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How To Fix Windows 11 Sound Not Working

Having issues with no sound or audio not working properly in Windows 11? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Audio problems are common in Windows, but they can usually be easily fixed with some basic troubleshooting. Here are the top solutions to try if you have no sound or audio issues on your Windows 11 PC.

Check Audio Settings

The first thing to check is your audio settings. Go to the volume icon in your system tray, right click it, and select Open Sound settings. Here are some things to verify:

  • Make sure your speakers or headphones are set as the Default Device for sound output.
  • Confirm that your audio is not muted and the volume is turned up.
  • Check that any enhancements like Spatial Sound are enabled if you want to use them.
  • Try testing your speakers to make sure Windows properly detects them.

Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Windows includes an automated troubleshooter that can detect and fix common audio problems. To run it, go to Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot. Follow the on-screen prompts and restart your PC if the troubleshooter finds any issues.

Update Audio Drivers

Outdated, broken, or incompatible audio drivers are a common culprit behind sound not working on Windows 11.

To update your drivers:

  • Go to Device Manager
  • Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section
  • Right click your audio device and select Update driver
  • Search automatically for updated driver software

Disable Audio Enhancements

Sometimes audio enhancements like Dolby Atmos can cause problems. To rule out issues:

  • Go to Sound settings
  • Select your audio device
  • Go to the Enhancements tab
  • Disable all audio enhancements
  • Restart your PC

Uninstall and Reinstall Audio Drivers

If updating your drivers does not resolve the no sound problem, try uninstalling your audio drivers completely, then reinstalling them.

  • Go to Device Manager
  • Find your audio device under Sound, video and game controllers
  • Right click it and select Uninstall device
  • Make sure to check the box to delete the driver software too
  • Restart your PC and Windows will automatically reinstall the audio driver

System File Checker

System file errors could be preventing proper audio functionality. Run the System File Checker to scan Windows and replace corrupt files:

  • Type cmd in the Windows search bar
  • Right click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
  • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
  • Restart your PC once it completes

Reset Audio Services

Resetting all Windows audio services to their defaults may resolve sound issues:

  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog
  • Type services.msc and click OK
  • Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder in the list
  • Right click each one and select Restart

Restore Windows 11

If you have exhausted all other troubleshooting, restoring Windows 11 can set your entire system back to a working state. Back up your data first, then go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Reset PC. Choose to keep your files if you just want to restore Windows system files.

Hopefully with one or more of these methods, you should be able to get your audio fully functional again in Windows 11. Be sure to test both speakers and headphones after making changes to confirm sound output works properly.

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