My Computer Has No Sound!

The quick answer

Check the volume, then confirm Windows is sending sound to the device you actually want to hear. A computer connected to a monitor, television, headset, and speakers can silently pick the wrong one.

Check the obvious controls

1. Click the speaker icon by the clock and make sure Windows isn't muted.
2. Turn up the volume in the video or app itself.
3. If your speakers have a power button or their own volume knob, check both.
4. Unplug headphones or Bluetooth devices that may have become the default output.

Choose the right output

In Windows 11, open Settings → System → Sound. Under Output, select the speakers, headphones, or monitor you intend to use. Play the available test sound. HDMI displays sometimes appear as audio output even when the monitor has no built-in speakers.

When one program is silent

Go to Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer. Check whether a specific app is muted, set to zero, or assigned to a different output device. A browser tab can also be muted separately. If everything else plays sound, the audio hardware probably isn't completely broken.

Wired speakers deserve a cable check

On desktops, analog speakers typically connect to a green audio output, not a microphone jack. USB headsets need a working USB port. If a cable is visibly damaged, replace it rather than repeatedly bending it into position.

When to troubleshoot drivers

Restart Windows once, then check Windows Update and the computer manufacturer's audio driver information. Don't download a 'driver fixer' from a pop-up. If the device disappeared from Device Manager, that is a better reason for targeted driver troubleshooting.

When professional help makes sense

If several known-working speakers fail on every output, sound vanished after liquid damage, or the audio jack is physically broken, a hardware check may be appropriate. Start with the settings above; they solve more sound mysteries than replacing parts at random.