No Sound on Your Computer? How to Fix Audio Problems
You press play and… silence. Or the sound comes out of your monitor instead of your headphones. Audio problems are extremely common, and almost always caused by a setting rather than broken hardware.
Start with the obvious (really)
• Is the volume turned up and unmuted, both on the computer and in the app?
• Are your speakers powered on and turned up?
• Are headphones fully plugged in?
• Does sound work in other apps? If only one app is silent, the problem is that app.
• Are your speakers powered on and turned up?
• Are headphones fully plugged in?
• Does sound work in other apps? If only one app is silent, the problem is that app.
Fix 1: Choose the right output device
This is the most common cause. Your computer might be sending audio to the wrong place: a monitor, a disconnected Bluetooth headset, or a virtual device.
• Windows: Click the speaker icon in the taskbar, then click the > arrow next to the volume slider to choose the output device.
• Mac: Hold Option and click the sound icon in the menu bar, or go to System Settings → Sound → Output.
• Mac: Hold Option and click the sound icon in the menu bar, or go to System Settings → Sound → Output.
Fix 2: Check per-app volume
Windows lets each app have its own volume level, and one might be muted.
• Windows: Right-click the speaker icon → Open volume mixer. Check that the app isn't muted or set to zero. You can also set a specific output device per app here.
Fix 3: Restart the audio system
• Windows: Restarting the computer is the easiest option. Alternatively, open services.msc and restart the Windows Audio service.
• Mac: Restart, or open Terminal and run sudo killall coreaudiod, which restarts macOS's audio system.
• Mac: Restart, or open Terminal and run sudo killall coreaudiod, which restarts macOS's audio system.
Fix 4: Run the troubleshooter (Windows)
Settings → System → Sound → Troubleshoot common sound problems, or right-click the speaker icon → Troubleshoot sound problems.
Fix 5: Update or reinstall audio drivers (Windows)
1. Right-click the Start button → Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click your audio device → Update driver, or Uninstall device and restart to reinstall it.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click your audio device → Update driver, or Uninstall device and restart to reinstall it.
For the best results, download audio drivers from your PC manufacturer's support page.
Fix 6: Turn off audio enhancements
Audio "enhancements" can sometimes cause crackling or silence. In Settings → System → Sound, select your device and turn off Audio enhancements to test.
Fix 7: Check HDMI and monitor audio
If you're using an HDMI or DisplayPort monitor, Windows may default to its (often tiny or nonexistent) speakers. Switch the output back to your speakers or headphones.
Bluetooth headphones sound bad on calls?
When the headset's microphone is in use, many devices switch to a lower-quality "hands-free" mode. Use a different microphone and keep the headphones as output only for better sound.
Microphone not working?
• Check privacy settings:
• Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Make sure access is on for the app.
• Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
• Choose the right input device in the app (Zoom, Teams and others have their own audio settings).
• Check for a mute switch on your headset or a mute key on your keyboard.
• Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Make sure access is on for the app.
• Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
• Choose the right input device in the app (Zoom, Teams and others have their own audio settings).
• Check for a mute switch on your headset or a mute key on your keyboard.
Crackling or distorted sound
• Try a different USB port or cable.
• Update audio drivers.
• Close resource-heavy apps. Heavy CPU load can cause audio dropouts.
• Update audio drivers.
• Close resource-heavy apps. Heavy CPU load can cause audio dropouts.
The bottom line
Nine times out of ten, "no sound" means the wrong output device, a muted app, or a driver hiccup. Check the output device first. It fixes the problem more often than anything else.
