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Windows 10 is the latest operating system with many attractive features compared to its predecessors. However, some devices, after installing Windows 10 or upgrading from Windows 7, 8, 8.1, may encounter sound issues such as no sound at all, stuttering audio, or the computer freezing when playing sound. If you are facing this situation, this article from Mytour shares some ways to troubleshoot sound issues on Windows 10 for you to enjoy music and watch your favorite movies without delay.
How to Fix Sound Issues on Windows 10
1. Check the Connection Ports
If you're using external speakers or headphones and encounter sound issues on Windows 10, the first thing to do is check the connection ports. Sometimes, loose headphone jacks, poorly connected plugs, or loose external speaker wires can cause the problem. It may sound simple and well-known, but not everyone thinks of this solution when facing issues. We often get caught up searching for complex errors and overlook the basics. In most cases, simply unplugging and plugging the cable back in resolves the issue instantly.
Along with that, many users experience hearing sound only from one side of the speaker or headphone, or uneven sound levels. This can also be due to insecure audio jack connections or dust inside the jack, leading to incomplete audio signals. In such situations, readers can try gently rotating the plug until everything returns to normal.
2. Check Windows 10 Sound Settings
After completing the physical checks and ensuring everything is fine, if there is still no sound, let's delve into the software. On the Windows taskbar, right-click on the speaker icon and select Open Volume Mixer.
Volume Mixer is a control panel provided by Windows for adjusting the system and individual application sounds. This is where we should check if we notice the loss of sound in a specific program while others are running normally. Once Volume Mixer appears, you can simply move the volume slider for the silent program in the list as desired.
Additionally, readers should also verify if the correct Output device is selected. Sometimes, changes in default settings by you or someone else may lead to sound loss issues. To do this, right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray and select Playback Devices.
In the Sound interface that appears, right-click on Speakers and choose Properties.
When the Speakers Properties window appears, proceed to the Advanced tab. In the Default Format section, choose the frequency of 24 bit, 44,100 Hz, or 24 bit, 192,000 Hz. Then, press OK to save.
3. Disable Windows 10 Audio Enhancement
Audio Enhancements, integrated into Windows 10, aim to enhance your audio quality. However, in some cases, they can be the cause of sound issues on Win 10, such as no sound or very low volume. Therefore, disabling Windows 10 Audio Enhancement can be a solution to try and resolve sound issues. The process is straightforward: right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray, select Playback Devices. Then, right-click on Speakers and choose Properties.
In the Speakers Properties interface, switch to the Enhancements tab and uncheck the box next to Disable All Enhancements. Then, press OK to save the settings.
4. Utilize Windows Audio Troubleshooter
By default, all versions of Windows come equipped with the Windows Audio Troubleshooter. To implement this method, simply right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray, select Troubleshoot Sound Problems to initiate the troubleshooting tool.
Right after that, the troubleshooter will automatically scan the audio system for errors. Upon finding the cause, it will notify you and automatically rectify the audio issue.
5. Restart Audio Services
If you've tried the above methods without success, restarting Audio Services might help you resolve the sound loss issue on Windows 10. Since this service runs in the background, you won't see it, but you can interact with it through the following steps:
Step 1: Initiate the Run dialog by pressing the Windows + R key combination and enter the command services.msc into the dialog, then press Enter or OK.
Step 2: When the Services window appears, find and right-click on Windows Audio, select Stop to temporarily halt the audio service. Then, click Start to restart the service.
6. Update Audio Drivers
After a period of use, drivers may conflict with unknown applications, or outdated and incompatible audio drivers can lead to sound errors on the computer. To resolve this issue, we can reinstall the audio driver for the computer.
Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog. Then, type devmgmt.msc into the dialog and press Enter or OK.
Step 2: The Device Manager interface appears; double-click on Sound, video and game controllers.
To update the audio driver, you have two options:
Method 1: Update Audio Driver Automatically.
When you double-click on Sound, video and game controllers, the audio driver control panel appears. Simply right-click on it and select Update Driver Software.
Next, click on Search automatically for updated driver software to let the system automatically search and update to the latest driver.
Method 2: Install the Built-in Audio Driver on the Computer
If the automatic driver update feature is not working, you need to manually find and download the new driver from the manufacturer's official website. Follow the steps below to update the audio driver.
The steps are similar to method 1, but when you reach the Update Driver Software interface, click on Browse my computer for driver software.
Next, click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
Finally, select High Definition Audio Device and click Next to update the driver.
7. Update the operating system to the latest version
For every Windows update, there are usually bug fixes and performance improvements. You can try updating your computer's operating system to see if it resolves the current audio issue on Windows 10.
Step 1: From the user interface, press the Windows key on the keyboard and then click on Settings as shown below.
Step 2: In the Settings interface, click on the Update & Security section.
Step 3: Here, click on Check for updates to see if there is a new version. If available, the system will automatically update to the latest version.
Above are the solutions to troubleshoot audio issues on Windows 10 that readers can apply for a quick and comfortable music and movie experience. However, if you have tried all the above methods and still cannot fix the audio problem, it's time to take your computer to reputable repair centers for further inspection.
In addition to the prominent features on Windows 10, this operating system is not without flaws, including the issue of being unable to turn off the computer, which many users encounter. To address this issue, Mytour invites readers to refer to the article on solutions to fix the inability to turn off Windows 10 on computers and laptops. We hope the article is helpful and receives positive feedback from our readers. Wish you all success.
As for the sound loss issue in Windows 11, you can refer to the troubleshooting steps in this article.
- Explore more: How to fix sound loss issues in Windows 11
