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How to Fix No Sound on Windows 11

By ErrorNest Published Updated 4 min read
No sound on Windows 11 is usually a wrong output device, a muted app or a stopped audio service. Check these in order before touching drivers.
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When Windows 11 plays no sound, the cause is more often a setting than broken hardware: the wrong output device is selected, an app is muted in the volume mixer, or the audio service has stopped. Work through these checks in order, starting with the quickest.

Quick fix: Open Settings > System > Sound, make sure the correct device is chosen under Output, raise the volume and check it is not muted. Then run the audio troubleshooter (step 3).

What causes no sound on Windows 11

  • The wrong output device is selected, for example a monitor or a Bluetooth device that is switched off.
  • The system or a single app is muted or turned down in the volume mixer.
  • The Windows Audio service is not running.
  • An audio driver problem, often after an update.
  • Audio enhancements or exclusive-mode settings that conflict with an app.
  • A loose cable, a faulty headset or a dead speaker.
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1. Check the output device and volume

Open Settings > System > Sound. Under Output, choose the device you actually want to hear, then drag the volume slider up. Open Volume mixer on the same page and check that the app you are using is not turned down or muted.

2. Check the physical connection

  1. Unplug and replug headphones or speakers, and try another port.
  2. If you use Bluetooth, confirm the device is on, charged and connected.
  3. Test the same headphones or speakers on another device to rule out the hardware.
  4. If you listen through a monitor or TV over HDMI or DisplayPort, check the monitor’s own volume and mute setting.

3. Run the audio troubleshooter

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Playing Audio (it may be listed as Audio on your version). Accept any suggested fix, then test again.

4. Restart the Windows Audio services

Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter. Right-click Windows Audio and choose Restart. Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder. If a service is stopped, choose Start and set its startup type to Automatic.

5. Turn off audio enhancements

In Settings > System > Sound, select your output device and set Audio enhancements to off. For exclusive mode, press Win + R, type mmsys.cpl, double-click your device, open the Advanced tab and clear Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device. Select OK and test again.

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6. Update or roll back the audio driver

Right-click the Start button, choose Device Manager, and expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click your audio device and choose Update driver. If the sound stopped right after an update, open the device’s Properties > Driver tab and choose Roll Back Driver if the button is available.

Warning: If you uninstall the device to force a reinstall, do not tick the option to delete the driver software unless you already have the manufacturer’s driver downloaded. Restart afterwards and Windows normally reinstalls a working driver.

On laptops, the manufacturer’s support page often has a newer audio driver than Windows Update does.

No sound through HDMI, a monitor or Bluetooth

If sound is missing only when you use a monitor, TV or Bluetooth device, the usual cause is that Windows is not sending audio to it.

HDMI or monitor speakers

  1. Open Settings > System > Sound and, under Output, select the HDMI or monitor device. It often shows the monitor’s model name.
  2. Raise the volume on the monitor or TV itself and check that it is not muted.
  3. Update the graphics driver, because HDMI audio travels through it.
  4. Try a different HDMI or DisplayPort cable, or a different port.

Bluetooth headphones and speakers

  1. Turn the device off and on, charge it, and make sure it is not connected to another device.
  2. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices, remove the device and pair it again.
  3. After it connects, open Settings > System > Sound and choose it under Output. Windows sometimes connects but keeps playing through the speakers.
  4. If the sound cuts out, move closer and turn off other Bluetooth devices nearby.

Connected but still silent? See Bluetooth headset connected but no sound on Windows 11 for the Stereo and Hands-Free fix.

If Windows says No output devices found and no audio device appears at all, follow our guide to fixing no output devices found on Windows 11.

Frequently asked questions

Why does sound work in headphones but not in the speakers?

Windows is probably sending audio to the wrong device or the speakers are disabled. Check the output list in step 1 and test the speakers with the headphones unplugged.

Why did the sound stop after a Windows update?

An update can replace the audio driver. Try the driver rollback in step 6 or install the manufacturer’s driver.

Only one app has no sound. What should I check?

Look at the volume mixer for that app, then check the app’s own audio output setting.

When to contact support

If sound is missing on every device you connect and the device does not appear in Device Manager, the audio hardware may be faulty. Contact the PC manufacturer. For other Windows problems, see our Windows troubleshooting overview.

Official resources

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