Start with the simplest fixes first

When your computer has no sound, the problem is usually one of three things: the volume is muted or turned down, a cable is loose, or Windows has disabled your audio device. Before you dig into settings, check these three things in order.

First, look at your taskbar in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click the speaker icon. If you see a red X or a line through the speaker, your audio is muted — click it to unmute. If the volume slider is all the way down, drag it to the right. Also check the physical volume buttons on your keyboard if your computer has them; they may have been pressed accidentally.

Second, if you are using external speakers or headphones, unplug them and plug them back in firmly. A loose connection is the most common reason sound disappears. If you are using a USB headset, try a different USB port on your computer.

Third, restart your computer. This fixes audio driver problems more often than you would expect, and it takes five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Check the speaker icon in your taskbar to see if audio is muted or the volume is at zero before troubleshooting anything else.
  • Unplug and firmly reconnect any external speakers or headphones, or try a different USB port if you are using a USB headset.
  • Restart your computer to reload audio drivers, which fixes most sound problems that survive the first two steps.
  • If sound still does not work, open Device Manager and look for a yellow exclamation mark next to your audio device, which means the driver needs updating.
  • If your audio device is missing from Device Manager entirely, a driver has been deleted and you will need to reinstall it from your computer manufacturer's website.

Check Device Manager for a broken or missing audio driver

If your volume is on and your speakers are plugged in but you still have no sound, your audio driver is probably broken or missing. A driver is the software that lets Windows talk to your audio hardware. You can see the status of your driver in Device Manager.

Right-click the Windows Start button in the bottom left corner and select Device Manager. Look for a section called Sound, video and game controllers and click the arrow next to it to expand it. You should see your audio device listed — it might say "Realtek High Definition Audio" or "Intel Smart Sound Technology" or something similar.

If you see a yellow exclamation mark next to the audio device name, the driver is broken and needs updating. Right-click the device and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will read and install the latest version. Restart your computer when it finishes.

If the audio device is not listed at all, the driver has been deleted. You will need to reinstall it. Go to your computer manufacturer's support website — Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, or whoever made your computer — and search for your exact model number. read the audio driver for your operating system (Windows 10 or Windows 11) and run the installer. Restart when finished.

Disable and re-enable your audio device

Sometimes Windows disables your audio device without a yellow exclamation mark showing. You can force Windows to turn it back on by disabling it and then enabling it again.

Open Device Manager again and expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click your audio device and select Disable device. Wait five seconds, then right-click it again and select Enable device. Windows will reload the driver. Test your sound.

If you still have no sound after this, move to the next section.

Check which audio device Windows is using

Your computer may have multiple audio outputs — built-in speakers, HDMI audio, USB audio, and headphone jacks. Windows might be sending sound to the wrong one.

Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar and select Open Volume mixer. Look at the section labeled Output devices. You should see your speakers or headphones listed with a green checkmark next to them. If the checkmark is next to a device you are not using — for example, HDMI audio when you have no HDMI cable plugged in — click on the device you actually want to use and select Set as default.

If you do not see your audio device in the list at all, it may be disabled. Right-click in the empty space below the listed devices and check the box next to Show disabled devices. If your device appears, right-click it and select Enable.

Run the Windows audio troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool that can find and fix common audio problems automatically. It does not solve every problem, but it catches many.

Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar and select Troubleshoot sound problems. Windows will scan your audio setup and show you what it finds. If it detects a problem, it will offer to fix it. Follow the prompts and restart your computer when finished.

If the troubleshooter does not appear in your menu, you can open it manually. Press the Windows key and type troubleshoot audio, then select the result that says Troubleshoot audio playback.

Check your BIOS settings if nothing else works

Your computer's BIOS is the firmware that runs before Windows starts. In rare cases, audio is disabled in the BIOS and Windows cannot turn it back on. This is uncommon, but worth checking if every other step has failed.

Restart your computer and watch the screen carefully as it boots. You should see a message that says something like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Delete to enter BIOS." The key varies by manufacturer. Press that key repeatedly until the BIOS menu opens.

Look for a section called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or Advanced. Find the option for audio or sound and make sure it is set to Enabled. Save your changes and exit. Your computer will restart. This step requires some comfort with technical menus; if you are unsure, skip it and move to the next section.

When to call a professional

If you have worked through all the steps above and still have no sound, the problem is likely a hardware failure — a broken audio chip on your motherboard, a damaged audio jack, or a failed speaker. These problems cannot be fixed by software changes.

At this point, contact your computer manufacturer's support line or take your computer to a repair shop. Have your computer model number ready and be prepared to describe what you have already tried. If your computer is still under warranty, the repair may be covered.

If you are using an external USB audio device — a USB speaker, USB microphone, or USB headset — and it has no sound, the device itself may be broken. Try it on another computer to test. If it works on another computer, the problem is with your first computer's USB ports or drivers. If it does not work on any computer, the device needs replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my audio work in some programs but not others?

A single program may have its own volume control separate from Windows. Open the program and look for a volume slider in its settings or menu. Also check whether the program is set to use a different audio device than the rest of your computer. In Discord, Zoom, and similar apps, this is usually under Settings > Audio.

My headphones work but my speakers do not. What should I do?

Windows is probably set to use headphones as the default audio device. Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar, select Open Volume mixer, and change the default output device to your speakers. If your speakers do not appear in the list, they may not be plugged in or turned on, or their driver may be missing.

I see my audio device in Device Manager but it has a code 43 error. What does that mean?

Code 43 means Windows cannot communicate with the device. Right-click the device, select Uninstall device, and restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. If the error returns, read the latest driver from your computer manufacturer's website and install it manually.

Can I fix audio problems by updating Windows?

Sometimes. Windows updates often include driver fixes. Press the Windows key, type Check for updates, and select that option. Install any available updates and restart. However, if your audio driver is broken or missing, a Windows update alone will not fix it — you will still need to update or reinstall the driver itself.

What if my computer has no sound after I spilled liquid on it?

Do not turn it on. Liquid damage requires professional repair. Take your computer to a repair shop as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more corrosion spreads inside the machine. Do not attempt to dry it yourself with heat.