How to Fix No Sound
Follow the steps below before downloading the necessary software to update your computer’s sound driver. I cannot tell you how many people who have contacted me thinking their sound wasn’t working only to find out they had their speaker cables plugged into the wrong spot! Some of these steps may seem rather obvious or unnecessary, but they are worth checking out, especially if you want to save yourself some money!
The following troubleshooting guide covers:
- Step 1: Check the Speakers
- Step 2: Check the Sound Settings
- Step 3: Check the Hardware
- Step 4: Update Drivers
Step 1: Check the Speakers
First, let’s make sure your speakers are plugged in correctly. Follow the cables of your speakers to both the power strip and to where they connect to your computer. Make sure they are plugged into a working power outlet and turned on. The other cable that connects to the back of your computer should be plugged into the line-out jack.
The cable should be color-coated to the corresponding jack, but if you’re not sure which jack this is, try plugging your speakers in to each of the jacks to see if any of them produce sound. Try playing some music to see if your sound is back.
Are Your Speakers Broken?
External speakers can get bumped around a lot. Make sure they aren’t broken by plugging in a pair of headphones. If you can hear sound, your speakers are broken. If there is still no sound, your speakers are not your problem. Go to step 2.
Step 2: Check the Sound Settings
Make sure your sound settings are configured properly by going to the System Tray and right-clicking on the volume icon
. Choose “Open Volume Mixer” from the menu.
1. Make Sure ALL of the volume knobs are turned all the way up. In some cases, there are several volume controls to check. For example, if you’re using an application such as Windows Media Player to test your sound, it has its own volume control. If this volume control is muted or turned down, you won’t be able to hear any sound coming from your speakers.
2. Make Sure the Mute Button is not checked. If your volume control button looks like this:
, then your volume is muted. If your volume control button looks like this:
, then your volume is not muted.
Volume Mixer Controls
Step 3: Check Hardware
Many sound problems are caused by hardware that is missing or isn’t set up property. Here’s some helpful information which which will show you how to locate your sound card or sound processor and make sure it is functioning properly.
Follow the steps below to make sure your computer has a sound card or sound processor installed, and to ensure that it is working properly.
1. Do one of the following.
- Windows Vista or Windows 7 Users: Click on the Start button
, click Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound, and then, click on the Device Manager.
If you’re asked to enter an administrator password, please provide one when prompted.
- Windows XP Users: Click on the Start button
, click Control Panel, double-click System, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
If you’re asked to enter an administrator password, please provide one when prompted.
Note: The exact file location of the Device Manager may vary depending on your computer’s default settings. If you cannot follow one of the options listed above, go to the Control Panel and
Search for “Device Manager.”
2. Double-click on “Sound, Video and Game Controllers” to expand the category and do one of the following.
- If you see a sound card listed, you have one installed. Right click on the sound card, and choose “Enable” from the menu (see diagram below). Play some audio to see if you have sound. If not, go to step 4.
- If you see a Question mark or Exclamatory mark instead of a plus icon, it means the audio card driver is installed improperly, out-of-date, or corrupt. The audio driver driver is critical because it relays information between your sound card and PC to make the sound function properly. You will need to reinstall the audio card driver. You should go to step 4.
- If you don’t see a sound card listed at all, you most likely have one, but the audio device driver probably became uninstalled at one point or another. This is especially the case if you recently reformatted your computer. The audio device driver is especially important because it relays information between your sound card and PC to make the sound function properly. You will most likely need to reinstall the audio card driver. You should go to step 4.
Do you have a new computer?
If you recently purchased a new laptop or computer, check your information manual to make sure that your PC came with a sound card. Most do. If you need to install one, see how to install or remove a sound card for more information.
Note: Laptops usually have sound processors instead of sound cards.
Device Manager
Step 4: Update Drivers
In order for your computer to recognize your sound card or sound processor, you must install a compatible driver. Most sound cards and sound processors require driver software to work properly. Outdated, incompatible, or corrupted sound card drivers can disrupt communication between the computer and the sound card.
If you recently upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it’s possible that the current sound card driver was designed for the previous version of Windows. If you’ve had recent power outages, viruses, or other computer problems, it’s possible that the drivers have become corrupted. Downloading and installing the latest sound card driver for your sound card can resolve these types of problems.
Click the Download Now button below to install the latest drivers on your PC.
