Win 10 / 11 · Windows

No sound? The four-minute fix

Most 'my PC has no audio' tickets are the wrong output device selected after a driver update or a plugged-in headset.

DifficultyEasy
Time4 min
RiskMedium
ReversibleYes
PlatformWin 10 / 11
UpdatedAug 18, 2026

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Medium risk. This fix changes system settings, services, drivers, startup items or security features — reversible, but taking it back takes some effort or knowledge, and it may temporarily affect stability. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Volume flyout with master slider and an output device list where the headphones option is highlighted

Steps

01
- Click the speaker icon in the taskbar → check the volume slider and that you're not muted; click the arrow to pick the right output (speakers vs headphones vs HDMI)
02
- SettingsSystemSoundopen Volume mixer— sometimes one app is at zero while everything else looks fine
03
- Update or roll back the audio driver:Device ManagerSound controllersright-click your deviceUpdate driver(or Roll back if it broke after an update)
04
- Restart the audio stack: WinR → services.mscfind 'Windows Audio'Restart; do the same for 'Windows Audio Endpoint Builder'

How to verify the fix

Audio plays from the correct output device, and the volume mixer shows no app stuck at zero.

If this didn't fix it

Still silent after restarting the audio services — roll back or update the audio driver; if that fails, test another headset/port to isolate hardware.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

Still stuck? Diagnose my problem Browse all Windows fixes

No sound? The four-minute fix

Steps

✓How to verify the fix

!If this didn't fix it

Related fixes

How to verify the fix

If this didn't fix it