TL;DR: If there is no sound on Windows 11, start with the basics: check that audio is not muted, pick the right output device in the taskbar’s quick settings, and restart your PC. If that fails, run the audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app, restart the Windows Audio services, turn off audio enhancements, and update, roll back or reinstall the audio driver in Device Manager. Most cases are fixed by the first five steps below; the rest cover HDMI, Bluetooth and corrupted system files.
Few PC problems are as annoying as clicking play and hearing nothing. No sound on Windows 11 can come from something as simple as a muted app or as stubborn as a broken driver after an update. The good news is that you can usually fix it in a few minutes without any extra software. Work through these fixes in order, testing your audio after each one.
Quick checks before you start
These take seconds and solve a surprising number of cases:
- Press the volume-up key on your keyboard and watch the on-screen volume indicator.
- Check physical volume knobs and power on external speakers or headphones.
- Unplug and reconnect wired headphones or speakers, and try a different port.
- Test sound in more than one app, such as a browser video and the Settings sound test, to see if the problem is system-wide.
- Restart the PC. A reboot clears stuck audio services more often than you would expect.
No sound on Windows 11: 10 fixes that work
1. Make sure the right output device is selected
Windows often switches to a different device when you plug in a monitor, dock or headset. Click the speaker icon on the taskbar, then the arrow next to the volume slider, and choose your speakers or headphones. You can also go to Settings > System > Sound and pick the correct device under Output.
2. Check that nothing is muted, including individual apps
In Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer, look at each app’s slider. Windows can mute or lower one app while others play normally, which is why YouTube may be silent while system sounds work. Also check the app itself, since browsers let you mute individual tabs.
3. Run the audio troubleshooter
Microsoft has moved its troubleshooters into the Get Help app. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the audio option, or search “audio troubleshooter” from Start. Microsoft lists this as a first step in its official guide to fixing sound problems, and it can automatically reset settings and services.
4. Restart the Windows Audio services
- Press Windows + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. - Find Windows Audio, right-click it and choose Restart.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- Make sure both are set to Automatic startup type.
5. Turn off audio enhancements
Enhancements can clash with some drivers. Go to Settings > System > Sound, select your output device, and set Audio enhancements to Off. Test again. If sound returns, leave them off or update the driver later.
6. Update the audio driver
Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device (often Realtek, Intel SST or a similar name) and choose Update driver. Also check your PC or motherboard maker’s support site for the latest audio driver, since manufacturer versions are often better than generic ones.
7. Roll back the driver if sound broke after an update
If audio stopped right after a Windows or driver update, open the device’s Properties in Device Manager, go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver if it is available. Microsoft has a dedicated page on audio that stops working after a Windows update.
8. Uninstall and reinstall the audio device
In Device Manager, right-click the audio device, choose Uninstall device, then restart the PC. Windows will detect the hardware and reinstall a driver automatically. Do not tick the option to delete the driver software unless you have a replacement driver ready.
9. Change the audio format
Open Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings, right-click your device, choose Properties > Advanced, and try a different default format such as 24-bit, 48000 Hz. A format your hardware does not handle well can cause silence or crackling.
10. Install updates and repair system files
Check Settings > Windows Update for pending updates, including optional driver updates. If sound is still missing, open Terminal as administrator and run sfc /scannow, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair damaged system files. Restart afterwards.
Fixes by symptom
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Try first |
|---|---|---|
| No sound at all after an update | Driver change | Fix 7 (roll back), then fix 8 |
| Sound works in some apps only | App muted in mixer | Fix 2 |
| Sound goes to monitor or TV instead of speakers | Wrong default device | Fix 1 |
| Red X on the speaker icon | Audio service stopped or device disabled | Fixes 4 and 8 |
| Headphones not detected | Port, cable or driver issue | Quick checks, then fix 6 |
| Crackling or cutting out | Enhancements or format mismatch | Fixes 5 and 9 |
No sound over HDMI or Bluetooth
HDMI and DisplayPort
When you connect a TV or monitor, its speakers may become the default output, or Windows may keep using laptop speakers. Pick the display in the output list (fix 1) and make sure the TV or monitor volume is up and not muted. Updating the graphics driver also matters here, because HDMI audio usually comes from the GPU driver.
Bluetooth headphones and speakers
Remove the device in Settings > Bluetooth & devices, pair it again, and choose it as the output. If Bluetooth itself is acting up, our guide on Bluetooth not working on Windows 11 walks through nine more fixes.
When it might be hardware
If sound fails in every app, with every output, after all ten fixes, test with different headphones or a USB audio adapter. If a USB adapter works, the PC’s built-in audio chip or port may be faulty and need repair. If you also see freezing or other glitches, check our guide on how to fix Windows 11 freezing randomly, since some problems share the same driver causes.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my sound suddenly stop on Windows 11?
The most common reasons are a changed default output device, a muted app, a stopped audio service or a driver change after an update.
Will resetting Windows fix audio?
It can, but it is a last resort. Try every fix above first, and back up your files before resetting.
Bottom line
No sound on Windows 11 is usually a settings or driver problem, not broken hardware. Check the output device and mixer, run the troubleshooter, restart the audio services and sort out the driver, and you will fix the vast majority of cases. For more Windows help, see how to fix Windows 11 stuck on the welcome screen.
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