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If sound stopped after upgrading to Windows 10, start by checking which playback device Windows is using. The most common causes are incorrect output selection, an incompatible or missing driver, a disabled device, or a Windows audio service that needs restarting. Work through the steps below in order and stop when sound returns.
Support note: Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. These steps can help with an existing Windows 10 PC, but where the hardware allows, consider moving to a supported Windows version.
First, identify what stopped working
Note whether the problem affects all sound or only one device or app. A missing output device calls for a different fix than a muted application or crackling speakers.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| What you notice | Start with |
|---|---|
| No sound anywhere | Output selection and volume, then audio services and drivers |
| Only one app is silent | Volume Mixer and that app’s output assignment |
| “No audio output device is installed” | Device Manager and the PC manufacturer’s driver |
| Bluetooth headset connects but stays silent | Select it as the playback device; check Bluetooth and audio drivers |
| Sound crackles, distorts, or is unusually quiet | Disable enhancements and try another default format |
| Playback works, but the microphone does not | Windows 10 microphone privacy settings |
A Windows upgrade can leave an older audio driver missing, incompatible, corrupted, or improperly loaded, but it is not the only possible cause. If the problem began immediately after the upgrade, record your PC’s exact make and model and whether sound worked before it. Disconnect docks or external devices temporarily if they could be changing the output.
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1. Select the right playback device
- Select the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Select the small arrow or device selector beside the volume control.
- Choose the device you are actually listening to: built-in speakers, headphones, a USB headset, an HDMI display, or a Bluetooth headset.
- Confirm the volume is not muted and raise it enough to test.
Windows may send sound to a monitor, dock, headset, or other connected device rather than the speakers you expect. HDMI audio may be listed as a display or graphics audio device, not as “speakers.” If several devices are listed, test each one.
2. Check whether only one app is muted
If system sounds or other apps work, check the affected app’s own volume and routing:
- Right-click the taskbar speaker icon and select Open Volume mixer.
- Find the silent app. Make sure it is not muted and raise its individual volume.
- If an output-device assignment is shown for the app, select the device you want to use.
An app can be muted or routed to a different device even when Windows’ main volume looks normal. For app-specific troubleshooting, see Microsoft’s app audio guidance.
3. Restart Windows audio services
When the output device appears but playback will not start, restarting the audio services may help:
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- Open Start, type
services.msc, and open Services. - Right-click Windows Audio and select Restart.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
- Test sound again.
These services support Windows audio playback and device endpoints. Restarting them does not replace a missing or incompatible driver, so continue to Device Manager if the problem remains.
4. Check whether Windows detects the audio device
- Open Start and search for Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- If your audio device is listed, right-click it. Select Enable device if that option is available. A warning icon can indicate a driver or device problem.
- If it is not listed, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- Check Other devices as well for an unidentified device that may need a driver.
If the device is still absent, restart the PC and check again. A missing device does not by itself prove that the hardware is defective: Windows may not have detected it, or a driver, chipset component, or firmware setting may be involved. Microsoft’s missing audio device guide covers detection checks.
5. Install the driver for your exact PC model
For a post-upgrade failure, the PC manufacturer’s official support page is usually the best place to find the model-specific Windows 10 audio driver. Identify your exact computer model and Windows edition, then download and install the appropriate package. Restart afterward. Depending on the PC, audio may also rely on chipset or platform, HDMI, or Bluetooth drivers from the same manufacturer.
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Device Manager can also search automatically: expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click the audio device, choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers, and restart if prompted. Windows may report that the best driver is installed even when the manufacturer offers a more suitable one. Avoid third-party driver-updater utilities; use Windows Update or the hardware maker’s official site. Microsoft explains its options in Update audio drivers in Windows.
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6. Roll back a driver if the upgrade triggered the failure
If sound worked before the upgrade and failed afterward, restoring the previous driver may be worth trying:
- In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver.
- Follow the prompts and restart Windows.
Roll Back Driver may be unavailable if Windows did not retain an earlier driver. If it is missing or does not help, install the manufacturer’s Windows 10 driver or continue with the reinstall steps.
7. Reinstall the audio driver or test a generic one
To have Windows reinstall the device driver:
- In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device, then confirm.
- Restart the PC. Windows may reinstall the driver automatically; if it does not, install the manufacturer’s driver manually.
Uninstalling can leave you without sound until restart or manual installation. If possible, download the correct manufacturer driver first. Uninstall only the audio device you have identified—not nearby chipset, graphics, or other system devices.
If the manufacturer driver still fails, you can test an available compatible generic driver: right-click the audio device in Device Manager, choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, then choose an available compatible option. Restart and test. A generic driver may provide basic playback but can lack vendor features such as equalizers, jack detection, surround processing, or special speaker controls, so it may be best used as a diagnostic or fallback rather than a permanent replacement.
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8. Turn off audio enhancements or change the format
Try these adjustments mainly if audio is crackling, distorted, unusually quiet, or works with some devices but not others. They are less likely to help when no output device is detected.
- Right-click the taskbar speaker icon and select Sounds.
- On the Playback tab, select the active device and choose Properties.
- On Enhancements, select Disable all enhancements, then test.
- If the issue persists, return to Properties > Advanced. Under Default Format, choose a different available format, select OK, and test again.
The available tabs and options can vary by driver. See Microsoft’s advice for distorted or crackling audio.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. Isolate HDMI, Bluetooth, USB, and dock audio
HDMI, monitors, and docks
Select the display or dock audio endpoint in the taskbar device selector. If it is not listed, reconnect the display and dock, then check Device Manager. HDMI audio may depend on the graphics driver as well as the audio stack.
Bluetooth headsets
Make the headset the active playback output; being connected does not guarantee Windows is sending playback to it. If it remains silent, remove and pair it again, then check for Bluetooth and audio drivers from the PC manufacturer. Test the built-in speakers or a wired headset: if those work, the fault is more likely specific to Bluetooth or its routing. Microsoft’s Bluetooth no-sound guidance covers this case.
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USB headsets and external sound devices
Try another USB port and confirm the device appears in Windows’ output list. If possible, test it on another PC, or test a known-good headset on this PC. This helps distinguish a Windows driver or routing issue from a failed headset, cable, port, or adapter.
10. If only the microphone stopped working
Playback fixes will not resolve an app blocked from microphone access. In Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone. Turn on microphone access and Let apps access your microphone, then enable access for the affected app. Check the app’s own microphone selection too.
11. Use System Restore if the upgrade appears to be the cause
If sound failed immediately after the upgrade and driver rollback is unavailable or ineffective, a restore point from before the failure may help. Search for System Restore or open the relevant Windows recovery option, choose a restore point created before the problem, and review the affected programs and drivers before confirming. Back up important data first. System Restore normally does not remove personal files, but it can remove applications or drivers installed after the selected restore point. Availability depends on whether a suitable restore point exists. Microsoft’s sound troubleshooting guide includes recovery options.
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When these steps do not restore sound
If the audio device remains missing after a scan and installation of the correct manufacturer driver, or none of the outputs work after these checks:
- Confirm the PC’s exact model and install any relevant chipset or platform drivers from its manufacturer.
- Run the manufacturer’s hardware diagnostics, if available.
- Check an onboard-audio BIOS/UEFI setting only if the PC manufacturer documents that setting and how to use it.
- Test headphones or speakers on another device, and test a known-good USB headset on the PC.
- Use Windows’ Audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app as another diagnostic step.
- If the failure clearly followed the upgrade, consider an available recovery option or contact the PC manufacturer. Do not assume a missing device proves physical failure; driver, firmware, hardware detection, or Windows corruption can produce similar symptoms.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so Microsoft no longer generally provides its usual free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes for it. Troubleshooting can restore sound on an existing installation, but check whether your PC can move to a supported Windows release before relying on Windows 10 long term.
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