Why Aren’t My Computer Speakers Working?

Dozens of issues can cause no sound from your computer, but we can group them into a few broad categories.

A problem or defect with the speakers connected to the computer.There is a problem or defect with the physical connection between the computer and the speakers in use.A software issue has disabled the computer’s sound.A driver issue has disabled the computer’s onboard audio hardware.A problem or defect with the computer’s onboard audio hardware.

How Do I Fix It When There’s No Audio on My PC?

While the cause of no sound on your computer can vary, the solutions are similar. You can resolve most sound issues through the fixes below. We recommend you follow the fixes in order, as they move from easy, quick fixes that resolve most sound issues to more specific solutions. Find and click the Speakers icon on the right-hand side of the Windows taskbar. It will open the Volume Slider. Slide it towards the right to increase the volume. Alternatively, you can use the mute, volume-down, and volume-up buttons on your computer keyboard. If it doesn’t, expand the list of audio devices by selecting the up arrow in older versions of Windows or, in Windows 11, the speaker icon to the right of the volume slider. Select the audio device you intend to use if it’s listed. The change will take effect immediately. You can also view and change the output device by performing a Windows Search for Sound Settings. Select Sound Settings from the list of results. The Output drop-down box will be the first option listed in the Sound Settings menu. Check if the computer’s sound is working after closing each problem. It will let you isolate any software causing an issue with your computer’s sound. If the new audio device works, there may be a hardware defect with the prior audio device or the audio output.