No Sounds on Windows 10? Here's How to Fix It

When audio doesn't work in Windows 10, you won't hear sound through your speakers or headphones. While hardware problems are sometimes to blame for sound issues, software is most often the culprit.

Why Windows 10 Audio Doesn't Work

Several mishaps can make the sound stop working in Windows 10. Ideally, a simple low volume switch is the reason your computer isn't playing sound. Or the wrong output device is chosen. But, this could be a larger problem.

Big Windows updates, for example, although important for updated features and bug fixes, can introduce new problems with your settings or sound card driver.

How to Fix Broken Audio on Windows 10

Walk through these steps in this order to identify why your computer won't play sounds and what to do about it:

1. Verify your speakers or headphones are plugged into the proper ports and that they're turned up. Most audio devices have a power and volume switch on the device itself.
   

   If you're using wired headphones or speakers, this is also a good time to change the port they're plugged into. The port itself could be the problem.

2. Check the volume level within Windows. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and then select Open Volume mixer. Unmute the device if it's muted and check the volume level.

3. Verify that the current audio device is chosen. If there are multiple options available, the wrong device may be selected to play sounds.

   Go to Settings > Sound, and review the options in the Output section.

   Is there a particular device you don't want to use for outputting sound? From this same screen, go to Manage sound devices, choose the device in the Output devices section, and then select Disable.

4. Restart your PC after an update. Many Windows 10 updates require your device to be rebooted after an update. If you haven't done so yet, it could be the reason behind your audio problem.

5. Restart these audio services: Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Windows Audio, and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.

6. Disable audio enhancements. Open Control Panel and select Hardware and Sound > Sound. Select the default device in the Playback tab, then go to Properties > Enhancements > Disable all enhancements > OK.

7. Run the Windows 10 audio troubleshooter. It can diagnose and fix a variety of common sound problems. To use it, right-click the sound icon by the clock, select Troubleshoot sound problems, and then follow the onscreen prompts.

8. Disable the sound card in Device Manager, and then re-enable it. This will force the operating system to reestablish its connection with the hardware, which could restore audio to Windows 10.

9. Update your audio driver. If the sound still isn't working in Windows 10, the sound card's driver might be missing, corrupt, or outdated.

10. Use System Restore. Windows creates a restore point when it installs an update, just in case there's a problem.

    If you still have no sound after installing an update or making some other large system change, reverting to a restore point can undo those changes and potentially fix the audio problem.