Why Your Laptop Sound Stopped Working and How to Fix It

Published: 31 Dec 2024

When your laptop’s sound is not working, it’s irritating, especially when you’re on a video call, watching your favorite movie, or listening to music after a long day. “Why does my computer suddenly have no sound, even though the volume is all the way up?” you might wonder.

The issue could be as simple as muted sound, outdated drivers, or a hardware issue. Most sound problems are easy to fix, even if they are caused by a small bug in the software. Our step-by-step guide will explain why your laptop’s sound isn’t working.

Table of Content

Check the Basics First
Restart Your Laptop
Run the Audio Troubleshooter
Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
Check Audio Output Settings
Disable Audio Enhancements
Conclusion

1. Check the Basics First

Before we get into complex troubleshooting, let’s start with the basics. Occasionally the cause of your pc sound not working is as simple as a muted volume or disconnected headphones. Check the volume icon on the right side of the taskbar to ensure it’s not muted. Also, make sure your speakers or headphones are connected properly. This may seem visible, yet it is a typical cause of no sound on the computer.

2. Restart Your Laptop

A fast restart often solves many problems, including when the audio on a laptop is not working. Restarting refreshes the system and removes minor errors that could have caused the Windows sound to stop working. It’s an effortless method that will save you a lot of time.

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3. Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Windows offers a built-in tool to help resolve sound problems in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Follow these instructions:

1. Find the search option on the taskbar and type troubleshoot.

2. Click Troubleshoot Settings.

Windows 10 search results highlighting the option to open troubleshoot settings

3. Select Playing Audio, then run the troubleshooter.

Troubleshoot settings page in Windows with options for resolving audio and connectivity issues

The troubleshooter will examine your system for issues and recommend solutions. This is an excellent alternative for users struggling with no sound from Windows.

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After fixing these issues test our laptop speaker test tool.

4. Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a typical reason for PC sounds not working. To upgrade your audio drivers, follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager by pressing “Windows + X” and choose it.

2. Expand the “Sound, video, and game controllers” section.

3. Right-click your audio device and choose Update Driver.

If the update does not work, uninstall the driver and restart your laptop. Windows will automatically replace the driver, frequently resolving sound problems on Windows 10.

Device Manager access on Windows via Windows + X and right-clicking Intel(R) Display Audio under Sound controllers

5. Check Audio Output Settings

Occasionally the incorrect audio output device is selected, resulting in no audio on the PC. Take these steps:

1. Right-click the volume icon and choose Open Sound Settings.

2. Make sure the correct device is selected in Output.

If you use external speakers, ensure that they are configured as the default device. This technique is particularly helpful when the computer speakers are not working.

6. Disable Audio Enhancements

Audio enhancements are designed to improve sound quality, however they can occasionally cause problems. To disable them:

1. Right-click the volume icon and choose Sounds.

2. Navigate to the Playback tab, then select your device and click Properties.

3. Under the Enhancements tab, select Disable all enhancements.

This tip can help you figure out why your volume isn’t working or if you’re getting crackling audio.

Why is my laptop completely silent?

If your laptop is entirely silent, it could be due to a mute volume, incorrect audio output settings, or outdated drivers. Check the volume icon on your taskbar to confirm it is not muted and that the correct playback device is selected. If the problem continues, try using the Windows audio troubleshooter or updating your audio drivers.

How to unmute laptop sound?

To unmute your laptop, click the volume icon on the taskbar and drag the slider up if it is at its lowest point. You can also use your keyboard’s volume-up key to modify it. If it still doesn’t work, check your sound settings to make sure the speakers are set as the default playback device.

Why is my laptop sound not working without headphones?

If your laptop’s sound works with headphones but not speakers, check the speakers or audio settings. Check to see if your speakers are configured as the default playing device in the sound settings. If it does not work, you can disable audio enhancements or upgrade your audio drivers to resolve the issue.

How do I check if my laptop speakers are working?

Right-click the volume icon and choose Sounds. Go to the Playback tab, select your speakers, and then click Test. If you don’t hear anything, it could be a hardware or software problem.

What are audio enhancements, and should I disable them?

Audio enhancements are features that improve sound quality but can sometimes cause conflicts. You may disable them in the Enhancements tab of your speaker’s properties. This can resolve issues such as crackling audio and muted sound.

Conclusion

Guys, this article provided information about how I can fix the sound on my laptop that isn’t working. Make sure the volume isn’t muted and run the Windows audio troubleshooter as a first step. If none of these work, don’t hesitate to get expert help. If this guide helped you, please share it and check out our other helpful article.