Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRun Microsoft’s automated audio troubleshooter first, then verify the output device, mute state, app-specific volume, enhancements, format, driver, and Windows audio services. The sequence below covers system-wide silence, one-app failures, crackling, missing devices, microphone problems, Bluetooth or USB outputs, and audio that stopped after an update.
On Windows 11, open Get Help, search for audio troubleshooter, approve diagnostics if requested, and let the scan complete. You can also use Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Audio > Run. Microsoft says this automated troubleshooter runs diagnostics and attempts to fix most audio problems.
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Before changing anything: identify the symptom
Knowing whether Windows detects the device and whether every app is affected determines the shortest repair path. Use this table before making changes.
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| Symptom | What to check first | Most relevant section |
|---|---|---|
| No sound anywhere | Selected output, mute state, default playback device | Output and mute checks |
| System sounds work but one app is silent | Per-app volume and output in Volume mixer | App-only audio |
| Crackling, distortion, or robotic sound | Enhancements and default format | Enhancements and format |
| Speakers or headphones do not appear | Device Manager visibility and hardware scan | Missing output device |
| Microphone is not detected | Microphone privacy permissions and Recording Audio troubleshooter | Microphone branch |
| Sound disappeared after an update | Pending updates, driver rollback, restart | Post-update failures |
| Bluetooth or USB audio fails | Connection, selected endpoint, and device-specific driver | Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, and docking |
Microsoft does not publish a success rate or average repair time for the audio troubleshooter, so treat its recommendations as a first diagnostic pass rather than a guarantee.
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1. Run the Microsoft audio troubleshooter
Windows 11: Get Help
- Open Start, type Get Help, and launch the app.
- Search for audio troubleshooter.
- Consent to diagnostic checks if Get Help asks for permission.
- Allow the scan to finish. Apply each proposed correction, then test sound when prompted.
The troubleshooter may change the default endpoint, restart audio components, or suggest a driver action. If it reports that no issue was fixed, continue with the manual checks below; the result does not prove that the speakers or headphones are defective.
Windows 11: Settings route
Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Find Audio and select Run. Keep the affected speakers, headset, dock, or display connected while the check runs.
Windows 10: Get Help
Open Get Help from the Start menu, search for audio troubleshooter, allow diagnostics, and follow the displayed steps. Windows 10 may show different Settings labels from Windows 11, so use the exact route presented in Get Help rather than assuming that a Windows 11 menu exists.
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2. Select the right output and clear mute states
A working driver can appear silent when Windows is sending audio to a disconnected monitor, dock, Bluetooth headset, or another endpoint.
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- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select the speakers or headphones you are actually using.
- Raise the volume and verify that the speaker icon is not muted.
- Open More sound settings > Playback.
- Right-click the intended device and choose Set as Default Device when that option is available.
- Play a test sound. If several endpoints are listed, test each one briefly; the correct choice is the device physically connected to your ears or speakers.
For HDMI or DisplayPort audio, the monitor or television often appears as the output. Selecting the computer’s built-in speakers will not produce sound through that display, and selecting a disconnected display will leave the computer silent.
3. Turn off enhancements and test another format
Audio enhancements can conflict with a vendor driver, communications software, or a headset’s own processing. An unsupported format can cause distortion, crackling, or silence.
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- Return to Settings > System > Sound and select the active output device.
- Set Audio enhancements to Off, then play the same sound again.
- If the problem is distortion or crackling, open Advanced and choose a different Default format.
- Test after each change. Keep the setting that produces stable sound in the applications you use.
Changing the format is a compatibility test, not a quality ranking. If one format works and another does not, leave the working format selected and revisit the driver section if the issue returns.
4. Fix silence limited to one application
If Windows notifications, another browser, or a media player produce sound but one program does not, the global output is probably working. Use the per-app controls instead of reinstalling the driver immediately.
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer.
- Locate the silent application under Apps.
- Raise its volume and remove its mute state.
- Check the application’s Output device. Set it to the same speakers or headphones selected under the main Sound page, or to the endpoint you intentionally want.
- Close and reopen the application, then test playback.
Games, meeting clients, and browsers can retain an old endpoint after a headset is unplugged. Re-selecting the device in Volume mixer and inside the application’s own audio settings usually resolves that mismatch.
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5. Update, reinstall, or replace the audio driver
Use Device Manager when the output is detected but remains silent, when Windows reports a driver problem, or when the issue began after a driver change.
Try Windows Update through Device Manager
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device and choose Update driver.
- Select the option to search automatically and install a driver if Windows finds one.
- Restart Windows and test the output.
Reinstall the detected device
- In Device Manager, right-click the affected audio device and choose Uninstall device.
- Confirm the removal. Do not select an option that deletes a driver package unless you already have a replacement from the computer or sound-card manufacturer.
- Restart Windows. Windows should detect the hardware and reinstall an available driver.
- Run the audio troubleshooter again and retest the output.
Try Microsoft’s generic driver
A vendor driver can be damaged or incompatible with a recent Windows build. In Device Manager, choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers. Select a compatible generic audio driver, complete the installation, restart, and test. If features such as a hardware control panel disappear, reinstall the manufacturer’s driver instead.
Install the manufacturer’s Windows-version driver
For persistent failures, download the latest driver supplied for your exact computer model, motherboard, or sound card and for your installed Windows version. Use the manufacturer’s support page, not a random driver repository. Disconnecting from the internet during installation can prevent Windows from immediately substituting a different package, but reconnect afterward so Windows Update can operate normally.
Keep a copy of the previous working driver or a restore point before replacing a stable package. Driver names can be similar, so match the model and Windows edition precisely.
6. Restart Windows audio services
Audio can stop when a service is hung even though the device and driver are present. Restart the services in this order.
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- Press Windows key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find Windows Audio, right-click it, and choose Restart.
- Restart Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- If Windows displays a dependency warning or the restart does not hold, restart Remote Procedure Call (RPC), then restart Endpoint Builder and Windows Audio again.
- Play a system sound and then test the previously failing application.
Do not disable these services. Their startup configuration is managed by Windows, and disabling them can prevent every application from producing sound.
7. Repair audio that stopped after Windows Update
First determine whether the timing is immediate. A failure that began directly after an update points to a compatibility change, while a later failure may have another cause.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and install pending updates.
- Restart the computer even if Windows does not insist on it.
- Use Device Manager to update the audio driver, then test again.
- If the failure began immediately after a driver update and the previous package is still available, open Device Manager > audio device > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
- Restart Windows and verify the output, Volume mixer, enhancements, and format.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft states that the operating system continues to work, but free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes ended on that date. Driver availability therefore depends more heavily on the computer or audio-device manufacturer.
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If speakers or headphones are absent from Sound settings, determine whether Device Manager can still see the hardware.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- Open Device Manager and expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- If the device is listed but disabled, right-click it and choose Enable device when offered.
- If it is not listed, choose View > Show hidden devices.
- Then choose Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- Restart Windows and check Sound settings again.
- If the hardware remains absent, install the manufacturer’s driver for the exact model and run the audio troubleshooter.
A device missing from both Sound settings and Device Manager can indicate a disconnected USB or internal cable, a disabled firmware setting, a failed adapter, or a dock problem. Test the headset or speakers on another computer and test a known-good output on this computer before concluding that Windows is at fault.
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9. Microphone problems require a separate branch
Playback and recording permissions are independent. A computer can play sound normally while blocking every microphone app.
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Turn on Microphone access.
- Turn on permission for apps to access the microphone and enable access for the specific application you are using.
- Run the Recording Audio troubleshooter from Get Help.
- If Windows still does not detect the microphone, reinstall or update the audio driver through Device Manager, then restart.
For a headset with separate plugs, confirm that the microphone connector is in the input jack rather than the headphone-only jack. USB and Bluetooth headsets may expose separate playback and recording endpoints, so choose the correct microphone under the application’s own settings.
10. Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, and docking checks
Bluetooth headphones
- Confirm the headset is powered on, charged, and connected in Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Select its playback endpoint under Settings > System > Sound.
- If both a high-quality stereo endpoint and a hands-free endpoint appear, test the one that matches your use; a communications mode can change available quality.
- Remove and pair the device again if it connects but never appears as an output.
USB audio devices
- Move the device to another USB port, avoiding an unpowered hub while testing.
- Watch Device Manager for the device to appear or disappear.
- Select the newly connected endpoint in Sound settings and set it as default if required.
HDMI, DisplayPort, and docks
- Verify that the display or dock is powered on before Windows starts playback.
- Select the display’s audio endpoint under Output.
- Temporarily bypass the dock and connect directly to the computer to isolate dock firmware or connection issues.
11. A decision sequence that minimizes unnecessary changes
- Run Get Help’s audio troubleshooter.
- Check output selection, volume, mute, and the default Playback device.
- Turn off enhancements and try another default format if sound is distorted or absent.
- Use Volume mixer when only one application fails.
- Restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- Update, reinstall, roll back, or replace the driver according to when the problem began.
- Use the missing-device, microphone, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, or post-update branch that matches the symptom.
Change one setting at a time and test with a known source, such as a Windows system sound and a local media file. Recording which change restored sound makes it easier to reverse the change if the problem returns.
12. When software checks are no longer enough
Escalate to hardware diagnosis when the output remains absent after a manufacturer driver, the device is missing from Device Manager, or the same speakers or headset fail on multiple computers. For internal audio, check the computer maker’s service documentation before opening the case; some systems route audio through a daughterboard or dock. A failed port, damaged cable, disabled firmware audio controller, or defective headset cannot be repaired by the Windows troubleshooter.
Before contacting the manufacturer, record the Windows edition, computer model, audio-device name shown in Device Manager, the date the failure began, whether system sounds work, and every driver or rollback action already attempted. That information lets support distinguish an endpoint setting from a hardware or compatibility fault.
Quick Recap
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