Windows 11 · Windows
Fix no sound output in Windows 11
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Select the correct output, check mute and cables, run the audio troubleshooter, then update or reinstall the audio driver if Windows still produces no sound.
Check the selected Windows output device before changing anything
Identify the exact device, app, account, error, and affected feature for the selected Windows output device. Keep the current result visible or record it first, so the page's later actions can be tested against one clear starting point.
Use the supported controls for the selected Windows output device
Follow the specific control path in the next steps and change only the setting or component that matches the observed problem. Do not combine resets, driver changes, account changes, or third-party tools before checking the documented route.
Choose the output
Open the taskbar volume control and select the intended speakers, headphones, HDMI display, or Bluetooth device.
Check hardware and volume
Reconnect cables, confirm power and mute controls, and check both system and app levels in Volume mixer.
Run audio diagnostics
Run the audio troubleshooter in Get Help and install pending Windows updates.
Repair the driver
Update, roll back, or reinstall the audio driver based on when the issue began. Use the device manufacturer's signed driver if required.
Verify the result for the selected Windows output device
System tones and two representative apps play cleanly through the chosen device after restart and reconnection. Repeat the original task once after reopening the relevant app or settings page, so a temporary screen refresh is not mistaken for a completed result.
Narrow down problems with the selected Windows output device
If only one app remains silent, the device disappears, distortion exists on another computer, or driver reinstall returns the same code, stop broad resets and return to the last known state. Capture the exact error, versions, hardware or account scope, and failed step before using the linked official support channel.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the selected Windows output device is unchanged after the documented check, return to the first observed condition and identify whether it affects one app, account, device, or every task before repeating steps.
- If the labels differ after an update or the device is managed, retain the exact condition and use the linked owner source before removing data, resetting Windows, or installing an unrelated tool.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.