One of the most common Windows computer errors is the lack of sound. Whether you are using Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, there are steps you can take to fix the problem. Some problems can be fixed with simple troubleshooting. Others will require a professional to look into it.
Here are some of the tips you can use to fix audio on a Windows computer.
Faulty Speaker Cables
Faulty speaker cables are one of the main reasons for audio problems. It could be the wires have been stretched or damaged over time. When this happens, the best thing to do is to replace the cables. The audio can’t travel through faulty cables and transmit to your computer. Test things out with a new speaker cable.
Speaker Cable Not Properly Attached
Aside from damaged speaker cables, improperly or loosely attached ones might be the reason. Re-insert the cable to its slot or make sure it is snugly fitted. Otherwise, it will register as a broken connection on your computer’s audio port.
Faulty Sound Configuration
Another way to troubleshoot your Windows computer when there is no audio is to check the sound configuration settings. Your computer, speaker, or headphone configurations should be properly set to the minimum volume configuration. In some cases, you do not hear audio on your computer simply because the volume is too low.
Sound Driver Problems
If you determined that the audio problem is not caused by cables, check the sound driver. Run a Windows troubleshooting program. This will take only about 2 minutes. Take the necessary troubleshooting steps based on what the program reports.
One common audio problem associated with sound drivers is when the latter is disabled. It could be that your computer has been attacked by malware or some type of virus. This will cause your sound driver to bog down. To fix this, go to the “Windows Device Manager” by typing “devmgmt.msc”. Look for “sound, video and game controllers” from the list. See if the sound controllers were in fact disabled.
Also, run an anti-virus program if it’s related to malware.
If the sound driver is enabled and there is still no audio, update it. If you see a yellow sign beside the sound driver, it means it was corrupted. You will need to update and re-install it online.
Fix Realtek Audio
If the other solutions didn’t bring back audio, it could be the Realtek driver. This problem usually occurs after you update to Windows 8 or 8.1.
The first thing you should do is refresh the WiFi drivers. Go to the Realtek website and download the latest version compatible with your device. After you have downloaded and installed the driver, reboot your computer to check if it worked.
Another step is to disable the front panel jack. This might only work for a specific type of system and for persistent RealTek audio problems.
Faulty Windows System
If re-installing your sound driver or doing any of the recommended steps above can’t fix the problem, it might be that your Windows system itself is corrupted. There are two steps to fix this:
- Perform a system restore
- Reinstall the Windows operating system and update the audio drivers
Both of these two processes take a long time. Make sure to try every possible method above before proceeding to this step and back up your files beforehand.
If you’re still experiencing problems with no sound on your computer, check out our article on how to reset your Windows 10 computer.
