If your computer’s sound is not working, first check that audio is going to the right output device and that neither the system nor the app is muted. Then check cables, speaker power and app-specific volume before changing drivers. The steps depend on whether all audio is silent or only one app, whether the output device appears in settings, and whether you are using Windows or a Mac.
First identify what is failing
Work out which situation fits before changing settings:
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- All sound is silent: Check the selected output, system volume, mute, and physical connections.
- Only one app is silent: Check that app’s volume and audio output selection first.
- No output device appears: On Windows, use the missing-device steps below; on a Mac, disconnect audio-capable peripherals and check Sound settings.
- Sound should come from an external device: Check its power, connection, port, and hardware volume.
Audio may be routed to built-in speakers, wired or Bluetooth headphones, a monitor, a dock, or USB speakers. A normal-looking volume icon does not confirm that the correct output is selected or that the device and driver are working.
Check output, mute, and volume
Windows
- Open Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select the device you intend to use.
- Check that it is not muted and raise its volume. If needed, set the intended playback device as the default.
- Check the app’s own volume control and any physical controls on the speakers or headphones.
Microsoft notes that apps and speakers can have separate volume controls. Its Windows audio guide also recommends turning off audio enhancements as a test if basic output and volume checks do not help: Microsoft’s steps for Windows audio with no sound.
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- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output.
- Select the output you want, such as the built-in speakers.
- Check the output volume and make sure mute is off.
- Check volume and mute in the app, too; web media may have its own mute control.
Apple’s guidance for internal speakers is available at If the internal speakers on your Mac aren’t working.
Check headphones, speakers, and other connected devices
- Make sure cables are fully seated in the correct connectors and that external speakers are powered on.
- Raise the speaker’s physical volume, not just the computer’s volume.
- For USB speakers or headphones, try another USB port.
- If speakers stopped working after you connected headphones, unplug the headphones and check output selection again.
On a Mac, temporarily disconnect audio interfaces, USB or jack-connected headphones and speakers, and external displays that can receive audio. Then select the built-in speakers under Sound > Output. An external display or accessory may have become the selected audio destination. See Apple’s guide to Mac speaker sound.
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If system sounds work but one app is silent
When alerts or other system sounds play but one app does not, start with the app rather than reinstalling drivers:
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- Check whether the app has its own output-device setting and select the intended device.
- For web audio, check the page or media player’s mute and volume controls.
Windows app-only audio failures can also involve audio services or drivers; Microsoft lists these as further possible causes in its guide to app audio problems when system sounds work. On Mac, Apple likewise recommends checking the relevant app’s volume, including apps such as Music, Apple TV, and Safari media.
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If Windows does not show an audio output device
If Windows says “No audio output device is installed,” Sound settings are unavailable, or your speakers or headphones do not appear under Output, check whether Windows detects the audio hardware:
- Open Device Manager and expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- If the audio device is listed but disabled, enable it.
- If it is not listed, show hidden devices and scan for hardware changes.
- If the device remains missing or has a driver problem, get a driver for your exact computer or sound card and Windows version from its manufacturer’s support site, then restart.
A missing output can result from a disabled, missing, outdated, incompatible, or incorrectly loading driver. Microsoft’s missing or undetected device instructions include update, uninstall and reinstall, rollback after an update, and generic Windows driver options. Prefer the computer or sound-card maker’s guidance for your exact hardware.
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Windows 11 users can also run the automated Audio troubleshooter through Get Help. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft says free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes through Windows Update ended then. That support-status change is not evidence that it caused a particular audio fault.
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When to seek repair or manufacturer support
If a Mac’s built-in speakers remain silent after you select them in Sound settings, check volume and mute, and disconnect other audio outputs, Apple says service may be needed. For Windows, contact the computer or sound-card manufacturer if the device remains undetected or its driver cannot be resolved. A settings change cannot repair failed physical hardware.
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A USB audio adapter can provide an alternate USB route for audio, but it does not identify or repair the cause of a failed internal device. Before considering one, check compatibility with your computer, operating system, and available port.
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