
2. Check hardware and all volume controls
   1. Verify speaker/headphone cables are firmly connected and in the correct jack or USB port.
   2. Make sure the speakers’ own volume knob (if any) is turned up and not muted.
   3. If headphones are plugged in, unplug them and test again.
3. Check sound settings and device usage
   1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Under Advanced, select More sound settings.
   3. On the Playback tab, select the device in use and choose Properties.
   4. Under Device usage, ensure Use this device (enable) is selected.
   5. Repeat for the Recording tab if needed.
4. Turn off audio enhancements
   1. Go to Start > Settings > Sound.
   2. In Output, select the device in use.
   3. Under Advanced settings, set Audio enhancements to Off.
5. Run the audio troubleshooter
   1. Select Start > Settings > System.
   2. Select Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   3. In the Audio section, select Run and apply any fixes it suggests.
6. Update or reinstall the audio driver
   1. Select Start, type Device Manager, and open it.
   2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   3. Right-click the audio device and select Update driver, then restart.
   4. If the problem persists, uninstall the device from Device Manager, restart, and let Windows reinstall the driver, or install the latest driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer.
7. Reset app and mixer settings
   1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Open Volume mixer.
   3. For each app listed, ensure it isn’t muted and sliders are at reasonable levels.
   4. Use the option to Reset sound devices and volumes for all apps to the recommended defaults if available, then test again.

If the volume still ignores changes and plays sound while muted after these steps, this strongly suggests a faulty audio driver or third-party audio software; reinstalling the OEM audio driver from the device manufacturer’s support site is the next step.

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References:

• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• Fix low or quiet sound in Windows
• No audio with Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
• NO SOUND DEVICE INSTALLED - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• Logitech G560 Speakers detect audio (volume bar moves) but no sound comes out - Microsoft Q&A
• Audio constantly muted - Microsoft Q&A