Start with the simplest checks first

Your volume is probably muted or turned all the way down, and you have not noticed. Before you assume something is broken, check three things in this order: look at your keyboard for a mute button (usually marked with a speaker icon with a line through it), press it if it is lit up, then use your volume keys or the volume slider in your system tray to turn sound back up to at least 50 percent.

On Windows, click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar. On Mac, click the speaker icon in the top right corner of the menu bar. Both will show you a slider. If the slider is at zero or if you see a muted symbol, drag it to the middle and test a video or music app to hear if sound returns.

If you hear sound after this step, you are done. If not, move to the next section.

Key Takeaways

  • Muted speakers or a volume slider at zero account for most volume problems, and the fix takes 10 seconds.
  • Windows and Mac both have separate volume controls for system sounds, apps, and individual programs — one can be muted while others work.
  • Unplugging and replugging your headphones or speakers, or restarting your computer, fixes most hardware connection issues.
  • If no sound works anywhere on your computer, check Device Manager on Windows or System Preferences on Mac to see whether your audio device is recognized.
  • A driver update or reinstall usually solves problems where your computer recognizes the audio device but produces no sound.

Check whether the problem is system-wide or just one app

Open two different programs that make sound — for example, YouTube in your web browser and a music streaming app. Try to play sound in each one. If one works and the other does not, the problem is not your speakers or headphones; it is the app that is silent.

Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray (Windows) or click the volume icon in the menu bar (Mac) and look for volume controls by app. Some programs have their own mute button or volume slider inside the app itself — check the settings or preferences menu. If you find a mute button or a slider at zero, unmute it or raise the volume there.

If sound works in one app but not another, restart the silent app. If that does not work, restart your computer. If sound still does not work in that one app after a restart, the problem is with that app, not your audio hardware.

Unplug and reconnect your audio hardware

If you use headphones or external speakers, unplug them from your computer completely. Wait five seconds. Plug them back in. Your computer should recognize them again and automatically switch to that device for audio output.

While the device is unplugged, check the cable for visible damage — bent connectors, frayed wires, or cracks in the plastic. If the cable looks damaged, that is your problem, and you will need a replacement cable or new headphones or speakers.

If the cable looks fine and you have plugged it back in, test sound again. If you still hear nothing, try plugging the device into a different USB port (if it is USB) or a different audio jack (if it is a 3.5 mm headphone jack). Sometimes a single port fails while others work.

Restart your computer

Restart your computer completely. Do not just put it to sleep — shut it down, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. A restart clears temporary problems with audio drivers and resets connections between your computer and audio devices.

After your computer restarts, test sound again before you move to the next step. Many volume problems disappear after a restart.

Check whether Windows or Mac recognizes your audio device

On Windows: Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select "Open Sound settings." Scroll down to "Advanced" and click "Volume mixer." Look for your audio device in the list — it should say something like "Speakers" or "Headphones" or the brand name of your device. If you see it listed, your computer recognizes the hardware. If you do not see it listed at all, your computer does not recognize the device, and you may need a new cable or a driver update.

On Mac: Click the Apple menu, select "System Preferences," then click "Sound." Click the "Output" tab. You should see your speakers or headphones listed. If your device is listed, your computer recognizes it. If it is not listed, your computer does not recognize the device.

If your device is listed but you still hear no sound, move to the next section. If your device is not listed, try unplugging and replugging it again, or try a different cable or port.

Update or reinstall your audio driver

On Windows: Right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager." Look for "Audio inputs and outputs" and click the arrow next to it to expand the list. You should see your audio device listed — usually something like "Realtek High Definition Audio" or "Speakers." Right-click it and select "Update driver." Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will search for a newer version online and install it if one is found. After the update finishes, restart your computer and test sound.

If updating the driver does not work, right-click the audio device again and select "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up. This fixes problems where the driver became corrupted.

On Mac: Audio drivers are built into the operating system and cannot be updated separately. If your audio device is recognized but produces no sound, restart your computer. If sound still does not work after a restart, the device itself may be failing, and you may need a replacement.

Test with a different audio device

If you use headphones, borrow a pair from someone else and plug them into your computer. If you use external speakers, try a different set. If sound works with the borrowed device, your original headphones or speakers are broken and need to be replaced.

If sound does not work with the borrowed device either, the problem is your computer's audio hardware or drivers, not your headphones or speakers. Go back to the Device Manager or Sound settings and check whether your audio device is still listed and recognized. If it is not listed, your computer's audio port or internal audio hardware may be failing, and you may need to take your computer to a repair shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my volume working in one app but not another?

Each app can have its own mute button or volume control separate from your system volume. Check the app's settings or preferences menu for a mute button or volume slider. Some apps also respect your operating system's per-app volume controls — on Windows, right-click the speaker icon and select "Volume mixer" to see whether that app is muted there.

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

Your computer is routing sound to the headphones instead of the speakers. Click the speaker icon in your system tray or menu bar and look for an option to change the output device. Select "Speakers" from the list. If speakers are not listed as an option, your computer does not recognize them — try unplugging and replugging them, or check whether they need to be powered on.

I see my audio device in Device Manager but still hear no sound. What is next?

Right-click the device in Device Manager and select "Uninstall device," then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. If sound still does not work after a restart, try a different audio cable or port. If a borrowed headphone or speaker works fine, your original device is broken.

Does my computer need a BIOS update to fix audio?

Almost never. BIOS updates are rare and usually only needed for security patches or hardware compatibility. Start with driver updates and device restarts. If those do not work, the problem is almost certainly your audio cable, port, or device itself, not your BIOS.