Windows 11 is the latest version of Microsoft’s flagship operating system, offering users new features and improvements to enhance their computing experience. However, even with its advanced technology, Windows 11 is not immune to issues and glitches, including the lack of sound.
The absence of sound can be frustrating, especially when users rely on their computers for work or entertainment.
This article will explore some common reasons why sound may not work on Windows 11 and provide solutions to help you troubleshoot and fix the issue.
Why is my computer sound not working?
There are many reasons why your computer sound might not be working. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Volume is muted or turned down: This is one of the most common reasons for no sound on a computer.
- The audio device is disabled: Sometimes, the audio device may have been accidentally disabled or turned off, resulting in this issue.
- Outdated or corrupted audio drivers: Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can also cause sound issues.
- Hardware issues: Faulty speakers or damaged cables can cause sound issues.
- Audio service is not running: Windows has a service called Windows Audio which is responsible for managing sound. If this service is not running, the sound may not work properly.
- Conflicting applications: Some applications may interfere with the audio settings and cause sound issues.
How do I fix no Sound on Windows 11?
1. Manually update your sound device driver
- Hold the Windows + X keys simultaneously and select Device Manager.
- Click the little arrow next to Audio inputs and outputs to display more options, right-click the needed output sound device, and choose Update driver.
- Select the Search automatically for drivers option.
- Next, check if this step has fixed the problem.
2. Use the play audio troubleshooter
- Press the start button in the Windows taskbar and choose Settings.
- Choose Troubleshoot on the system tab.
- Choose Other trouble-shooters to get more troubleshooting options.
- Click the Run button in the Playing Audio troubleshooter option.
- Give some time for the Play audio troubleshooter to detect and fix issues.
3. Modify audio options in settings
- In your taskbar, right-click your audio icon and select the Sound settings.
- Select Choose where to play sound to expand the category.
- Ensure the default sound output device is the one you’re attempting to use. To add your audio device if it isn’t already there, click Add device.
- Select the unmute speaker icon by the volume bar if the sound is muted.
- Increase the volume by dragging the volume bar to the right.
- Select the Mono audio option to enable it.
- Select Volume mixer to display the option below.
- Verify that the volume and System sound is dragged to the maximum for full audio.
- Select System sounds to display more options, and then choose Default on the Output device drop-down menu.
- Ensure the suitable device is selected on the system Output device drop-down menu.
4. Restart Windows audio service
- Right-click the start button in the taskbar and choose Run from the list of options.
- Input services.msc in the Run dialogue box to open Services, and hit Enter.
- Locate and right-click the Windows Audio service and choose Restart.
- Repeat the process above for the Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services.
5. Update your Operating system
- Click the magnifying glass icon and type Windows update in the search bar.
- On the left side of the menu, select Windows update and on the right side click Check for updates.
- If there are any updates available, download and install them.
6. Reinstall your system’s sound output device driver
- Hold the Windows + X keys and select Device Manager.
- Double-click the Audio inputs and output option to see more options, right-click the required output audio device and choose Uninstall device.
- Select Uninstall on the confirmation pop-up menu.
- Finally, reboot your system. This will automatically reinstall a new sound output device driver for your PC.
7. Reset Windows 11
- Select the start menu and choose Settings.
- Choose Recovery in the system tab.
- In the next window, select the Reset PC button.
- In the Reset this PC window, choose the Keep my files option.
- Choose between the Cloud download or Local reinstall download option, and finally, select Reset.
In conclusion, following the solutions listed in this article will help resolve the issue of no sound on Windows 11 and help you get back to enjoying your audio content without any further inconvenience.
Try as many solutions as possible until you find the one that works for you.
Feel free to tell us in the comment section below which of these fixes was most helpful to you.
