Got a laptop or desktop PC that’s giving you the silent treatment? Don’t worry, we’ve got some top troubleshooting tips that’ll sort out the sound on your computer. So you can crank up a playlist to power through the day and never miss an important Teams call again.
Why isn't my sound working on my computer?
There could be a few reasons why there’s no sound coming from your laptop or PC. It might be your software or a dud component, but the cause will often be something far less severe that you can quickly fix.
Here are a few common checks you can do if there’s no sound on your computer:
1. Check your computer’s volume levels
Yep, it’s super obvious. But sometimes we can accidentally mute our laptops or PCs without even knowing it. So, before you start menu-diving into advanced settings, just use the speaker keys on your computer’s keyboard to check if your volume’s unmuted and turned up.
If you’re using a Windows laptop or PC without volume keys, you can click on the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen instead. Then you can see if your volume’s turned up on the slider, which you can freely drag around with your mouse.
Rocking a MacBook or iMac? You can check your system’s volume settings if you head to the ‘Control Centre’. This is an icon that you’ll find in the top-right corner of your screen, which reveals an adjustable sound bar after you click on it.
2. Unmute your applications
You might have the volume pumped up on your computer, but if you’ve muted certain apps you’re using — you still won’t hear anything. For example, music streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music have their own volume controls which let you be more precise with your levels. So, double check that they’re turned up before doing anything more serious.
The same thing applies for web-based music and video players like YouTube or Netflix. They also have volume sliders which you can quite easily mute by mistake too.
3. Test your sound with headphones
Plugging in a pair of headphones can be handy for finding out whether your computer’s built-in speakers are busted or not. If you can hear audio playing through your headphones after you’ve connected them, then you’ll know your laptop speakers are not working. A set of PC speakers can be plugged into the headphone jack too, so give those a go if you have some.
If external speakers or headphones are not working on your laptop or PC either, you could try a USB headset instead. Or if you’re into gaming — a specialised USB gaming headset. As these hook up to your computer via USB, they can completely bypass the default audio driver. Which could help you identify where the problem is coming from.
4. Restart your computer
Have you tried turning your computer off and on again? Yep, it’s worth a shot before we start looking at some of the more advanced audio remedies! It might sound like a cop out, but restarting your laptop or desktop PC really could do the trick and it won’t take long either.
Advanced troubleshooting steps
Tried all the above and still sat in silence? If your PC or laptop speakers are not working, here are some more technical solutions that could get your audio back up and running again:
5. Switch your audio device
There’s a good chance that your speakers are working perfectly fine, but your computer’s sending sound to the wrong output device. This can happen if you’ve hooked up something like a USB headset or an audio interface. Or if you’ve plugged in an external monitor that doesn’t have built-in speakers.
It’s dead-simple to sort this out though. If you’re using Windows 10, here’s how to change your output device:
Right-click the speaker icon on the bottom-left of your screen.
Select ‘Sounds’, then click on the ‘Playback’ tab.
Choose the device you want to send your audio to.
Open ‘Settings’ from the ‘Start’ menu instead if you’re using Windows 11 with no sound. You’ll then find your audio preferences when you click through to ‘System’ and then ‘Sound’.
It’s super easy to choose your output device on Apple Mac too, just follow these steps:
Open up your ‘System Settings’ (the gear icon in the dock).
Navigate to ‘Sound’.
Click on the ‘Output’ tab to select the one you want.
6. Turn off audio enhancements
Windows machines running on Windows 10 or 11 will have some built-in audio enhancement features designed to improve your listening experience. But these might be the cause of the sound issues you’re facing, so it’s worth switching them off to find out.
Here’s how to do it:
Open ‘Settings’ from the ‘Start’ menu.
Go to ‘System’ and then select ‘Sound’.
Click on the output device you’re using.
Open ‘Device properties’ just below to disable things like ‘Spatial sound’ or ‘Enhance audio’.
If you’re a Windows 11 user, just click on your current output device instead to see which enhancements you can switch on or off. After switching enhancements off, test your audio and see if it’s now working.
7. Update or install audio drivers
Still no sound from your laptop or PC? Try checking the drivers. These help your computer’s operating system and hardware (like your speakers) communicate so they can work together. If a driver for your audio device isn’t installed or updated, then this means that it could stop working.
To check the audio drivers on your Windows computer, follow these steps:
Open the ‘Start’ Menu.
Type in "device manager" and click on it when it appears.
Select the ‘Sound, Video and Game Controllers’ option to open the menu.
This will display a list of all the audio output devices on your laptop or PC.
If you see a yellow exclamation mark next to one, it means that you need to install a driver for it. You’ll be able to download this from the manufacturer’s website. And even if there isn’t an exclamation mark next to your speakers, it’s worth giving it a go anyway.
Uninstalling the driver might also be worth a shot. You can do this by right-clicking on the hardware you’re trying to use (like your laptop’s built-in speakers) and restarting your computer. When it boots up, your laptop or PC will then try to re-install its default drivers and this could make your speakers work again.
If you need to install specific hardware drivers on Mac, follow these steps:
Double-click on the driver file you’ve downloaded to begin the installation process.
Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
After the installation is complete, you might need restart your Mac so the changes take effect.
8. Update the BIOS
Now, it’s probably not this. But a hardware incompatibility or software update might be the reason why your Windows computer’s sound is not working. To fix this, you’ll have to update your PC’s BIOS (basic input/output system):
Restart your computer and access the BIOS/UEFI setup menu (this can depend on your laptop or PC, but it's usually by pressing 'Delete' or ‘F2’ at startup).
Navigate to the 'Advanced' menu and check that your sound card is switched on.
If that doesn't work, update your BIOS to the latest version (this can be found on your laptop brand's website).
Be careful doing this, as a BIOS update can cause other issues if you don't follow the steps properly.
FAQs
What is an audio renderer error?
This is a problem that occurs when your computer's audio device can’t properly read audio data. The result is sound playback that’s ruined by errors, stutters, or other interruptions. And sometimes, you might not get any sound at all.
Audio renderer errors are usually caused by outdated or corrupted drivers. Or by issues with other hardware/software components, or the audio device itself.
Why did my laptop stop making sounds?
There could be several reasons why sound’s not working on your laptop. Your audio might be muted, your volume could be turned down, or the wrong audio output is selected in your computer’s system settings. If it’s none of those, there could be a driver or hardware issue.
How do I fix the muted sound on my laptop?
To fix a muted laptop with no sound, try some of these troubleshooting tips:
Check that the mute button on your laptop’s keyboard isn’t turned on.
Look out for keys with speaker icons and use them to increase the volume.
Open your volume settings and manually adjust the volume slider using your mouse.
Check your sound settings to make sure the correct audio output device is selected.
Restart your laptop.
Update your audio drivers.
Any more questions?
We hope that you’ve managed to sort out the sound on your computer. If none of our tips have done the trick, make sure to contact our 24/7 tech support team for further assistance.
Want to hear more of our advice? Check out our guide on how to connect two monitors to a laptop for a productivity-boosting setup. Or our what is a laptop docking station? article to create a desktop powerhouse!