Start with the basics: check volume and mute settings

Before you troubleshoot deeper, verify that your computer is not straightforward muted or turned down. Look at your taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen on Windows, or the top-right corner on Mac). On Windows, click the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner. On Mac, click the volume icon in the top-right corner. If you see a muted symbol (usually a speaker with a line through it), click to unmute.

Check the volume slider itself. Drag it all the way to the right to turn the volume up. Even if you think the volume is already high, move the slider to maximum and test with a video or music player. Many sound problems are straightforward the system volume set too low or muted by accident.

If you have external speakers or headphones plugged in, make sure they are powered on and their own volume controls are turned up. Unplug and replug them to may support a solid connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your system volume and mute button first—most sound problems are the volume turned down or muted by accident.
  • Open your sound settings and confirm your correct audio device is selected as the default playback device.
  • Update or reinstall your audio drivers, which are the software that lets Windows or Mac talk to your speakers or headphones.
  • Restart your computer after making any changes, as sound settings often require a reboot to take effect.
  • If sound works in some programs but not others, check the volume settings within that specific program.

Select the correct audio device in your sound settings

Your computer may have multiple audio outputs—built-in speakers, headphones, external speakers, or a monitor with speakers. If you plugged in headphones or an external speaker, your computer might still be trying to play sound through the built-in speakers, or vice versa.

On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select "Open Sound settings." Scroll down to "Advanced" and click "Volume mixer." Look for the section labeled "Advanced" or "App volume and device preferences." Check that the correct device is listed as the default playback device. If you see a device you do not recognize or want to use, click on it and select "Set as default."

On Mac, click the Apple menu, select "System Settings," then click "Sound." Under "Output," you will see a list of available devices. Click the one you want to use (for example, "External Speakers" or "Headphones"). The selected device will have a checkmark next to it.

Update or reinstall your audio drivers on Windows

Audio drivers are the software that allows Windows to communicate with your speakers or headphones. If your drivers are outdated or corrupted, sound will not work. On Windows, you can update them through Device Manager.

Right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager." Look for "Sound, video and game controllers" and click the arrow next to it to expand the list. You should see your audio device listed (often called "Realtek Audio" or "High Definition Audio Device"). Right-click it and select "Update driver." Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will search for and install the latest version.

If updating does not work, try uninstalling the driver instead. Right-click the audio device and select "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it boots back up. This often fixes corrupted drivers that updating alone cannot repair.

Check for driver updates on Mac

Mac computers rarely have audio driver problems because Apple controls both the hardware and software. However, if you are using external speakers or a USB audio device, the manufacturer may have released a driver update.

Visit the manufacturer's website (for example, Logitech, Bose, or Corsair) and search for your specific model. read any available driver or software update and follow the installation instructions. Restart your Mac after installing.

If you are using a USB audio device and it is not showing up in your Sound settings, try plugging it into a different USB port. Some USB ports on older Macs have less power, and audio devices may not work reliably in them.

Test sound in different programs and check individual app volume

Sometimes sound works in one program but not another. This tells you the problem is not your speakers or system volume, but the program itself. Open a different program—for example, if YouTube has no sound, try playing music in Spotify or a video in Windows Media Player.

If sound works in one program but not another, open the program with no sound and look for its own volume control. Many programs (web browsers, video players, music apps) have a separate volume slider inside the program window. Drag it to the right to turn up the volume within that program.

On Windows, you can also control volume per program. Open Sound settings, click "Volume mixer," and scroll to "App volume and device preferences." Find the program with no sound and check its volume slider. Make sure it is not muted and the volume is turned up.

Restart your computer and test with a fresh browser

After making any changes to sound settings or drivers, restart your computer. Sound settings often do not take effect until you reboot. Shut down completely (do not just sleep), wait 10 seconds, and turn the computer back on.

Once your computer is back up, test sound with a fresh program. If you were testing in a web browser, try a different browser or a different website. Open YouTube or another video site and play a video with sound. If you still hear nothing, move to the next step.

If sound suddenly works after the restart, you are done. If it still does not work, the problem is likely a hardware issue or a driver that needs deeper troubleshooting.

Check for hardware problems and disable audio enhancements

If you have tried all the steps above and still have no sound, the problem may be a loose cable, a broken speaker, or a damaged audio port. Inspect your headphone jack or speaker cable for damage. Try a different pair of headphones or speakers if you have one available. If sound works with different hardware, your original speakers or headphones are broken.

On Windows, you can also try disabling audio enhancements, which sometimes interfere with sound. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, select "Open Sound settings," scroll down to "Advanced," and click "Volume mixer." Find your audio device, click it, and look for an "Enhancements" tab. If you see one, click it and check the box that says "Disable all enhancements." Click "explore" and test sound again.

If you have an external USB audio device, try plugging it into a different USB port or a different computer. This will tell you whether the device itself is broken or whether the port on your computer is damaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my computer have sound in videos but not in games?

Games often use different audio settings than other programs. Open your game's settings menu and look for an "Audio" or "Sound" section. Make sure the volume is turned up and the correct audio device is selected. Some games also have their own mute button. If the game is very old, it may need a driver update or compatibility settings to work with modern Windows.

How do I know if my audio driver needs updating?

Open Device Manager, find your audio device under "Sound, video and game controllers," right-click it, and select "Update driver." If Windows says "The best drivers for your device are already installed," your drivers are current. If it finds an update, install it and restart your computer.

Can I fix sound problems without restarting my computer?

You can try, but most sound fixes require a restart to take effect. If you change drivers, update settings, or uninstall and reinstall audio software, restart your computer afterward. A restart clears temporary files and reloads drivers, which often solves the problem.

What if sound works when I use headphones but not my speakers?

Your computer is probably set to use headphones as the default audio device. Go to your Sound settings, find the "Output" or "Playback" section, and change the default device from "Headphones" to "Speakers." Make sure your speakers are powered on and plugged in, then test again.

Is it safe to uninstall my audio driver?

Yes. Uninstalling a driver does not damage your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall it when you restart. This is often the fastest way to fix a corrupted driver that updating alone cannot repair.