No sound from headphones in Windows 10? Try these solutions

• If you are experiencing no sound from your headphones on Windows 10, it is probably due to your sound drivers.
• Using the Windows troubleshooting tool will fix the sound not coming through your headphones on Windows 10.
• Make sure that you have the latest sound drivers installed. Try using a third-party driver updater to make things easier.
• You can solve any audio problems by checking your sound settings through the Device Manager.

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Microsoft has confirmed that after installing certain updates, some Windows users had problems with sound on their computers.

If you’re among one of these users, don’t worry, here are some solutions for your problem with no sound in your headphones.

Various factors could cause this problem, so we put a couple of solutions on the table, as we hope some of them will help.

What can I do if I’m getting no sound from my headphones?

1. Use the Troubleshooting tool

1. In the search section type find and fix audio.
2. Choose Find and fix audio playback problems in the Search results.
3. Click Next.
   
4. Select the device you want to troubleshoot, in this case, your headphones and click Next.
5. Wait a couple of minutes until the troubleshooter detects problems and makes changes.
6. When the troubleshooter is done, the Troubleshooting has completed page will display with all found problems listed, as well as the list with changes that were made to the system. If you want to get detailed information about the troubleshooting, click View detailed information.
7. Click Close.
   • If a recommended action displays, select Apply this fix or Skip this step to continue to search for other problems.
   • If your problem has not been resolved, continue to manually troubleshoot using the rest of this document.

The Troubleshooting feature is a tool that can automatically fix common problems in your system, such as audio.

Although it can’t fix every problem, it is recommendable to run the Troubleshooting tool just in case, before performing other operations.

2. Check if the audio driver is updated

1. Press the Windows Key.
2. Go to the Device Manager.
   
3. Find your speakers and right-click on them.
4. Select Update driver.
   

An updated audio driver might resolve the problem if the computer is experiencing sound problems after upgrading the operating system to Windows 10.

One of the first things everyone is going to tell you to do is to check if your audio drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers often cause various problems, and the case is the same with speakers.

Update drivers automatically

Updating drivers manually is very annoying, so we recommend you to download a third-party driver updater to do it automatically for you.

Thus, you will prevent file loss and even permanent damage to your computer by constantly having the latest available drivers installed.

DriverFix

3. Set default speakers and test the sound

1. In search, type sounds and select Change system sound in the Search results.
2. In the Sound section, click on the Playback tab and then select your headphones. Click the Set Default button. If you have only your speakers connected to your computer, and no other playback device, they will be set to default automatically.
3. With the default Playback Device selected, click the Configure button.
4. Click your speaker setup in Audio channels.
5. Click the Test button to play sound with your device, or click an individual speaker to play sound with it.

After you finished using the Troubleshooting tool, get the system speakers back to default.

If you correctly hear the sound in your headphones, you’re all done. If the sound is still missing, try to finish your configuration setup. Click Next and follow further on-screen instructions.

If you still didn’t solve your problem with sound, don’t get mad, there’s still something you can do.

4. Solve the audio problems in the Device Manager

1. Right-click on This PC and go to Device Manager. You can also access Device Manager from search, by typing device manager into it.
2. In Device Manager, open Sound, video and game controllers.
   
3. Do the following, depending on what displays:
   • If your headphones are displayed with a down arrow, the device is disabled. Right-click the name of your headphones and select Enable , to re-enable them.
   • If your headphones are listed, right-click on the name of the device and select Properties to view more information about the device, in order to solve your problem easier.
   • If the Device Status says that the headphones are connected correctly, the problem probably lays in the sound settings or cables.

Maybe you somehow disabled your headphones or something like that. In that case, you’ll have to go to Device Manager and perform a couple of actions.

5. Restore your computer

1. Click the Start button, and search System Restore.
2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard.
   
3. Choose a restore point and restore your system.

If you tried all of these troubleshooting steps, and sound on your headphones still doesn’t work, try restoring your computer.

6. More General Fixes

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

Here are some additional problems and error messages that can cause sound problems in Windows 10, so we prepared a couple of more solutions for you.

• Windows 10 headphones not showing up in playback devices
• Windows 10 headphones not plugged in
• Windows 10 headphones and speakers at the same time
• Realtek headphone driver
• Headphones do not show up in playback devices
• Headphones not detected
• Windows 10 headset mic not working
• Windows 10 doesn’t work with headphones

1. Change the default sound format

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and go to Playback Devices.
2. Open your default playback device by double-clicking on it (it has a green tick mark next to it).
3. Go to the Advanced tab.
4. Now just change default sound format from the dropdown menu (experiment a little, because these settings aren’t the same for all).
   

This is actually the most common issue which causes the disappearance of sound from your speakers or headphones. If your default sound format is wrong, you just won’t be able to play any sound on your computer.

So, all you need to do is simply change the sound format and everything should work fine.

2. Roll back your headphones driver

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and go to Sounds.
2. Then, go to Playback Devices.
   
3. Open your default playback device by double-clicking on it.
4. In the General tab, under Controller information, go to Advanced.
5. Go to Driver tab.
   
6. And now go to Roll back driver.

We told you at the beginning of the article to update your sound driver, but maybe the solution is exactly the opposite.

If you’re using an older version of the sound card, its latest driver may not be compatible with Windows 10, so you can try rolling back to the previous version, which worked.

Many users had no sound after updating Realtek driver. Check this quick article out for some quick tips to solve the problem!

3. Disable all audio enhancements

1. Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar.
2. Click Playback Devices.
3. Double-click your current playback device (headphones).
4. Go to the Enhancements tab, and click Disable all sound effects.
5. Restart your computer

Another solution that might come in handy, and that a few users actually said to be useful is disabling audio enhancements.

4. Disable Exclusive mode

1. Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar.
2. Click Playback Devices.
3. Double-click your current playback device (headphones).
4. Head over the Advanced tab.
5. Under the Exclusive Mode section, disable Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device .
6. Now click on Apply and OK to save changes.

5. Use Sound Troubleshooter

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Go to Update & Security >Troubleshoot.
3. Click Playing Audio, and go to Run the troubleshooter.
4. Follow further on-screen instructions.
5. Restart your computer.

Users can always benefit from this troubleshooting tool to resolve various system-related problems, including the headphone sound issue.

6. Restart Windows Audio service

1. Go to Search, type services.msc, and open Service.
2. Find the Windows Update service.
3. If this service is not enabled, right-click it, and select Start.
4. If it’s enabled, right-click it and select Restart.
5. Wait for the process to finish.
6. Restart your computer.

There’s a chance Windows’ default audio service got disrupted, and that exactly what blocks the sound from your headphones. So, we’re going to restart this service, and see if it has any positive effects.

7. Perform a SFC scan

1. Go to Search, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select run As Administrator.
2. Enter the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannow
3. Wait for the process to finish.
4. Restart your computer.

The SFC scan is another built-in troubleshooter in Windows. It helps with various problems, including our sound issue.

As you probably noticed, all these solutions are system-related so if you’re actually able to play sound on other devices, like speakers or other headphones, the problem lays in hardware.

If that’s the case, you should consider getting new headphones, because your current headphones may be broken.

Looking for the best headphone? Look no further! Here is a detailed list of the best USB-C headphones for top-notch audio experience!

If you’re using VIA HD Audio driver, and you have some problems with playing sound, you can check out our article about solving problems with VIA HD Audio.

This marks the end of our article. We hope that one of these solutions helped you solve the sound problem. Make sure you give us any feedback regarding the subject in the comment section below.

Fix sound problems in Windows 10

If you’re having audio problems, the following suggestions might help. The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t.

If multiple audio output devices are available, check that you have the appropriate one selected. Here’s how:

Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.

Next, select the arrow to open a list of audio devices connected to your computer.

Check that your audio is playing to the audio device you prefer, such as a speaker or headphones.

If this doesn’t help, continue to the next tip.

The audio troubleshooter might be able to fix audio problems automatically.

To run the troubleshooter

In the search box on the taskbar, type audio troubleshooter, select Fix and find problems with playing sound from the results, then select Next.

Select the device you want to troubleshoot and then continue through the troubleshooter.

You can also launch the troubleshooter from audio Settings. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound > Troubleshoot.

If running the troubleshooter doesn’t help, continue to the next tip.

To check for updates

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Do one of the following:

If the status says «You’re up to date, go to the next tip.

If the status says «Updates are available,» select Install now.

Select the updates you want to install, then select Install.

Restart your PC and see if your sound is working properly.

If that didn’t solve your problem, continue to the next tip.

Try these steps

Check your speaker and headphone connections for loose cords or cables. Make sure all cords and cables are plugged in.

If you have multiple 5mm jacks to plug into, especially on a surround sound system, make sure all cords and cables are plugged into the correct jack.

If it’s not clear which jack goes with which cord, consult your hardware manufacturer, or try the most obvious outputs one at a time and see if they work.

Note: Some systems use a green jack for output and pink for mic input and others will be labeled «headphone» or «microphone.»

Make sure the power is turned on and check the volume level.

Make sure the mute setting is not turned on, and try turning up all the volume controls.

Remember some speakers and apps have their own volume controls. Be sure to check them all.

Try connecting your speaker and headphones to a different USB port.

It’s possible that your speakers won’t work when your headphones are plugged in. Unplug your headphones and see if that helps.

If your cables and volume are OK, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting.

Check to make sure your audio devices aren’t muted and haven’t been disabled.

Right-click the Speakers icon on the taskbar, and then select Open Volume mixer.

You’ll see a set of volume controls for your devices. Make sure none of them are muted. If any of them are muted, you’ll see a red circle with a line through it next to the volume control. In that case, select the volume control to unmute.

Check your device properties to make sure that your devices have not been disabled by mistake. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound .

Select your audio device, and then select Device properties. Be sure to select Device properties for both the output and input devices.

Make sure the Disable check box is cleared for the output and input devices.

If that didn’t solve your problem, continue to the next tip.

Hardware problems can be caused by outdated or malfunctioning drivers. Make sure your audio driver is up to date and update it if needed. If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling the audio driver (it will reinstall automatically). If that doesn’t work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. If you’re having audio issues after installing updates, try rolling back your audio driver.

To update your audio driver automatically

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, such as headphones or speakers, select Update driver, then select Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the instructions to complete the update.

If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, look for one on the device manufacturer’s website and follow those instructions. If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling your audio driver.

To uninstall your audio driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, select Uninstall device, select the Delete the driver software for this device check box, and then select Uninstall.

Restart your PC.

Note: Be sure to save documents and any other current work before you restart.

This restart will automatically prompt your PC to reinstall your audio driver.

To restart, select Start > Power > Restart .

If those options didn’t work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows.

To use the generic audio driver that comes with Windows

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, then select Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software > Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

Select the audio device whose driver you want to update, select Next, and then follow the instructions to install it.

If these steps didn’t solve your audio issue, visit your device manufacturer’s website and install the most recent audio/sound drivers for your device. Following is an example of a driver download page for a sound device manufacturer.

If you have audio issues after installing updates

If your audio was working before you ran Windows Update and now isn’t working, try rolling back your audio driver.

To roll back your audio driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, then select Properties.

Select the Driver tab, then select Roll Back Driver.

Read and follow the instructions and then select Yes if you want to roll back your audio driver.

If rolling back your audio driver didn’t work or wasn’t an option, you can try to restore your PC from a system restore point.

Restore your PC from a system restore point

When Microsoft installs updates on your system, we create a system restore point in case problems arise. Try restoring from that point and see if that fixes your sound problems. For more info, see «Restore from a system restore point» in Recovery options in Windows 10.

If you’re connecting to an audio device—such as headphones or speakers—using USB or HDMI, you might need to set that device as the default audio device. If you’re using an external monitor that doesn’t have built-in speakers, make sure that the monitor isn’t already selected as your default output device. if it is, you won’t have any audio. You can check that when you set your default output audio device. Here’s how:

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel, then select it from the results.

Select Hardware and Sound from the Control Panel, and then select Sound.

On the Playback tab, right-click the listing for your audio device, select Set as Default Device, and then select OK.

If setting your audio device as the default device doesn’t help, continue to the next tip for additional troubleshooting.

Sometimes having audio enhancements on can result in audio issues. Disabling them may resolve your issue.

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel, then select it from the results.

Select Hardware and Sound from the Control Panel, and then select Sound.

On the Playback tab, right-click the Default Device, and then select Properties.

On the Enhancements tab, select either the Disable all enhancements or the Disable all sound effects check box (depending on which option you see), select OK, and try to play your audio device.

If that doesn’t work, on the Playback tab, select another default device (if you have one), select either the Disable all enhancements or the Disable all sound effects check box (depending on which option you see), select OK, and try to play audio again. Do this for each default device.

If turning off audio enhancements doesn’t help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting.

In the search box on the taskbar, type services, then select it from the results.

Select each of the following services, right-click, and then select Restart:

Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

If restarting these services doesn’t resolve your issue, see the next sections for more troubleshooting.

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel, and then select it from the results.

Select Hardware and Sound from the Control Panel, and then select Sound.

On the Playback tab, right-click (or press and hold) Default Device, and then select Properties.

On the Advanced tab, under Default Format, change the setting, select OK,and then test your audio device. If that doesn’t work, try changing the setting again.

If trying different audio formats doesn’t help, see the next sections for additional troubleshooting.

Many updates require you to restart your device.

To check and see if you have installed updates pending and need to restart

Save your work and close all open applications.

Select Start > Power . If you have installed updates pending, you’ll see options to Update and restart and Update and shut down.

Select one of those restart options to apply the updates

If restarting doesn’t help, see the next section for additional troubleshooting.

Some audio problems might be caused by an issue with the audio system’s IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. This can be fixed with a manual driver update which allows you to choose the sound driver you want to use.

Note: Not all systems will have an IDT High Definition Audio CODEC.

To check and see if you have one, and to manually update the driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.

Look for IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. If it’s listed, right-click it and select Update driver, then select Browse my computer for driver software > Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

You’ll see a list of pre-installed drivers. Select High Definition Audio Device, and then select Next.

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy , and then select Microphone from the left menu.

Under Allow access to the microphone on this device, select Change. Make sure the toggle is turned On.

If you’re having this issue with a specific app, scroll down to Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone and make sure that the toggle next to that app is turned On as well.