The problem of no audio on your Windows PC can be pretty troublesome. Sound is essential for different applications you use on your PC. It would help if you looked for basic fixes rather than worrying about the issue. Besides the accidental mute button, you can find many reasons behind no sound on your Windows PC. The following guide helps you learn the reasons for no sound and restore sound to your computer or Windows PC.
Reasons for No Sound on PC
You must have encountered the sound issue on your Windows PC at least once. Why does this happen? If you are looking for a quick solution, you need to look for the causes of the problem. Some notable reasons for no sound on your PC include the following.
- The output device for sound might not have been connected properly. If you haven’t plugged your headphones or speakers into your PC, you will experience no sound issues.
- Disabled audio services
- Corrupt Driver issue if it happened all of a sudden.
- You could have selected another output device as the default sound device.
- Misconfiguration in Windows PC sound settings
Basic Troubleshooting
You can come across numerous reasons for no sound on your Windows PC. However, you can always rely on basic troubleshooting to get started with the solution to your problem. Here are some basic troubleshooting methods to fix the problem of no sound on Windows PC.
- Check your cables, plugs, jacks, volume, speaker, and headphone connections
- Check if Speaker is on Mute (Hardware button)
- Check Bluetooth connection
- Check if App Audio is on mute
Follow the exact things we have given below to resolve your sound issue.
1] Check your cables, plugs, jacks, volume, speaker, and headphone connections
- Check the connections of your speaker and headphone for any possibility of loose cables or cords. Ensure that all the cables and cords are plugged in correctly.
- If you use a surround sound system, then you must ensure that the multiple jacks must be plugged in suitable You can use the hardware manufacturer manual to identify the cables’ correct jacks.
- Ensure you have the power turned on and check the volume controls by turning them up.
- If the problem is not solved, you can try connecting the headphones and speaker to different ports. Sometimes, your speakers might not work when you have plugged in. Try unplugging your headphones and checking whether your speakers work or not.
2] Check if Speaker is on Mute (Hardware button)
Many Windows laptops and PC keyboards feature a dedicated hardware button for the mute option. In most cases, users might have accidentally pressed the mute button on their computers. You can check whether the speaker is on mute by pressing the Function and Mute keys simultaneously. Some keyboards also offer a dedicated Mute button, which you can use directly to unmute your speaker. Another standard option for checking if the speaker is on mute is to use the volume slider you can find on the right side of the taskbar.
3] Check Bluetooth connection
If you are using a Bluetooth speaker, you need to check the Bluetooth connection with the following simple steps.
- Click on the Network icon on the right side of the taskbar and search for the Bluetooth quick setting.
- Select Bluetooth on the quick setting option for turning it on. You can find the Not connected message if the computer has not been paired with Bluetooth accessories.
- Click on the Start button and then access Settings. You can choose the Bluetooth & devices tab in Settings and turn on Bluetooth. Make sure you have the Bluetooth speaker on and paired with your Windows PC.
4] Check if App Audio is on mute
Another common situation in which you cannot hear any sound on your Windows PC would refer to problems in the audio application. You can troubleshoot such issues by using the following steps.
- Reboot your computer and check whether the volume of the app has been muted or turned down. Generally, browsers offer options for muting individual apps.
- If the specific app only showcases the problem of no sound, you should try uninstalling and installing it again. At the same time, you must also pay attention to backing up data and documenting your settings’ existing configuration.
5] Check Privacy Settings for Microphone & Audio
You can also experience troubles with audio on your computer due to the microphone. The best way to deal with the issue is by checking apps that can access the microphone. Here are the crucial steps for reviewing the privacy settings for your microphone.
- Select Settings from the Start menu and then the Privacy & Security tab
- You can find the Microphone option and verify whether Microphone access is active.
- If it’s active, turn on the Let apps access your microphone and select the apps you want to provide access to.
Remember that desktop apps would not feature in the list of apps. You can use the Let desktop apps access your microphone option, although you cannot turn off microphone access in individual apps.
Fixes to Restore sound to My Computer or Windows PC
When the basic troubleshooting methods don’t work for restoring the sound to your Windows PC, you must try the following recommended fixes for the problem.
- Try Different Audio Formats
- Check Speaker Output
- Set Audio device as the default device
- Turn off Audio enhancements
- Run the Audio Troubleshooter
- Restart Audio Services
- Check Sound Settings
- Update Audio Drivers
Follow the exact process given below to resolve your sound issue on your Windows PC. Also, you will need an admin account to execute the suggested steps.
1] Try Different Audio Formats
You can try different audio formats by using the following steps.
- Please type the text Control Panel in the search box on the taskbar and click when it appears in the results. Pick the Hardware and Sound option in the Control Panel window and click on Sound.
- Select and hold the Default Device option in the Playback tab and click on Properties in the next step.
- Modify the setting in the Advanced tab’s Default Format section and click Now. You can test the audio device. You can modify the settings once again if the device does not work.
2] Check Your Speaker Output
It’s always a good idea to check if the speaker volume is not set to mute or low. You can select the appropriate speaker output by using the following steps.
- Click on the Speakers icon on the right side of the taskbar. If you cannot locate the icon on the taskbar, you must click on the Show hidden icons button to find it.
- Make sure to pull the slides to the extreme right
- Play audio and check if this method can restore sound on the computer or Windows PC.
3] Set Your Audio Device as the Default Device
You could select the choice of your speaker as the default audio device if you want to connect to audio devices such as speakers or headphones using HDMI or USB. You can set your desired audio device as the default device on your Windows PC with the following steps.
- Click on the Sound Icon on the Windows Taskbar
- Then click on the arrow button next to the volume slider
- It will reveal the list of the speakers connected to the PC
- Click on the speaker to change the default audio device
Keep playing audio in the background to notice the sound instantly.
4] Turn off Audio Enhancements
Audio enhancements can also serve as one of the causes of sound problems in your computer. You can disable them with the following simple steps.
- Open Windows Settings using Win + I, and navigate to System > Sound
- Click on More sound settings and select the speaker from which you can hear the audio.
- Right-click on the audio device and select properties
- Switch to Advanced Tab and uncheck the box—Enable audio enhancements
- Apply the changes, and check if the sound is restored.
5] Run the Audio Troubleshooter
The audio troubleshooter is a reliable solution for automatically fixing sound problems in your computer. Here are the essential steps you can follow for running the audio troubleshooter.
- Type audio troubleshooter in the search box on the taskbar and select the Find and fix problems with playing sound option in the results. Click on the Next button to move to the next step.
- Choose the device you want to repair with the troubleshooter and click the Next button to start the troubleshooting process.
- You can access the audio troubleshooter directly from audio settings. Access the Settings window from the Start menu and click on System, followed by Sound and then Troubleshoot option.
6] Restart Audio Services
You can try restarting the audio services by using the following easy steps.
- Type services in the search box and choose the option from the results. You can also type services in the Run prompt and press the Enter key to open the Windows Services snap-in.
- Find the services such as Windows Audio, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder individually.
- Right-click on each service and choose Restart. If Restart is missing, stop, and then start it.
Check if this did restore sound to computer or Windows PC.
7] Check Sound Settings
Sometimes you may have your sound settings out of place. You must ensure that your audio devices have not been disabled or muted, or directed to another audio device. Here are the essential steps you can follow to check your sound settings.
- Right-click on the Speakers icon on the right side of the taskbar and click on the Open Volume mixer
- Expand the System sounds and check if the Output device is set correctly. If the audio is not coming from any particular application, check the same for that.
- Lastly, if nothing works, click the Reset button and check if you can listen to the audio.
8] Update Your Audio Drivers
If nothing else works, you may want to update the audio driver or any software that helps enhance the audio device. It can be achieved through Windows Update > Optional Updates or by downloading from the OEM website.
Conclusion
The solutions to your sound problems on the Windows computer or PC can show you the easiest way out of the issue. No matter how troublesome audio problems can become, you must learn how to identify the causes and suitable solutions. You have the advantage of trying out basic troubleshooting methods to restore sound to the computer or Windows PC.
Why Is No Sound Coming Out of My Speakers?
Your speakers might not be producing any sound because of different reasons such as,
- Improperly connected speaker with loose cords and cables
- Faulty, corrupted, or outdated speakers without the latest updates
- Muted audio
- The disabled speaker in the audio settings
How Do I Restart Windows Audio Service?
You can restart the Windows audio services by accessing the Services window with a simple search in the search box on the taskbar. Right-click on the audio services and select the Restart option individually for each service. The three audio services include Windows Audio, Remote Procedure Call or RPC, and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
How Do I Restart My Audio Device? (Not Audio Service)
Following the manufacturer’s instruction manual, you can restart your audio device connected to the computer or Windows PC. Generally, you can turn the power off and on again to restart the audio device.
