Start with the simplest checks first
Computer sound stops working for one of five reasons: the volume is muted or turned down, the wrong audio device is selected, a cable is loose, a driver needs updating, or Windows has disabled the audio. Before you troubleshoot anything else, check these three things in order.
First, look at your keyboard. Most laptops have a mute button—usually marked with a speaker icon with a line through it. Press it. If an on-screen indicator shows audio is muted, that is your problem. On desktop keyboards, the mute button is often near the top right or built into the volume keys. Second, check the volume slider in the bottom right corner of your screen (the speaker icon in the system tray). Click it and drag the slider all the way up. Third, if you use external speakers or headphones, make sure the cable is plugged in firmly at both ends—wiggle it gently to rule out a loose connection.
Key Takeaways
- Check the mute button on your keyboard, the volume slider in the system tray, and all cable connections before assuming something is broken.
- Windows may have switched your audio output to a device that is not plugged in, like Bluetooth speakers or HDMI, so verify the correct speaker or headphone jack is selected.
- Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and open Sound Settings to see if Windows recognizes your audio device at all.
- Audio drivers update through Windows Update or your computer manufacturer's support website, and a missing or outdated driver is a common cause of silent computers.
- If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark next to audio hardware, the driver is corrupted and needs reinstalling.
Check which audio device Windows is using
Windows can send sound to multiple devices—your built-in speakers, external speakers, headphones, Bluetooth earbuds, or even your monitor if it has speakers. If you plugged in headphones but Windows is still sending sound to your monitor, you will hear nothing from the headphones. Right-click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen and select Open Sound Settings. Under "Output," you will see a dropdown menu showing which device is currently selected.
If the device listed is not the one you want to use, click the dropdown and select the correct one. If the device you want does not appear in the list at all, Windows does not recognize it. Unplug it, wait five seconds, and plug it back in. Windows should detect it within a few seconds. If it still does not appear, the device may be broken, or the cable may be damaged.
Update or reinstall your audio driver
A driver is software that tells Windows how to communicate with your audio hardware. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, Windows cannot send sound to your speakers. The fastest way to update it is through Windows Update. Press the Windows key and type "Update" and select Check for Updates. Let Windows scan and install any available updates, then restart your computer.
If Windows Update does not fix it, you can reinstall the driver manually. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Look for a section called "Sound, video and game controllers" and expand it by clicking the arrow. If you see a yellow exclamation mark next to any item, that is a corrupted driver. Right-click it and select Uninstall device. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up. If you do not see an exclamation mark but audio is still not working, right-click the audio device anyway and select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
Check Device Manager for disabled audio hardware
Sometimes Windows disables audio hardware without warning, especially after a crash or a Windows update. Open Device Manager again (right-click Start and select Device Manager), expand "Sound, video and game controllers," and look at the audio device. If it has a down arrow or a red X next to it, the device is disabled. Right-click it and select Enable device. Wait a few seconds for Windows to turn it back on, then test your sound.
If the audio device does not appear in Device Manager at all, Windows does not recognize your audio hardware. This usually means the driver is missing entirely. Go to your computer manufacturer's support website (search for "[Your computer model] drivers"), find the audio driver for your exact model, read it, and run the installer. Restart your computer when prompted.
Test your audio with the built-in troubleshooter
Windows includes an audio troubleshooter that can catch problems you might miss. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Troubleshoot sound problems. Windows will run through a series of checks and may offer to fix issues automatically. Let it run to completion and follow any prompts it gives you.
If the troubleshooter finds a problem but cannot fix it, it will tell you what the problem is. Write down the error message and search for it online along with your computer model—you may find a specific fix from your manufacturer or from other users who had the same issue.
Check for hardware problems with cables and ports
If you use external speakers or headphones, the problem may be physical. Inspect the cable where it connects to the plug—if you see bent pins, fraying, or corrosion, the cable is damaged and needs replacing. Try plugging the cable into a different port on your computer. Laptops often have multiple audio jacks (one for headphones, one for a microphone input), so make sure you are using the right one. The headphone jack is usually marked with a headphone icon.
If you use Bluetooth speakers or headphones, make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Click the speaker icon in the system tray, look for a Bluetooth toggle, and turn it on if it is off. Then re-pair your device by going to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and selecting your device from the list.
Restart your computer as a final step
After you make any change—updating a driver, enabling a device, or plugging in a cable—restart your computer. Many audio problems do not take effect until Windows restarts. Press the Windows key, click the power icon, and select Restart. Wait for the computer to fully boot up, then test your sound by playing a video or opening a music app.
If you have worked through all these steps and sound is still not working, the audio hardware itself may be broken. At that point, you may need to take your computer to a repair shop or contact the manufacturer's support line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my sound working in some apps but not others?
Check the volume settings inside the app itself—many programs have their own volume slider separate from Windows volume. Also check if the app is muted in Windows. Go to Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer and look for the app in the list. If its volume is at zero, turn it up.
My headphones are plugged in but Windows still shows speakers as the output device. What do I do?
Open Sound Settings, click the output dropdown, and manually select your headphones. If your headphones do not appear in the list, unplug them and plug them back in. Wait a few seconds for Windows to detect them. If they still do not appear, try a different USB port or audio jack on your computer.
I see my audio device in Device Manager but it has a yellow exclamation mark. What does that mean?
A yellow exclamation mark means the driver is corrupted or missing. Right-click the device and select Uninstall device, then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. If that does not work, read the latest driver from your computer manufacturer's website and run the installer.
Can a Windows update cause my sound to stop working?
Yes. Updates sometimes overwrite or break audio drivers. If your sound stopped after an update, try rolling back the driver. Open Device Manager, right-click your audio device, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if that button is available. If it is not, uninstall the device and restart to let Windows reinstall the previous version.
My computer makes sound through the speakers but not through headphones even though they are plugged in. Why?
Windows may not recognize your headphones as a separate device. Try unplugging them and plugging them back in firmly. If that does not work, go to Sound Settings and manually select your headphones from the output dropdown. If they do not appear in the list, the headphone jack may be broken or the headphones may need a driver update.