Windows 11 updates are very important, but some of them can do more harm than good. Often, after installing a new update, Windows 11 users report unusual problems like sound not working, no internet, BSOD, etc.
Out of all, the sound stopped working is the most problematic one because it can happen due to various reasons. So, if you’ve been facing the same problem, especially after installing a Windows 11 update, follow along with the guide.
Why is there no sound on Windows 11?
The no-sound problem on Windows 11 can occur for several reasons. Below are some key reasons you should know.
- The Audio is muted.
- The volume level is set to low.
- Audio drivers are missing.
- The audio device is connected to a wrong or faulty port
- The playback device is disabled.
- The audio service is experiencing problems.
- The sound device is faulty.
Now that you know the possible reasons for the problem, it’s time to know how to troubleshoot it. Here’s what you can do.
1. Check if the Audio is Muted
If other members of your family use your PC/laptop, the chances are that they might have reduced the volume level to zero.
So, if the Audio is on mute, it won’t play any sound regardless of whether you use a soundbar or internal speaker. To unmute the sounds, follow the steps below.
1. Open the Action Center by pressing the Windows Key + A button.
2. On the Action Center, click on the Volume icon.
3. Click on the Volume icon behind the volume slider to unmute the sound.
2. Connect the Audio Cable to the Correct Port
If you are still not able to hear the sounds even after unmuting the speakers, you need to check the audio cable connection to your PC.
It is common for users to connect the audio cable to the wrong port, resulting in no sound. The green port on your PC’s cabinet is the audio output port, so the audio output jack must be connected there.
3. Select the Correct Audio Source
After inserting the wire to the correct port, you must choose the right audio source. Follow some simple steps below to select the correct audio source on Windows 11.
1. Press the Windows Key + A button to open the Action Center. Then, click the arrow button next to the volume slider on the Action Center.
2. Now, you can see all available audio devices. You must pick the correct audio source to fix the no sound issue.
4. Enable the Playback device
Since Windows 11 is not entirely free from bugs, users might face issues with the playback devices. Sometimes, the playback device gets disabled due to a bug or incorrect settings. Hence, you must check and enable the correct playback device to fix the no sound issue on Windows 11.
1. Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. On the RUN dialog box, enter mmsys.cpl and hit the Enter button.
2. This will open the playback devices Windows for the sound output. You need to right-click on the appropriate device and select Enable.
3. To confirm whether the device is enabled, right-click the playback device and select the ‘Test‘ option.
This will play the sound through the speakers or headphones you are using. If the sound plays, the playback device is enabled and working fine.
5. Allow Apps to Use your Sound Device
On Windows 11, you can manually enable apps to use specific playback devices. So, if you haven’t granted permission to the apps to use your Audio source, the sound won’t play. Hence, in this method, we will allow apps to use our sound device on Windows 11.
1. Open Windows 11 search and type in Sound Settings’. Open Sound Settings from the list of options.
2. On the Sound Settings page, select the speaker or headphones you are using. Next, click on the Arrow button behind the playback device.
3. Under the General option, click on the Allow option. This will allow apps on your Windows 11 to use this device for audio playback.
4. On the same page, scroll down and disable the ‘Enhance audio’ option.
6. Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter
Like Windows 10, Windows 11 also ships with an Audio Troubleshooter that can detect and fix problems related to audio playback. Hence, we will use the Audio Troubleshooter to fix the no sound issue.
1. Open Windows 11 search and type in Sound Settings. Open Sound Settings from the list.
2. Now scroll down and click on the Advanced section.
3. Under the Advanced settings, click on the Output devices behind the Troubleshoot common sound problems option.
4. Now, Windows 11 will run the Audio troubleshooter and fix the problem.
7. Update or Reinstall the Audio Driver
Sometimes, outdated audio drivers also lead to no sound issues. Hence, you need to check and update the Audio Drivers. Even if the audio drivers were up to date, you need to reinstall the audio drivers.
You must open the Device Manager and expand the Sound, video, and game controllers option to update the driver. Next, right-click on the system sound card and select Update Driver.
If it’s already updated, select the Uninstall device and restart your computer. After the restart, Windows 11 will automatically reinstall the device and its driver.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party driver updater to update your audio drivers.
8. Restart the Windows Audio Services
If there’s still no sound, restart the Windows Audio services. Follow some of the simple steps shared below to restart the Audio Services in Windows 11.
1. First, open the RUN dialog box, type in services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. This will open the Windows Services page. Scroll down to find the Windows Audio Service.
3. Double click on the Windows Audio services and select ‘Automatic‘ under the Startup type. Once done, click on the Start button.
4. After making the changes, click the Apply button and restart your PC.
9. Update the Windows 11 Operating system
As we have mentioned, sometimes, no sound issue is a result of bugs in the system. Therefore, installing Windows 11 seems the best way to fix such things.
To update Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Windows 11 will now automatically download & install the pending updates.
10. Check the Speakers
If all methods fail to fix the sound problem, you might need to check your speaker. If the speaker has any fault, it won’t play any sound.
So, if possible, connect any other speaker to your PC to see if the no sound problem is related to the speaker. If you have a faulty speaker, you must fix or replace it.
11. Switch to Different Audio Formats
Another best way to fix the problem on Windows 11 is to change your speakers’ default format settings. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Click on the Windows Start button and select Settings.
2. When the Settings app opens, switch to the System.
3. On the right side, click on the Sound.
4. Now click on the arrow button beside your current audio device.
5. Click on the Format drop-down and switch to a different format.
You need to test your audio output device with different formats. Once you find the format that enables the sound, stick with it.
12. Disable the Audio Enhancements
Disabling the audio enhancements is another great way to resolve no sound problem on Windows 11. Here’s how to disable the audio enhancements in Windows 11 computers.
1. Click on the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.
2. When the Settings app opens, navigate to the System > Sound > More Sound Settings.
3. Right-click on your connected speaker and select Properties.
4. Now switch to the Enhancmenets tab.
5. Check the Disable all enhancements and click Apply.
We have listed all possible ways to fix no sound issue on Windows 11. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts, let us know in the comment box below.