No Output Devices Found on Windows 11: 9 Fixes

The message “No output devices found” appears in Settings > System > Sound when Windows 11 cannot detect any speakers, headphones or other audio output. You may also see a red X on the taskbar speaker icon with the message “No audio output device is installed”. In most cases the device is disabled, its driver did not load, or the Windows Audio service has stopped, so the fix is software rather than a repair. Work through the steps below in order.

What causes “No output devices found” on Windows 11

• The audio device is disabled in Sound settings or Device Manager.
• The audio driver is missing, damaged or was replaced during a Windows update.
• The Windows Audio or Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service is stopped.
• Onboard audio is turned off in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
• Corrupted system files after a failed update.
• A faulty headset, USB audio adapter or HDMI connection (less common).

1. Restart and unplug audio devices

Unplug USB headsets, adapters and docks, then choose Start > Power > Restart. Use Restart rather than Shut down, because Windows 11 uses Fast Startup by default and a normal shutdown can keep a failed driver state. After the PC is back, plug in your audio device and check Settings > System > Sound.

2. Run the audio troubleshooter

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Audio (older versions list it as Playing Audio). Select the device when asked, accept any suggested fix and test again.

3. Check for disabled devices

Open Settings > System > Sound, scroll to Advanced and select All sound devices. If your speakers or headphones are listed as not allowed or disabled, select the device and choose Allow.

You can also use the classic panel. Press Win + R, type mmsys.cpl and press Enter. Right-click an empty area of the Playback list and tick Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices. Right-click your device and choose Enable, then Set as Default.

4. Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
2. Select View > Show hidden devices.
3. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and Audio inputs and outputs.
4. If your audio device shows a down arrow or a warning icon, right-click it and choose Enable device.
5. If the device is missing completely, select Action > Scan for hardware changes.

If no audio device appears anywhere in Device Manager, skip to step 7 and check the BIOS.

5. Restart the Windows Audio services

Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter. Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder. Right-click each one and choose Restart, or Start if it is stopped. Open Properties and set Startup type to Automatic. Restarting Windows Audio Endpoint Builder also restarts Windows Audio, so do that one first if you are asked to confirm.

6. Reinstall or switch the audio driver

In Device Manager, right-click your audio device (for example Realtek High Definition Audio) and choose Uninstall device. Leave the option to delete the driver software unticked, then restart. Windows normally reinstalls the driver on startup.

If that does not work, try the generic Microsoft driver:

1. Right-click the audio device and choose Update driver.
2. Select Browse my computer for drivers.
3. Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
4. Choose High Definition Audio Device and select Next.

If you listen through a monitor or TV over HDMI or DisplayPort, update your graphics driver instead, because that is where the HDMI audio device comes from.

7. Check the BIOS or UEFI audio setting

On desktops especially, onboard audio can be switched off in firmware. Restart the PC and press the setup key during startup (often F2, Del, F10 or Esc). Look for an option such as HD Audio, Onboard Audio or Azalia and set it to Enabled. Save and exit. Menu names vary by manufacturer, so check your motherboard or laptop manual if you cannot find it.

8. Install or remove a recent Windows update

Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates, because a later update may include a corrected audio driver. If the problem began right after an update, open Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates and remove the most recent one, then pause updates for a few days.

9. Repair system files and use System Restore

Right-click the Start button, choose Terminal (Admin), and run these commands one at a time. Each can take several minutes:

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart the PC and test the sound. If it still fails, press Win + R, type rstrui and choose a restore point from before the problem started. System Restore does not delete your personal files.

No output devices found vs No audio output device is installed

These are the same problem shown in two places. “No output devices found” is the message in the Settings app. “No audio output device is installed” is the tooltip on the red X in the taskbar. The same nine steps apply to both.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my computer say no output device found?

Windows cannot see an enabled audio device. The usual causes are a disabled device (step 3), a driver that failed to load (steps 4 and 6) or a stopped audio service (step 5).

Where can I see connected audio devices on Windows 11?

Open Settings > System > Sound for output devices, Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices for paired Bluetooth devices, and Device Manager for the underlying hardware.

Can a Windows update cause this?

Yes. An update can replace the audio driver with a version that does not work with your hardware. Rolling back the driver or removing the update (step 8) often fixes it.

Does this mean my sound card is broken?

Rarely. If the audio device is missing from Device Manager even after scanning for hardware changes, and the BIOS shows no audio device, the hardware may be faulty and you should contact the manufacturer.

When to contact support

If the audio device never appears in Device Manager or the BIOS, or sound is missing on every device you connect, contact your PC maker. For other sound problems, see our guide to fixing no sound on Windows 11, and if your headset is the problem, read Bluetooth headset connected but no sound on Windows 11. More fixes are in our Windows troubleshooting overview.

Official resources

• Microsoft: Fix missing or undetected audio output device in Windows