How to Fix Computer with No Sound on Windows 11

It can be difficult to diagnose no sound in Windows 11 if you often switch between using speakers and headphones, so follow these steps for a better understanding of what the issue could be and what you can do about it.

1. Check the volume level. This is the simplest reason why your computer has no sound, and although it seems like an obvious step, it’s good to check anyway before moving on to the other suggestions below.

Turn up the volume as high as possible on your speakers or headphones, and also check that Windows 11 doesn’t have the sound muted. Down by the clock, select the sound icon, and ensure that the volume level is set to high.

• Double-check that the speakers or headphones are turned on and properly connected to the computer. The sound might work just fine, and your computer volume at max level, but you won’t know it if the speakers are simply off or disconnected.

Some devices connect over Bluetooth and others use a wire, so how you check this depends on your setup:

• Check for a power indicator on the speakers or headphones
  • Look for loose cables
  • Bluetooth devices must be paired to the PC
  • Confirm that the wired device is plugged into the correct port (often called ‘LINE OUT’)
• Set a default output device. If you have multiple audio devices plugged in, such as headphones and speakers, only one will play sounds at any given time. You can switch one of them to be the default device.

Right-click the sound icon from the taskbar and choose Sound settings. From the Output area at the top, select the small circle next to the device you want to hear sound through. The change is immediate, so you’ll know right away if this works.

• Confirm that the software you’re using is configured to relay sound to your device.

For example, if you can’t hear anything in an app like Zoom or Skype, go into the program’s settings to verify the app is set up to use your headset or speakers. Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge let you mute and unmute a specific tab through the right-click menu; be sure to look there, too.

• Restart your computer. If all the above appears normal, there could be pending updates that need to be finished. It could also be a temporary incompatibility issue that’ll be resolved after the restart.

Right-click the Start button and go to Shut down or sign out > Restart.

• Attach the audio device to a different computer, or swap it out for a replacement you know works. The idea here is to see if the problem is with your PC or the hardware itself.

For example, if your speakers don’t work on any computer you try them with, chances are it’s the speakers that are broken. If your headphones work everywhere else but not on your Windows 11 computer, the sound issue is likely related to the OS or some other installed software.

If you have just one computer, take this time to try out alternative ports. If you’re using a headphone jack on your speakers, for example, use the one on your computer instead, or try USB or Bluetooth headphones to help isolate the problem. If you’re used to using a speaker system, unplug it and attach headphones directly to the audio out port to confirm the speakers aren’t causing the sound issue.

• Update Windows with the latest fixes and features. There could be an update that addresses the sound problem.

Open Settings and go to Windows Update to check for and install OS updates. When finished, be sure to restart your PC.

• Undo any recent system changes you think could have caused Windows 11 to stop playing sounds. If you know the sound quit working recently, and you can identify what has changed, you have a good chance of getting the sound back.

Depending on your situation, this could include:

• Uninstall the program, perhaps an audio tool, that tampered with the sound card driver. If this is the fix, try reinstalling the program.
  • Running System Restore
  • Rolling back a driver

If upgrading to Windows 11 is what caused the no sound problem (i.e., it worked before the upgrade), there’s basically a 100 percent chance that is to blame. Fixing the driver (Step 9) is the likely solution.

• Update your PC’s device drivers. A corrupt or missing sound card driver can interfere with proper sounds even if your peripheral devices, like speakers or headphones, are working properly.

Installing drivers is easy with a free driver updater tool.

1. Run the built-in audio troubleshooter to find and fix problems that could be causing the issue.

There are two ways to access it:

• Right-click the taskbar sound icon and choose Troubleshoot sound problems.
  • From Settings, go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and select Run next to Audio.
• Restart audio services. The troubleshooter above might have already done this, but it doesn’t hurt to do it again manually, especially before reaching the final, destructive step below.

Search Windows for Services (or execute services.msc from Run) and then find Windows Audio Endpoint Builder from the list. Right-click it and choose Restart.

1. Reset Windows 11 to return it to its default state with Reset This PC. At this point, after confirming that the hardware and software you’re using are working and set up correctly, erasing all your customizations and reinstalling Windows is your final option for fixing sound problems.

To do this, open Settings and go to System > Recovery > Reset PC.

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