Start with the simplest fixes first
Most computers with no sound are muted, have the volume turned all the way down, or have headphones plugged in when the speaker is expected to play. Before you dig into settings, check three things: look at your keyboard for a mute button (often marked with an X through a speaker), press the volume-up key several times, and unplug any headphones or external speakers. On Windows, click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar and make sure the slider is not at zero. On Mac, click the speaker icon in the top right corner and check the same thing.
If sound returns after one of these steps, you are done. If not, move to the next section.
Key Takeaways
- Muted audio, zero volume, or plugged-in headphones account for most "no sound" problems and take seconds to fix.
- Windows and Mac both have separate volume controls for system sounds, apps, and video playback that can be muted independently.
- A missing or outdated audio driver on Windows will block sound even when volume is turned up.
- Restarting your computer fixes audio problems caused by software glitches about half the time.
- If sound works in one app but not another, the problem is usually that app's own settings, not your computer.
Check whether the problem is system-wide or app-specific
Open a different app and try to play sound. If YouTube plays audio but your video game does not, the problem is in the game's settings, not your computer. If nothing plays sound — no browser, no music player, no system sounds — the problem is system-wide and you should continue with the next sections.
For app-specific problems, look in that app's settings menu for an audio or sound tab. Check that the output device is set to your speakers (not a disconnected headset or external device), that volume is not muted within the app itself, and that audio is turned on. Many games have a separate master volume slider that overrides your system volume.
Windows: check Device Manager for audio driver problems
On Windows, audio drivers are the software that tells your computer how to use your sound card or built-in speakers. A missing or broken driver is one of the most common reasons for system-wide silence. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box.
Look for a category called "Sound, video and game controllers" and click the arrow next to it to expand it. You should see an entry for your audio device — it might say "Realtek High Definition Audio" or "Intel Smart Sound Technology" or something similar. If there is a yellow exclamation mark or red X next to it, the driver is broken or missing. Right-click on it and select "Update driver," then choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will read and install the correct version.
If you do not see an audio device listed at all, or if updating the driver does not work, restart your computer and check Device Manager again. If the device still does not appear, your audio hardware may be disabled in BIOS (the system settings that run before Windows starts), and you will need to restart your computer, press Delete or F2 during startup, and look for an onboard audio or integrated audio setting to turn back on. The exact key and menu location vary by computer manufacturer.
Mac: reset the audio system and check System Settings
On Mac, open System Settings, click Sound in the left sidebar, and look at the "Output" tab. Make sure your speakers or headphones are listed under "Select a device for sound output" and that the volume slider is not at zero. If you see a device you do not recognize or no longer use, select it and then switch back to your built-in speakers.
If sound still does not work, restart your Mac. Many audio problems on Mac clear up after a restart because the audio system gets stuck in a bad state. If restarting does not help, hold down Option and click the Volume icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Look for any device listed under "Select sound output device" that has a red circle with a line through it — that means it is disconnected. Select a working device instead.
Check whether your speakers or headphones are working
Plug your headphones into your computer and see if you hear sound through them. If you do, your speakers are broken or disconnected, not your computer. If you do not hear sound through headphones either, the problem is in your computer's audio system.
If you have access to another computer, plug your speakers into it. If they work on the other computer, they are fine. If they do not work on any computer, they are broken. For built-in speakers on a laptop, you cannot swap them out, so if you hear nothing through headphones either, you are dealing with a software problem on your computer, not a hardware failure.
Restart your computer and run a system update
Restart your computer completely — do not just put it to sleep. Many audio glitches are caused by software that gets stuck, and a full restart clears the computer's memory and reloads everything fresh. Wait for the restart to finish, then try playing sound again.
After restarting, check for system updates. On Windows, open Settings, click "Update & Security," and select "Check for updates." On Mac, open System Settings, click "General," then "Software Update." Install any updates available and restart again if prompted. Audio drivers are often included in system updates, and an out-of-date system is a common reason for sound problems.
Disable audio enhancements and check input/output settings
On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar and select "Open Volume mixer." You should see sliders for different apps and system sounds. Make sure none of them are muted (look for a speaker icon with a line through it) and that all sliders are above zero. If an app is muted here, click the speaker icon next to it to unmute.
Also on Windows, right-click the speaker icon and select "Sound settings." Scroll down to "Advanced" and click "Volume mixer." Check that your default output device is set to your speakers, not "Stereo Mix" or a disconnected device. If you see "Stereo Mix" selected, change it to your actual speakers.
Some Windows computers have audio enhancement settings that can interfere with sound. Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar, select "Open Sound settings," scroll to "Advanced," and click "App volume and device preferences." Look for any app that has a custom output device set. Change it back to "Default" if it is set to something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does sound work in one app but not another?
Each app can have its own volume control and output device setting. Check that app's settings menu for a Sound or Audio tab. Make sure the volume is not muted within the app and that the output device is set to your speakers, not a disconnected headset or external device.
I see a red X on my audio device in Device Manager. What does that mean?
A red X means the driver is broken or disabled. Right-click the device and select "Update driver," then choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." If that does not work, right-click again and select "Uninstall device," then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically on startup.
My headphones work but my speakers do not. How do I switch back to speakers?
On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar and select "Open Sound settings." Under "Output," click the dropdown menu and select your speakers instead of your headphones. On Mac, click the Volume icon in the menu bar, hold Option, and select your speakers from the list.
I restarted and updated Windows but still have no sound. What else can I try?
Uninstall and reinstall your audio driver. Open Device Manager, right-click your audio device, select "Uninstall device," and restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. If that does not work, visit your computer manufacturer's support website and read the latest audio driver for your model, then install it manually.
Can a virus cause my computer to have no sound?
Rarely. A virus is much more likely to cause other problems like slow performance or pop-ups. If your computer has no sound but runs normally otherwise, the problem is almost certainly a muted setting, a disconnected device, or a missing driver — not malware.