Start here: is it every app or just one?
Turn the volume down a little, then open our speaker test and press Both.
- You hear the chime: Windows and your speakers work. The silent app is the problem. Go to fix 3.
- You hear nothing: Windows is sending sound to the wrong place, or something on the way is muted or off. Start with fix 1.
- Only one side plays: check the plug and the balance. The speaker test explains what each result means.
1. Choose the right output device
Windows sends sound to one output at a time. A monitor, a dock, a headset you’re not wearing or a Bluetooth speaker in the next room can quietly take over.
- Select the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider (Select a sound output).
- Choose the speakers or headphones you’re using.
You can also do this in Start > Settings > System > Sound, under Output.
Watch out for monitors. When a monitor is connected with HDMI or USB, Windows may list it as an output. If the monitor has no speakers and it is the selected output, you hear nothing.
2. Check the hardware and the mute buttons
- Make sure the speakers are powered on and their own volume knob is turned up.
- Check that every cable is fully in. On desktop PCs, speakers and headphones usually go in the green jack.
- Plugged-in headphones can silence the speakers. Unplug them and test again.
- For USB speakers or headsets, try a different USB port.
3. Check the volume for one app
Each app has its own volume in Windows, apart from the main volume and the app’s own controls.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Select Volume mixer.
- Under Apps, find the silent app. Make sure it isn’t muted and its slider is up.
- Check the Output device for that app. It can be set to a different device than the rest of Windows.
If the app isn’t in the list, open it and play something, then look again.
4. Make sure the device is enabled and set as default
- In Settings > System > Sound, select More sound settings.
- On the Playback tab, select your speakers or headphones, then Properties.
- Under Device usage, choose Use this device (enable).
- Back on the Playback tab, right-click the device and select Set as default.
5. Turn off audio enhancements
Extra processing from Windows or your sound card can make audio go silent or crackle.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select your speakers or headphones.
- Scroll to Advanced settings and set Audio enhancements to Off.
6. Run the audio troubleshooter
Microsoft’s automated Audio troubleshooter runs in the Get Help app. You can also start it from Settings > System > Sound: scroll to Advanced, and under Troubleshoot common sound problems, choose Output devices.
7. Restart the audio services
If sound stopped suddenly without any change, restarting the services behind it can bring it back without a full restart.
- Search for services on the taskbar and open Services.
- Right-click Windows Audio and select Restart.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
8. Fix the audio driver
Open Device Manager and expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Sound stopped after a Windows update: right-click your device, select Properties, open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver.
- Update: right-click the device, select Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. If nothing is found, get the driver from your PC maker’s website.
- Reinstall: right-click the device, select Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select Uninstall and restart. Windows installs it again.
- Try the generic driver: right-click the device, select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, choose High Definition Audio Device, then Next.
9. Try a different audio format
In Control Panel, open Hardware and Sound > Sound. On the Playback tab, right-click the default device and select Properties. On the Advanced tab, choose another option under Default Format, select OK and test. Try a few if the first one doesn’t help.
Check that it worked
Play the left, right and both chimes in the speaker test. If each comes from the right place, your output is working. Then open the app that was silent and check it in Volume mixer once more.