audio issues

Question

My speaker icon has an X throughout it. I cannot get audio to play

Answer 1

Hello

Is this built in speaker or external one via usb/aux port/bluetooth?

Can you go to Windows Settings > Updates, and make sure you don't have any pending update waiting to finish? If so, let that run through, restart if required, and see if it comes back.

Otherwise, please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then share a screenshot of the pop up please.

Answer 2

Follow these steps in order until audio works again.

1. Confirm the correct output device

• Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
• Select the arrow to open the list of audio devices.
• Choose the device that should play sound (for example, laptop speakers or the speakers/headset actually connected).

2. Check hardware and volume

• Make sure speaker/headphone cables are firmly plugged in and in the correct jack/USB port.
• Ensure speakers are powered on.
• Turn off any mute buttons on the keyboard, speakers, or headset and raise all volume sliders.
• If headphones are plugged in, unplug them and test again.

3. Run the audio troubleshooter

• On Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot > under Find and fix problems, select Playing audio > Run the troubleshooter.
• On Windows 11: Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > in the Audio section select Run. Follow the prompts and apply any fixes it suggests.

4. Restart audio services

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
• Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
• Right-click each > Restart.
• Ensure Startup type is set to Automatic for both.

5. Update or reinstall audio drivers

• Open Device Manager (search for device manager from Start).
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
• Right-click the audio device (for example, Realtek or your PC’s audio name) > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
• If that does not help, right-click the device again > Uninstall device and (if shown) select the option to delete/remove the driver.
• Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.

If the icon still shows an X and says no audio device is installed, install the latest audio driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support site for the exact model, then restart and recheck the output device list.

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References:

• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• No audio with Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
• cannot increase volume even if trouble shooter updates it - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• NO SOUND DEVICE INSTALLED - Microsoft Q&A
• USB audio device not playing
• In Windows 7 a red 'X' may appear over the speaker icon in the notification area even though audio output functions correctly