Windows 10 Sound Not Working: 18 Quick And Easy Methods

Is  Windows 10 Sound Not Working on your PC? This is a common issue faced by many Windows users. 

windows 10 sound not working

If you are one among them, you are in the right place. This article gives you 11 solutions to fix the no-sound issues in Windows 10. 

Reasons For Sound Not Working Issue On Windows 10

  1. A loose or broken audio jack.
  2. Any recent changes are done in the computer’s settings. 
  3. The issue with the microphone or speaker. 
  4. Malware attack on your system’s audio components. 
  5. Hardware or system configuration issue. 
  6. Using an outdated driver.

Solutions to Fix Windows 10 Sound Not Working Issue

  1. Check the Audio Connection
  2. Check For Updates
  3. Restart the System
  4. Restart the Windows Audio Services
  5. Run the Inbuilt Troubleshooter
  6. Check the Sound Settings
  7. Check the Default Input and Output For Audio
  8. Disable the Audio Enhancements
  9. Update the Installed Audio Drivers
  10. Check the App Permissions For Microphone
  11. Update the BIOS
  12. Roll Back the Audio Drivers
  13. Update the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC
  14. Fix Realtek High Definition Audio Problems
  15. Check if the Volume Sliders are Working Properly
  16. Start the Necessary Audio Components
  17. Use a Restore Point
  18. Restart Windows Audio End

Methods To Fix Windows 10 Sound Not Working

1. Check the Audio Connection

Before moving on to the other methods, ensure your system is connected to a working device. Start by checking the audio jack and headphone connections.

Also, ensure that the headphone cable is in good condition and working, the speaker’s icon works properly, and the jack is not damaged. 

You can also connect your speaker to any other headphones and inspect it to find out the windows 10 sound not working issue answer. 

2. Check For Updates

If you last updated your system a while ago, it could cause the windows 10 sound not working issue. Follow the steps below to check for Windows Updates. 

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Click on the Update & Security option.
Click on the Update & Security option.
  • Click on Check for Updates. 
Click on Check for Updates.
  • It will start to check for updates. 
  • If any updates are found, it will update it.
  • After updating, restart the system and check if the issue has been fixed. 

3. Restart the System

Restarting the system works effectively for many situations. Sometimes the system might need to be properly initiated, then you have to restart it.

Also, restart your system after updating. You can find the restart option in the power menu. 

4. Restart the Windows Audio Services

Windows has windows audio services, which are responsible for all kinds of sounds in your system.

Follow the steps below to restart the windows audio services and fix the windows 10 sound not working issue. 

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Services app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Services app.
  • Scroll down and right-click on the Windows Audio device.
  • Click on the restart option. 
Click on the restart option.
  • You can also reach this by using the Control Panel app.

It will restart the windows audio services. Once the restart is complete, you need to restart the system and check whether it works. 

5. Run the Inbuilt Troubleshooter

Follow the steps below to use the in-built troubleshooter.

  • Open the Settings app on your system. 
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Click on the Update & security option.
Click on the Update & security option.
  • From the list, click on Troubleshoot. 
From the list, click on Troubleshoot.
  • Click on additional troubleshooters.
From the list, click on Troubleshoot.
  • Click on Windows store apps and click on run the troubleshooter.
Click on Windows store apps and click on run the troubleshooter.
  • The windows store apps troubleshooter will start to detect the problems. If any problem exists, it will be solved.
  • Once everything is done, reboot your system and check whether the issue has been resolved. 

6. Check the Sound Settings 

Sometimes recent changes in the Settings can also cause this issue. Follow the steps below to check the sound settings on your system.

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Click on the System option.
Click on the System option.
  • Click on the Sound option.
Click on the Sound option.
  • It will open sound settings. 
It will open sound settings.
  • Just make sure that all the sound effects features are correct or not. 

7. Check the Default Input and Output For Audio

Windows 10 allows you to have different options for audio input and output. You may have opted for an option that is not working presently.

Follow the steps below to check the default input and output for the audio device.

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Click on the System option.
Click on the System option.
  • Click on the Sound option.
Click on the Sound option.
  • Click on the drop-down menu option under choose your output audio device option. 
Click on the drop-down menu option under choose your output device option.
  • Ensure that the device connected is default and works on your system. 

8. Disable the Audio Enhancements

Windows 10 has an inbuilt audio enhancements feature that provides users with a better sound experience.

Even though the audio troubleshooter is used to improve sound quality, sometimes it can cause issues like Windows audio not working. This can be avoided by turning off the audio enhancements feature. 

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Click on the System option.
Click on the System option.
  • Click on the Sound option.
Click on the Sound option.
  • Click on device properties. 
Click on device properties.
  • Click on Additional device properties. 
Click on Additional device properties.
  • A pop-up window will appear. Move to the enhancements tab.
  • Check the checkbox and disable all enhancements. 
  • Click on the Ok button. 

9. Update the Installed Audio Drivers

Sometimes outdated or corrupted drivers could also cause this issue. Hence it is essential to keep your drivers up to date. Follow the steps below to update the installed audio drivers.

  • Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager. 
Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
  • Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section.
Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section.
  • Right-click on the sound device and click on Update drivers.
Right-click on the sound device and click on Update drivers.
  • Windows will provide two options for you to update the driver. You can select any one of them to update the driver software. 
Windows will provide two options for you to update the driver. You can select any one of them to update the driver software.
  • You can also delete the driver software and install the new driver software. In that way, the updated driver software will be installed. 

10. Check the App Permissions For Microphone

Sometimes the microphone might not work with certain apps. To solve this, you have to check the app permissions. Follow the steps below to check the app permissions for the microphone.

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
Click on the search icon and search for the Settings app.
  • Type app permissions on the search icon and click on the first option.
Type app permissions on the search icon and click on the first option.
  • Ensure that the app that you are using has been turned on. 
Ensure that the app that you are using has been turned on.

11. Update the BIOS

A fresh installation could also cause sound to stop working on Windows 10. To solve this, perform a BIOS update. Follow the steps below to update the BIOS.

  • Reboot the laptop or PC and enter the BIOS.
  • Press the designated BIOS key.
  • You can type  F2, F12, or DEL. (It depends on your manufacturer)
  • Navigate to the setting that allows you to enable or disable the sound card and enable it. 
  • If it has been enabled already, check the BIOS version and compare it with the latest available version available on the manufacturer’s website and check if it needs any update or not. 

12. Roll Back the Audio Drivers

Follow the steps below to roll back the audio device drivers.

  • Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
  • Expand the Audio inputs and outputs section.
Expand the Audio inputs and outputs section.
  • Right-click on the audio output device and click on Properties. 
Right-click on the audio output device and click on Properties.
  • Move to the Driver tab.
  • Click on the Roll Back Driver option. 
Click on the Roll Back Driver option.
  • This will make Windows use the prior driver version.
  • This option will be available to those who have previous audio device drivers. 

13. Update the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC

Some users reported that their systems encountered issues with IDT high-definition audio CODEC. You can fix this with a manual driver update.

This allows you to choose the sound driver you want to use. Follow the steps below to update the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC.

  • Click on the search icon and search for the Device Manager.
Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
  • Expand the Sound, Video, and Game controllers section.
Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section.
  • If IDT High Definition Audio CODEC is available, right-click on it and click on the updated driver. 
  • This option will be available only for some users. If this option is not available for you, move to other methods. 
  • Follow the on-screen instructions provided on the screen for driver updates. 

14. Fix Realtek High Definition Audio Problems

Some users may have a Realtek audio driver instead of IDT. This depends on the computer hardware and manufacturer.

You must follow the exact instructions provided for the IDT driver and check if it fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, then refresh your wi-fi drivers. 

Refresh Your Wi-fi Drivers

You have to uninstall and reinstall the latest driver version. Follow the steps below to refresh your wi-fi drivers. 

  • Go to the Realtek website and download the latest driver version from the list of available drivers for your system. 
Refresh Your Wi-fi Drivers
  • Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
Click on the search icon and search for Device Manager.
  • Expand the network adapters section. 
Expand the network adapters section.
  • It will have both Realtek and a Wireless driver. 
  • Right-click on that driver and click on Uninstall device.
Right-click on that driver and click on Uninstall device.
  • Now go to the location where you have downloaded the new driver file and extract its contents.
  • Find the installation file and set up the installation. 
  • After installation, reboot your system and check whether the issue has been fixed. 

15. Check if the Volume Sliders are Working Properly

This may sound simple, but ensure that the volume slider works correctly. Because sometimes it may stop sliding, and you might not have noticed it. Check if it causes the audio issues and restart the system and check again. 

16. Start the Necessary Audio Components

Follow the steps below to start the necessary audio device components.

  • Press Windows + R key on your keyboard.
  • Type services.msc and click on Ok.
Type services.msc and click on Ok.
  • It will launch the services window. 
  • Right-click on each of the options of the service, such as

    DCOM Server Process Launcher

DCOM

     RPC Endpoint Mapper

 RPC Endpoint Mapper

    Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

 Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
  • Once the 3 services start running, right-click on the services and click on properties. Ensure the startup type is automatic. 
  • Restart the system and check if the audio device issues are fixed or not. 

17. Use a Restore Point

If your system had a previous restore point, you could bring your system back to that state. Follow the steps below to use a restore point.

  • Click on the search icon and search for Recovery.
  • In the advanced recovery tools section, click on the Open System Restore option.
  • Here, you can use two options. 
  • You can select a restore point yourself or go for a system-recommended one. 
  • But this might affect some of the applications and files. So give a check before you restore it. 
  • After choosing the options, click on Finish. 
  • Restart the system and check if the issue has been fixed. 

18. Restart Windows Audio Endpoint Builder Service

A disabled audio device could also cause this issue. To solve this, you should disable and re-enable the audio services. Follow the steps below for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder Service.

  • Press Windows + R key on your keyboard.
  • Type services.msc and click on Ok. 
Type services.msc and click on Ok.
  • It will open the services window. 
  • Right-click on Windows audio option and click on Stop.
Right-click on Windows audio option and click on Stop.
  • Now, once again, right-click on it and click on Start. 
  • Once you have done this, restart your system and check whether the issue has been fixed.