If you’re having sound or audio problems, the following suggestions might help. The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t. Start by running the automated audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Get Help automatically runs diagnostics and takes the correct steps to fix most audio
issues. Open Get Help If the Get Help app is unable to resolve your sound or audio issue, try the possible solutions listed: If multiple audio output devices are
available, check that you have the appropriate one selected. Here's how: Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar. Note: If you don't see Speakers displayed, it may be in the overflow area. Select Show hidden icons to check there. Next, select the arrow to open a list of audio devices connected to your computer. Check that your audio is playing to the audio device you prefer, such as a speaker or headphones. If this doesn't help, continue to the next tip. The audio troubleshooter might be able to fix audio problems automatically. To run the troubleshooter: Go to Search in the
taskbar, type audio troubleshooter, and select Find and fix problems with playing sound from the results to launch the troubleshooter. Select Next, and then select the device you want to troubleshoot and then continue through the troubleshooter. You can also launch the troubleshooter from audio Settings: Select Start > Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot common sound problems and select Output devices or Input devices. If running the troubleshooter doesn't help, continue to the next tip. To check for updates: Do one of the following: If the status says, "You're up to date," go to the next tip. If the status says, "Updates are available," select Install now. Select the updates you want to install, then select Install. Restart your PC and check if your sound is working properly. If that didn't solve your problem, continue to the next tip. Try these steps: Check your speaker and headphone connections for loose cords or cables.
Make sure all cords and cables are plugged in. If you have multiple 5mm jacks to plug into, especially on a surround sound system, make sure all cords and cables are plugged into the correct jack. If it’s not clear which jack goes with which cord, consult your hardware manufacturer, or try the most obvious outputs one at a
time and see if they work. Note: Some systems use a green jack for output and a pink jack for mic input and others will be labeled "headphone" or "microphone."
Make sure the power is turned on. Make sure the mute setting is not turned on and try turning up all the volume controls. Note: Some speakers and apps have their own volume controls. Be sure to check them all. Try connecting your speaker and headphones to a different USB port. It's possible that your speakers won't work when your headphones are plugged in. Unplug your headphones and see if that helps. If you're still having audio problems, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting. Check to make sure your audio devices aren't muted and haven't been disabled.
If that didn't solve your problem, continue to the next tip. Hardware problems can be caused by outdated or malfunctioning drivers. Make sure your audio driver is up to date and update it if needed. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling the audio driver (it will reinstall automatically). If that doesn't work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. If you're having audio issues after installing updates, try rolling back your audio driver. To update your audio driver automatically:
If Windows doesn't find a new driver, look for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow those instructions. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling your audio driver. To uninstall your audio driver:
If those options didn’t work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. To use the generic audio driver that comes with Windows:
If these steps didn't solve your audio issue, visit your device manufacturer’s website and install the most recent audio/sound drivers for your device. The following is an example of a driver download page for a sound device manufacturer.
If you have audio issues after installing updates If your audio was working before you ran Windows Update and now isn’t working, try rolling back your audio driver. To roll back your audio driver:
If rolling back your audio driver didn't work or wasn't an option, you can try to restore your PC from a system restore point. Restore your PC from a system restore point: When Microsoft installs updates on your system, we create a system restore point in case problems arise. Try restoring from that point and see if that fixes your sound problems. For more info, see "Restore from a system restore point" in Recovery options in Windows. If you're connecting to an audio device—such as headphones or speakers—using USB or HDMI, you might need to set that device as the default audio device. If you’re using an external monitor that doesn’t have built-in speakers, make sure that the monitor isn’t already selected as your default output device. if it is, you won’t have any audio. You can check that when you set your default output audio device. Here’s how:
If setting your audio device as the default device doesn't help, continue to the next tip for additional troubleshooting. Sometimes having audio enhancements on can result in audio issues. Disabling them may resolve your issue.
If turning off audio enhancements doesn't help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting.
If restarting these services doesn’t resolve your issue, see the next sections for more troubleshooting.
If trying different audio formats doesn't help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting. Many updates require you to restart your device. To check and see if you have installed updates pending and need to restart:
Need help with Windows Update? See Troubleshoot problems updating Windows. If restarting doesn't help, see the next section for additional troubleshooting. Some audio problems might be caused by an issue with the audio system’s IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. This can be fixed with a manual driver update which allows you to choose the sound driver you want to use. Note: Not all systems will have an IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. To check and see if you have one, and to manually update the driver:
If multiple audio output devices are available, check that you have the appropriate one selected. Here's how: Select the Speakers
icon on the taskbar. Note: If you don't see Speakers displayed, it may be in the overflow area. Select Show hidden icons to check there. Next, select the arrow to open a list of audio devices connected to your computer. Check that your audio is playing to the audio device you prefer, such as a speaker or headphones. If this doesn't help, continue to the next tip. The audio troubleshooter might be able to fix audio problems automatically. To run the troubleshooter: In the search box on the taskbar, type
audio troubleshooter, select Find and fix problems with playing sound from the results, then select Next. Select the device you want to troubleshoot and then continue through the troubleshooter. You can also launch the troubleshooter from audio Settings. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot. If running the troubleshooter doesn't help, continue to the next tip. To check for updates:
If that didn't solve your problem, continue to the next tip. Try these steps:
If you're still having audio problems, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting. Check to make sure your audio devices aren't muted and haven't been disabled.
If that didn't solve your problem, continue to the next tip. Hardware problems can be caused by outdated or malfunctioning drivers. Make sure your audio driver is up to date and update it if needed. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling the audio driver (it will reinstall automatically). If that doesn't work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. If you're having audio issues after installing updates, try rolling back your audio driver. To update your audio driver automatically:
If Windows doesn't find a new driver, look for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow those instructions. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling your audio driver. To uninstall your audio driver:
If those options didn’t work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. To use the generic audio driver that comes with Windows:
If these steps didn't solve your audio issue, visit your device manufacturer’s website, and install the most recent audio or sound drivers for your device. The following is an example of a driver download page for a sound device manufacturer.
If you have audio issues after installing updates If your audio was working before you ran Windows Update and now isn’t working, try rolling back your audio driver. To roll back your audio driver:
If rolling back your audio driver didn't work or wasn't an option, you can try to restore your PC from a system restore point. Restore your PC from a system restore point: When Microsoft installs updates on your system, we create a system restore point in case problems arise. Try restoring from that point and see if that fixes your sound problems. For more info, see "Restore from a system restore point" in Recovery options in Windows. If you're connecting to an audio device—such as headphones or speakers—using USB or HDMI, you might need to set that device as the default audio device. If you’re using an external monitor that doesn’t have built-in speakers, make sure that the monitor isn’t already selected as your default output device. If it is, you won’t have any audio. You can check that when you set your default output audio device. Here’s how:
If setting your audio device as the default device doesn't help, continue to the next tip for additional troubleshooting. Sometimes having audio enhancements on can result in audio issues. Disabling them may resolve your issue.
If turning off audio enhancements doesn't help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting.
If restarting these services doesn’t resolve your issue, see the next sections for more troubleshooting.
If trying different audio formats doesn't help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting. Many updates require you to restart your device. To check and see if you have installed updates pending and need to restart
Need help with Windows Update? See Troubleshoot problems updating Windows. If restarting doesn't help, see the next section for additional troubleshooting. Some audio problems might be caused by an issue with the audio system’s IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. This can be fixed with a manual driver update which allows you to choose the sound driver you want to use. Note: Not all systems will have an IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. To check and see if you have one, and to manually update the driver:
Need more help?What should you do if a headset plugged into computer is not working properly?What should you do if a headset plugged into your computer is not working properly? -Unplug the headset. -Update the device driver. -Replace the computer's power cord.
What is the first step to perform hardware maintenance?What is the first step to performing hardware maintenance? Turn off the computer and remove its power source. All-in-one computers are easier to service and upgrade but occupy more space than desktop computers.
What is the correct sequence of processing instructions in a machine cycle?Four steps of the machine cycle
Fetch - Retrieve an instruction from memory. Decode - Translate the retrieved instruction into computer commands. Execute - Execute the computer commands. Store - Send and write the results back in memory.
What could cause an external drive like a USB flash drive to not be recognized?This issue can be caused if any of the following situations exist: The currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt. Your PC requires an update for issues that may conflict with a USB external hard drive and Windows. Windows may be missing other important updates hardware or software issues.
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