When a computer suddenly has no sound, it is tempting to assume the speakers have failed. Often, the cause is simpler: sound is being sent to a monitor or Bluetooth device, one app is muted, or an audio driver has stopped working properly. Start with the quick checks below, then move to the operating-system fixes that match your computer. Stop when sound returns.
Check these basics first
- Turn up the volume and check mute. Raise the computer’s volume and check the physical controls on your speakers, headset, keyboard, or monitor. A headset can have its own mute switch.
- Check the app’s volume. Play audio in another app or browser tab. If only one app is silent, its volume or audio settings may be the problem.
- Reconnect the audio device. Unplug wired headphones or speakers, then reconnect them securely. If your computer has separate audio jacks, use the correct one.
- Check Bluetooth. Make sure the headphones or speaker are connected to the computer—not still connected to your phone or another nearby device.
- Restart the computer. A restart can clear a temporary audio problem before you spend time changing settings.
Fix no sound on Windows
1. Select the correct output device
Windows may send audio to a monitor, dock, headset, or Bluetooth speaker instead of the speakers you intend to use. Open Settings > System > Sound. Under Output, select the device you want to hear sound from, then play a test sound or video.
If the device is not listed, reconnect it and check its power or connection. For a wired headset, try another audio jack or USB port if one is available. For a monitor connected through HDMI or DisplayPort, select the computer’s built-in speakers if you do not want audio to come through the monitor.
2. Check the volume mixer
If system sounds work but a browser, game, or video app stays silent, open Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Find the app and make sure its volume is up and it is not muted. Check its output-device selection too; an app can be routed to a different device from the one selected for the system.
3. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
On Windows 11, start with the audio troubleshooter in Microsoft’s Get Help app. Follow its checks and apply any suggested fix, then test the sound again. This is a sensible next step if the output device and volume settings look correct but nothing plays.
4. Update or reinstall the audio driver
A driver problem is more likely if sound disappeared after a Windows update, the audio device shows a warning in Device Manager, or the output device has vanished from Settings.
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers, then double-click the audio device.
- Open the Driver tab. Choose Update Driver and follow the prompts.
- If the problem began immediately after a driver update and the option is available, try Roll Back Driver.
- If updating does not help, uninstall the audio device in Device Manager and restart the computer. Windows may reinstall the driver automatically.
If the problem remains, check the support website for your computer’s manufacturer for an audio driver made for your exact model. Avoid third-party driver-updater tools that offer drivers without clear manufacturer support.
5. Restart the Windows Audio service
If the output device is present but audio still will not play, restarting the audio service may help.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. - Find Windows Audio, right-click it, and choose Restart. If Restart is unavailable, check whether the service is running.
Close and reopen the app you were testing. If the problem started after a system update, also open Settings > Windows Update, install any relevant pending updates, and restart.
Fix no sound on a Mac
- Check sound and mute. Open System Settings > Sound and raise the output volume. Make sure Mute is off.
- Choose the right output. Under Output, select the built-in speakers to test them. If an external display, HDMI device, headset, or Bluetooth speaker is selected, sound may be going there instead.
- Disconnect accessories. Unplug headphones and disconnect Bluetooth audio devices, then test the built-in speakers again.
- Try another app. Play audio from a different app or website. If only one app is silent, check its settings and update it if necessary.
- Install macOS updates. Open System Settings > General > Software Update and install available updates.
- Restart the Mac. This is worth trying before moving to more advanced troubleshooting.
If the Mac remains silent after these checks, an advanced option is to restart the Core Audio process. Open Terminal and enter sudo killall coreaudiod, then press Return. You may be asked for your Mac login password; Terminal does not show characters as you type. Use this command only as written, and skip it if you are not comfortable using Terminal. Test the sound again after a few seconds.
If Bluetooth headphones or speakers are silent
First, confirm the device says it is connected and selected as the computer’s sound output. If it connects but will not play audio, disconnect it, turn it off and on, and pair or connect it again. Check that it has battery power and is not actively playing from another device. If it will not connect reliably, use the steps in our Bluetooth pairing troubleshooting guide as a related reference.
How to tell whether the problem is the device or the computer
Once you have checked the settings, test the hardware rather than repeating the same software fixes:
- Try another pair of headphones or speakers. If the replacement works, the original audio device or its cable may be faulty.
- Try a different port. If a USB headset works in one port but not another, the port or its connection may be involved. For more detailed checks, see our guide to troubleshooting a USB port that is not working.
- Test the original device elsewhere. Connect the headphones or speakers to another computer or phone, if compatible. If they are silent there too, the device is a stronger suspect.
- Compare built-in and external audio. If headphones work but built-in speakers do not, the issue may be specific to the speakers or their settings. If no output works, system software or the audio hardware may be responsible.
Do not force connectors into a port or insert metal objects to clean it. If a port is visibly damaged, stop using it.
When to get the computer checked
Contact the computer manufacturer or a repair service if built-in speakers and several known-working audio devices all fail after you have checked the output settings, restarted, and tried the relevant driver or software fixes. A hardware fault is possible, especially after a spill, drop, or other physical damage. Describe which devices and ports you tested; those results can help narrow down the cause.
Start with the simplest fix
For most cases of a computer with no sound, check the volume, selected output device, and app mixer first. On Windows, move on to the troubleshooter, audio driver, and Windows Audio service. On a Mac, verify the output in System Settings, disconnect accessories, and install updates. Testing another headset, port, or computer helps you decide whether the problem follows the audio device or stays with the computer.