Windows 11 has been plagued with bugs since its launch. Some of those software bugs can prevent you from hearing any sound. Is there anything that can be done about that? Fortunately, that answer is yes. This article tells you what to try if you don’t have audio in Windows 11.
For this article, we assume that the errors are software related. If you have a hardware problem, you are further away from home. Are the speakers of your laptop not working? Then it is not so easy to solve 1-2-3. Are external speakers no longer doing anything? Then it is a good idea to check whether the speakers on other devices still work; for example, the problem may be with the audio connection.
Troubleshoot Windows 11 audio issues
If there are software problems, you have a number of solutions available. Windows 11 allows users to route the audio through a specific device. You can set which device that is via the Action Center†Open that center and press the arrow next to the volume bar. Then select the hardware with which you want to play the volume.
If you use external speakers that you connect via USB or HDMI, it can help to set those speakers as the default option. open it Control Panel and go to the hardware and sounds section. Select here Sound and in the new window click Play†Select one of the available options and press the button at the bottom Set as Default†Press OKâ€
It can also help to use the troubleshooter. Open the Settings by pressing the Windows key plus the i simultaneously. Click in the menu on the left System and choose the option Solving a problem†Now click on the option Solve other problemsâ€
In the next menu, find the audio playback option and press the button on the right to run the Troubleshooter. Wait a few seconds (maybe minutes) for the system to finish and indicate that you want to use the solution in the picture. Is there no solution available? Then it’s probably not a bug in the software.
Update drivers
Finally, updating your audio drivers may help. Open start and type Device Manager in. Open that section and then find the option for audio. Right-click that option and press the check for updates button.
Choose the option that automatically searches for available drivers. You can also choose the option to check for updates via Windows Update. Are drivers available? Then install them and reboot Windows 11.
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