Your Windows volume is maxed out but you're getting complete silence. This frustrating issue is more common than you think, and we have the fixes.

💡What's Happening When Windows Has No Sound?

You've checked the volume mixer, wiggled the cables, and even tried turning it off and back on again—but your Windows PC is still completely silent. This problem often appears after a Windows update, driver change, or even randomly when you boot up your computer. The good news? In most cases, this isn't a hardware problem and can be fixed in a few minutes.

Quick Fix: Check Your Output Device

Before diving into complex solutions, make sure Windows is actually sending sound to the right place. Click the speaker icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner), then click the arrow next to the volume slider. You'll see a list of all available audio devices.

Check if Windows switched to the wrong device—like "NVIDIA High Definition Audio" (your monitor's speakers) instead of "Speakers" (your actual speakers). If so, click your correct device to switch. Test your sound immediately. If it works, you're done. If not, continue to the detailed fixes below.

🔧Detailed Step-by-Step Fixes

Solution 1: Run the Windows Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 11 has a built-in diagnostic tool that automatically detects and fixes most audio problems:

Press Windows + I to open Settings
Click System, then scroll down to Troubleshoot
Click Other troubleshooters
Find Audio in the list and click Run
Follow the on-screen instructions and apply any fixes it suggests
Restart your computer and test your audio

This tool checks for muted settings, correct device selection, and service problems. It fixes about 60% of no-sound issues automatically.

Solution 2: Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers are the most common culprit for silent PCs, especially after Windows updates:

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
Expand Sound, video and game controllers
Right-click your audio device (usually "Realtek High Definition Audio" or similar)
Select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for drivers
If Windows finds an update, install it and restart your PC

If updating doesn't work, try reinstalling:

In Device Manager, right-click your audio device again
Select Uninstall device, check the box to delete the driver, and confirm
Restart your computer—Windows will automatically reinstall the driver
Test your audio

Solution 3: Disable Audio Enhancements

Audio enhancements are supposed to improve sound quality but often cause silent output instead:

Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray
Select Sound settings
Under Output, click your audio device
Scroll to Audio enhancements and select Off from the dropdown
Test your sound immediately

Solution 4: Restart Windows Audio Service

The Windows Audio service manages all sound on your PC. Sometimes it stops working and needs a manual restart:

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
Scroll down and find Windows Audio
Right-click it and select Restart
Also find Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and restart that too
Close the window and test your audio

If That Didn't Work

If you're still getting no sound, try these additional steps:

Check for Windows updates: Go to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates
Test with different speakers or headphones: This helps determine if the problem is your PC or your audio hardware
Check BIOS audio settings: Restart your PC and enter BIOS (usually by pressing F2 or Delete during startup), then verify that onboard audio is enabled
Run System File Checker: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow to repair corrupted system files

📞When to Call a Professional

If none of these solutions work, you might have a hardware failure—like a damaged audio chip or broken audio jack. Here are signs you need professional help:

No audio devices appear in Device Manager at all
Different headphones and speakers all fail to produce sound
You see error messages about missing audio hardware
Audio worked fine until you physically opened your PC case

Hardware diagnosis requires specialized tools and expertise. Rather than risk further damage, let the experts handle it.

Still Stuck? We Can Help

Audio problems can be tricky, especially when they involve hardware. If you've tried these fixes and still have no sound, our technicians can diagnose the issue and get your audio working again—usually the same day.

Geeks in Sneaks offers professional Windows audio repair with:

Complete hardware and software diagnostics
Driver installation and optimization
Hardware repair or replacement if needed
A satisfaction guarantee on all work

How to Fix No Sound on Windows Even Though Volume Is Up