Hey everybody, welcome back to Crazy Errors! If your Windows computer abruptly goes silent, do not panic. I’m here to walk you through that process, step by step, from the super simple to the much more complex, to solve whatever Audio Issues might be thrown your way. Grab your cup of tea and let me help you fix those annoying Audio Issues on your Windows PC!

Read: How to Turn Off Mouse Acceleration in Windows 11

Before You Start: Make A Restore Point

Make sure to create a restore point to protect your settings before you start tinkering with your system. But if you’re unsure how feel free to check the link to our detailed guide in the resources below. Now, let’s explore the fundamentals in detail.

Basic Checks: Fix Audio Issues on Your Windows PC

Many of the audio problems can be traced back to some basic oversights that even non-tech-geek users make. Here’s what to check first:

1- Check Function Keys (Laptop Users):

The laptop keyboard has built-in special function keys (F1, F2, F3, F4, etc.). Search for a key with the speaker icon and an X, which mutes and unmutes the microphone. Tap it once to check your audio. If not, try pressing it along with the Fn key.

2- Verify Audio Status:

In the lower-left corner of the screen (by the date and time), find the speaker icon. If you don’t see it, click the upward arrow to reveal the hidden icons. Click the speaker icon and, on the pop-up, the mute icon (a microphone) should not be muted. Click on the speaker icon to unmute if the volume is off.

Check and verify the right audio output device:

3- Confirm the Correct Audio Output Device:

• In the speaker pop-up (Windows 11), you can click on the audio device icon to see/change available output devices.
• Or, press Win + I to access Settings, type “sound” into the search box, and choose “Sound settings.” Look at the list of output devices you see on the right and select the right one.

4- Check Media and Applications:

If the device is correct, then check the media file or app you’re using. For example, if a video has no sound, see if the speaker of the player is muted. Tap to unmute or tap and hold the contact to adjust the volume.

These cursory look-sees often seem to address the problem at hand, and no additional troubleshooting is pursued.

How to Fix Audio Issues on Your Windows PC

Part 1: Click on Run the Audio Troubleshooter:

If some basic checks have not resolved your difficulty, try Windows’ audio troubleshooter:

• Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
• Choose “System” on the left, and scroll down on the right to click “Troubleshoot.”
• Select “Other troubleshooters,” find “Audio,” and select “Run.”
• Follow the prompts, tap “Yes” for diagnostics, and allow the system to play a test tone. Do not use your keyboard or mouse in this procedure.

You should hear a beep sound to ascertain that your audio is probably up. If it’s not there, continue to the next step.

Part 2: Restart Audio Services:

There are more systemic problems that refreshing audio services can solve:

• To do so, press Windows + R to launch the Run window.
• Type services. msc and click “OK.”
• Look for “Windows Audio” and “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder” in the list.
• For each service, there, select it, click “Stop” in the upper-left, and then click “Start” again to restart.
• This essentially refreshes your audio stack, so you can try and see if you get sound back.

Part 3: Manage Audio Drivers:

Audio could fail due to old or incorrect drivers. Here’s how to handle them:

• Now, type in “Device Manager” in the search bar and hit Enter.
• Open up “The Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.”
• Right-click each audio driver (such as Intel, Microsoft, Realtek) and click on “Update driver.” Select “Search automatically for drivers.”
• If updates them don’t fix the problem, right-click each driver and choose “Uninstall device,” and confirm. Just reboot your PC, and Windows will reinstall the drivers for you.

Part 4: Turn Off Audio Enhancements:

Audio enhancements can cause problems:

• Press the Windows and “I” keys to display the Settings pane; click “System” and then “Sound.”
• Find your sound playback device, click the arrow to the left of the button, and tap on device properties.
• Scroll down to “Audio enhancements,” click “Device default effects,” and make sure it’s set to “Off.”

Part 5: Update Windows:

Audio issues can be addressed by system updates:

• Press Windows + I, then click “Check for updates.”
• For Windows 10, select the “Show optional updates” link on the Windows Update screen for driver updates.
• For Windows 11, take a look at the “Advanced options” and then “Optional updates,” and install any driver updates you come across.

Part 6: Check Hardware and Ports:

Unplug your headset or external audio device, then plug it back in if you’re using an external audio device. If no sound, please contact our customer service to check whether you need motherboard repair(manual failure) or whether the built-in speakers, headphones, or external speakers are in poor contact.

Part 7: Use System Restore:

If you have any idea which date your audio work last, try to get the system back to that:

• This will display your old system restore points, and you can choose a date to restore to.
• Step through the restore wizard. (For more, read our feature How to use System Restore And restore your PC).

Conclusion:

Most of the audio problems on your Windows PC should be fixed if you follow these steps. And if worst comes to worst, laptop users can use a portable Bluetooth speaker as a workaround to more costly hardware repairs — see our recommendations in our resources section.

If you found this guide helpful, share it, comment , and make sure to subscribe for more tech-related tutorials from Crazy Errors. Have a great day, and I’ll talk to you in the next one!