No sound in Windows
Check hardware Many sound problems are caused by hardware that isn't set up properly. This step covers checking your sound card, plugging cables into the correct locations, making sure the hardware has power, and checking the volume.
1. Check your sound card Check to make sure your PC has a sound card, or sound processor, and it's working properly.
Speakers and headphones If you're using external speakers, make sure that they are correctly connected to your PC.
Many PCs have three or more jacks that connect to a sound card or sound processor, including a microphone jack, line-in jack, and line-out jack. Your speakers should be plugged in to the line-out jack. If you're not sure which jack this is, try plugging your speakers in to each of the jacks to see if any of them produce sound.
If you're using headphones, make sure they aren't plugged into the line out (headphone) jack of your sound card or PC (unless you want to be listening with headphones rather than speakers). When you plug in headphones, most PCs automatically cut the sound to the speakers.
HDMI cables
If you’re using an HDMI cable to connect your PC to a monitor with speakers that supports HDMI, you might not be able to hear sound. HDMI cables support audio signals, but not all video cards with HDMI support audio. You might also need to set the HDMI audio device as the default.To check to see if sound is supported over HDMI follow these steps:
Some video cards with HDMI output require you to connect a wire from your video card to the sound device. This usually requires a small wire connection inside your PC from the video card to the sound card. Check the manual that came with your video card for instructions on how this should be done.
If you recently installed a new video card, it's possible that the video card driver installation app set your video card as the default audio device. In this case, you'll need to set your preferred video card as the default audio device to fix the problem. See the earlier instructions for help setting the default audio device.
USB audio devices
If you’re using a USB audio device and also have an internal audio device installed, try these basic troubleshooting steps:
Multiple audio devices
Some PCs might have multiple audio devices. For example, you could buy a new PC and upgrade to a different video card. You would, in most cases, have an onboard video device (a video chip on the motherboard) as well as a secondary inserted video card. You can check for this scenario by looking on your PC for two sets of audio connections.
Laptops and tablets will normally have one set of audio plugs unless you’re using a USB audio device.Follow these steps to check for and set the correct audio device as the default.
Make sure that your speaker volume or headphone volume isn't muted or turned down too low. This is particularly important for laptops and tablets, which often have small speakers that can be hard to hear.
Check hardware Many sound problems are caused by hardware that isn't set up properly. This step covers checking your sound card, plugging cables into the correct locations, making sure the hardware has power, and checking the volume.
1. Check your sound card Check to make sure your PC has a sound card, or sound processor, and it's working properly.
- Open Device Manager by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer up, and then clicking Search), entering Device Manager in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Device Manager. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.
- Double-tap or double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand that category. If a sound card is listed, you have one installed. If no sound card is listed, check the info that came with your PC to see if there's supposed to be a sound card installed. If there should be a sound card installed, you'll need to install one according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Notes- If you think you have a sound card installed but you don't see it under the Sound, video and game controllers category, expand the Other devices category and check the devices listed there.
- Laptops and tablets don't usually have sound cards. Instead, they have integrated sound processors, which appear in the same category in Device Manager.
- If you think you have a sound card installed but you don't see it under the Sound, video and game controllers category, expand the Other devices category and check the devices listed there.
- Press and hold or right-click the name of the sound card, and then tap or click Properties.
- Tap or click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to identify problems with the sound card.
If there's a problem, you might need a new driver for your sound card. For more information, see Step 3: Update drivers.
Speakers and headphones If you're using external speakers, make sure that they are correctly connected to your PC.
Many PCs have three or more jacks that connect to a sound card or sound processor, including a microphone jack, line-in jack, and line-out jack. Your speakers should be plugged in to the line-out jack. If you're not sure which jack this is, try plugging your speakers in to each of the jacks to see if any of them produce sound.
If you're using headphones, make sure they aren't plugged into the line out (headphone) jack of your sound card or PC (unless you want to be listening with headphones rather than speakers). When you plug in headphones, most PCs automatically cut the sound to the speakers.
HDMI cables
If you’re using an HDMI cable to connect your PC to a monitor with speakers that supports HDMI, you might not be able to hear sound. HDMI cables support audio signals, but not all video cards with HDMI support audio. You might also need to set the HDMI audio device as the default.To check to see if sound is supported over HDMI follow these steps:
- Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Search.) Enter Sound in the search box, and then tap or click Sound.
- Tap or click the Playback tab and look for an HDMI device; this will appear as a speaker icon and will be labeled Speakers, followed by the name of the device.
- If you have an HDMI device, tap or click the device, tap or click Set Default, and then tap or click OK.
Changing the audio device might require you to restart your PC.
Some video cards with HDMI output require you to connect a wire from your video card to the sound device. This usually requires a small wire connection inside your PC from the video card to the sound card. Check the manual that came with your video card for instructions on how this should be done.
If you recently installed a new video card, it's possible that the video card driver installation app set your video card as the default audio device. In this case, you'll need to set your preferred video card as the default audio device to fix the problem. See the earlier instructions for help setting the default audio device.
USB audio devices
If you’re using a USB audio device and also have an internal audio device installed, try these basic troubleshooting steps:
- Unplug the USB audio device and restart your audio app. Test for sound using the internal audio device. If you hear sound, there might be problems with the USB audio driver or with Windows not using the USB audio device as the default audio device.
- Close all audio apps, unplug the USB audio device, wait for the USB driver to be uninstalled (this should happen fairly quickly), plug the USB audio device back in to the USB port, wait for the driver to load, and then start the audio app and check for sound.
- Check that you have the correct audio device set as the default in Windows and in the app.
- Check the audio device manufacturer’s website for updated drivers.
Multiple audio devices
Some PCs might have multiple audio devices. For example, you could buy a new PC and upgrade to a different video card. You would, in most cases, have an onboard video device (a video chip on the motherboard) as well as a secondary inserted video card. You can check for this scenario by looking on your PC for two sets of audio connections.
Laptops and tablets will normally have one set of audio plugs unless you’re using a USB audio device.Follow these steps to check for and set the correct audio device as the default.
- Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Search.) Enter Sound in the search box, and tap or click Settings, and then tap or click Sound.
- Tap or click the Playback tab and look for multiple audio devices; these will appear as speaker icons and will be labeled Speakers, followed by the name of the device.
- If you have multiple devices, the default device has a check beside it and is labeled as Default Device.
- If the wrong audio device is listed as the default audio device, tap or click the correct device, tap or click Set Default, and then tap or click OK.
Changing the audio device might require you to restart your PC.
Make sure that your speaker volume or headphone volume isn't muted or turned down too low. This is particularly important for laptops and tablets, which often have small speakers that can be hard to hear.
- Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Search.) Enter Adjust system volume in the search box, and then tap or click Adjust system volume.
- Move the slider up to increase the volume.
Make sure the Mute button isn't turned on. If the button looks like this: , muting is turned off. If the button looks like this: , tap or click it to turn off muting.
- Some laptops and tablets have an external volume control on the outside of the case. If you're using a laptop or tablet, check the external volume control to make sure it's not turned all the way down.