No Sound From Your PC Speakers? Here's the Fix (2024)

> Microsoft

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This article explains how to fix it when your computer has no sound. The solutions should work with most Windows PCs sold in the last decade.

Why Aren't My Computer Speakers Working?

Dozens of issues can cause your speakers to have no sound, but we can group them into a few broad categories.

• There's a bad physical connection between the computer and the speakers
• A software issue has disabled the computer's sound
• A problem with a driver has disabled the computer's audio hardware
• The speakers or onboard audio hardware have a defect

How Do I Fix It When There's No Audio on My PC?

While the cause of no sound on your computer can vary, the solutions are similar. We recommend you follow these solutions in order, as they move from easy, quick fixes that resolve most sound issues to more specific solutions.

1. Confirm that the speakers are correctly plugged in, and reconnect them to be sure.

   Wired speakers attach to either the headphone jack or a USB port. Check the connection to the computer and the power source (probably the wall). Repair your Bluetooth device if that's how you typically get sound, and confirm that the battery isn't dead.

2. Check the volume and mute settings.

   Select the volume icon on the right side of the taskbar. It will open a slider, which you can slide to the right to increase the speaker volume. Alternatively, use your keyboard's mute, volume-down, and volume-up buttons if you have those controls.

   The volume slider may work independently of the volume dial on your speakers. It's most often true on a desktop PC with external speakers. Be sure to check both!

3. Make sure the correct output device is set up in Windows. For example, if you have headphones and speakers attached, no sound on your speakers might be because it's being directed to the headphones.

   Here's how to check this: Open Settings (Win+i) and search for sound settings. When you see the list of all the output options, select the speakers.

4. Close every open program one by one, especially browsers, media players, and other apps that deal with sound. Check if the sound is working after closing each app. This will isolate any software causing a sound issue.

5. Restart your computer. This process will fix any lingering issues caused by background apps.

6. Run the audio troubleshooter to see if Windows can identify and fix the problem.

   You can do this through Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Select Run next to Audio, then follow the on-screen steps.

7. Enable the audio device in Device Manager. It's possible that you or Windows has completely disabled the computer from outputting audio. Device Manager makes it easy to re-enable the device and get sound back. Look for a disabled device in the Sound, video and game controllers section.

8. Update the audio driver. Doing this will fix issues caused by an out-of-date or malfunctioning driver.

9. Try a different audio device that connects over another audio output. If you're using speakers connected to the audio jack, try a USB headset instead.

   If the new audio device works, there may be a hardware defect with the prior device or the audio output.

10. If the problem persists, it's likely because of a hardware defect. While some older desktop computers may have a sound card, most modern computers use audio hardware built into the motherboard that you can't easily repair. You'll need to contact the computer maker or an independent repair shop.