Fixing Sound Issues on Windows 10

Sound problems may be caused by third-party software and require a patch. Alternatively, the issue could be with Windows 10 itself or from certain hardware. The following guide starts with simple troubleshooting steps and goes deeper into Windows 10 if you continue to face sound loss issues.

Windows 10 Sound Error
 

How to Fix Sound Issues on Windows 10

1. Perform basic methods first

Firstly, you need to verify that the sound is not accidentally muted on your PC. If your keyboard has volume control buttons, press them or adjust the control knob to see if the volume increases or decreases. You can also check the speaker icon next to the system clock.

As illustrated below, the speaker icon with an X indicates that the sound is muted. Simply click on it to expand the sound control panel.

Next, click on the speaker icon on the left side of the slider to unmute.

You should also verify that the sound is not muted on the hardware. For instance, your speakers may have volume buttons, or they may accidentally be unplugged from the PC or power outlet. Similarly, your headphones or microphone may have volume controls that are muted or may not be connected to the PC.

Another simple troubleshooting step is to ensure that the issue is not related to any specific application or program installed on your computer. For example, sound may be muted on YouTube.

Additionally, users can also try installing all Windows 10 updates or restarting the computer.

2. Check Audio Devices

Generally, you should only have one audio device installed. However, the list may become cluttered when you start connecting external devices such as HTC Vive, wireless Xbox controllers, headphones...

There might be situations where you switch from headphones to the built-in speakers of the laptop, but Windows 10 still outputs sound through the disconnected headphones. You can verify the default audio device in one of two ways: from the taskbar or Control Panel.

Check Audio Devices from the taskbarA: Click on the speaker icon located next to the system clock. You will see a label listed on the volume control panel. Click on that label to open the Select Playback Device menu and choose a different audio device until you hear sound.

Check Audio Devices via Control Panel: Type the keyword Control Panel into the search field on the toolbar and select Control Panel from the search results. Then, choose Hardware and Sound > Sound.

In the Sound window that just opened, set your audio device as default by clicking on it and pressing the Set Default button. Finally, click OK to save the changes.

3. Run troubleshooting software

Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooting tool designed to scan the system and provide potential solutions. Type the keyword Audio into the search field on the taskbar and click Find and Fix Problems with Playing Sound from the search results to open the troubleshooting tool in Control Panel.

- You can also access some troubleshooting tools by navigating to Start > Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot.
- After the troubleshooting tool scans audio devices, select the device that needs attention and click the Next button.

Windows 10 scans for issues. Follow any available instructions to resolve sound loss problems on your computer.

4. Restart the audio device

Type in the keyword Services into the search field on the taskbar and select Services from the search results.

In the Services window, you'll need to restart the following 3 services:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
- Windows Audio
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

For each service, left-click to select, right-click to open the service menu, and then choose the Restart option. If the Restart button is grayed out, replace it with the Refresh button.

5. Disable sound enhancements

These 'enhancements' are provided by hardware manufacturers and Microsoft to deliver the best possible experience. However, they can be the cause of issues.

Type Control Panel into the search field on the taskbar and select Control Panel from the search results.

Choose Hardware and Sound from the main Control Panel menu and then select Sound.

Next, select the audio device listed under the Playback tab and right-click on it to open the menu. Then, choose Properties.

In the Speakers / Headphones Properties window that just opened, click on the Enhancements tab, choose either Disable All Sound Effects or Disable All Enhancements option. Click the OK button to confirm the changes.

If not effective, you might have not selected the correct audio device as default. Follow the steps in the Check audio devices through Control Panel section to set the default audio device. If the sound loss issue persists, proceed to the next step.

6. Change audio format

The current audio format may not work properly with your computer hardware. In this case, open Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound > Sound.

Next, click on the audio device listed in the Playback tab, right-click on it, and select Properties.

In the Speakers / Headphones Properties window, select the Advanced tab. From the dropdown menu of the Default Format section, choose a different format and click the Test button to see if the selected format works. If it does, click Apply > OK to save the changes.

One of the most common issues on Windows 10 is sound loss. Therefore, if experiencing sound loss on Windows 10, you are not alone. The good news is that sound issues on Windows 10 can be easily fixed, and here are some methods you can apply. You don't necessarily need to try all methods; start from basic to advanced.

If you're using Windows 11 and facing sound loss or non-working microphones, refer to the article, How to fix sound loss, How to fix non-working microphones on Windows 11 for effective troubleshooting.

Read more: How to fix non-working microphones on Windows 11

Read more: How to fix sound loss in Windows 11