Fix 1: Check the Volume and Mute Settings
Before anything else, make sure the volume is not muted or turned all the way down.
- 1Look at the taskbar in the bottom right corner. Click the speaker icon.
- 2Make sure the volume slider is not at zero and the speaker icon does not have an X through it.
- 3If it is muted, click the speaker icon to unmute.
- 4Also check the volume in the program you are using — many apps have their own volume controls.
Tip: Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + A to open the Quick Settings panel, which also shows the volume slider.
Fix 2: Check Which Audio Device Is Selected
Windows can have multiple audio outputs — your speakers, headphones, HDMI audio to a monitor, and Bluetooth devices. If the wrong one is selected, you will hear nothing from the device you expect.
- 1Click the speaker icon in the taskbar.
- 2Click the arrow next to the volume slider.
- 3A list of available audio devices will appear. Select the one you want to use (for example, your speakers or headphones).
Fix 3: Run the Audio Troubleshooter
Windows 11 includes a built-in audio troubleshooter that automatically detects and fixes common problems.
- 1Open Settings (Windows + I).
- 2Click System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
- 3Find Playing Audio and click Run.
- 4Follow the prompts. The troubleshooter will detect issues and suggest or apply fixes automatically.
Fix 4: Check Sound Settings in the Control Panel
Sometimes the default audio device is set incorrectly in the classic Sound settings panel.
- 1Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound settings.
- 2Scroll down and click More sound settings.
- 3In the Playback tab, look for your speakers or headphones. Right-click them and select Set as Default Device.
- 4Click the Recording tab and do the same for your microphone.
- 5Click OK.
Fix 5: Update or Reinstall Your Audio Driver
An outdated or corrupted audio driver is one of the most common causes of sound problems, especially after a Windows update.
- 1Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- 2Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- 3Right-click your audio device (it may say Realtek, Intel, or the name of your computer manufacturer).
- 4Select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.
- 5If that does not help, right-click the device again and select Uninstall device. Restart your computer — Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
Tip: If Windows cannot find an updated driver, visit your computer manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) and search for audio drivers for your specific model.
Fix 6: Check App Permissions for the Microphone
If your microphone works in some apps but not others, the app may not have permission to access it.
- 1Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone.
- 2Make sure Microphone access is turned on.
- 3Scroll down to see a list of apps. Make sure the app you are using (Zoom, Teams, etc.) has microphone access turned on.
Fix 7: Restart the Windows Audio Service
The Windows Audio service can sometimes stop running, causing all sound to disappear. Restarting it takes about 30 seconds.
- 1Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- 2Scroll down to Windows Audio.
- 3Right-click it and select Restart.
- 4Also restart Windows Audio Endpoint Builder the same way.
Fix 8: Check for Windows Updates
A pending Windows update may include a fix for your audio issue, or a recent update may have introduced the problem. Either way, checking for updates is worth doing.
- 1Open Settings → Windows Update.
- 2Click Check for updates.
- 3Install any available updates and restart.