How to fix a laptop sound problem

By: Daniel Osakwe

Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Daniel Lawrence

I am a novice and have no idea what to do. My laptop does not have sound. I have looked at several forums but cannot find anything to help me.

Below, we’ve highlighted a few tips to help you fix a laptop sound problem.

Check your volume settings

This may seem self-evident, but if you’re already frustrated because your computer’s sound isn’t working, you might forget this vital troubleshooting advice. Fortunately, checking your volume settings on Windows 10 is as simple as following these steps:

Right-click on the sound icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select Properties.

Click Open Sound Settings when you’ve opened the window.
Click Sound Control Panel in the Sound Settings window.
Open the Playback tab in the Sound Control Panel.
Right-click on the main sound device, which has a green checkmark next to it.
To do an audio test, select test.
You’ll see a green bar moving on the right side and hear chimes if the sound is working.
If the sound is still not responding, right-click on the default audio device and select Properties this time.
Select the Levels to tab from the properties pane.
Slide the levels tab upwards and make sure the speaker icon is unmuted in the levels tab.

Restart or change your audio device

The most typical tip for resolving a technical issue is to execute a “hard reset.” “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” is the first question on every IT call. Despite the fact that this advice has been overused, it is still valid and valuable.

It’s possible that your computer’s lack of sound is due to a simple restart.

Restart your computer.
If this doesn’t work, you might need to upgrade your audio device.
Return to the Sound Control Panel and select the Playback option.
From the selection menu, choose another audio device.
Select the Set Default option.

Continue to experiment with different audio devices to find which one gives sound to your computer. It’s possible that Windows 10 is sending audio to the incorrect device.

This can happen if you connect a USB-enabled audio device, such as a gaming headset, to your PC. If your PC recognizes this as the default device, you’ll need to adjust that setting to get sound back on your computer.

It’s not that your computer speakers don’t work; they just weren’t identified as your preferred output.

Install or update audio or speaker drivers

It may appear like updating or installing drivers on your computer is a pain, but it isn’t. One of the most common reasons your computer’s sound isn’t working is due to outdated or missing drivers.

You must first examine whether you can automate the process of checking the status of your audio or speaker drivers. In Windows 10, you can do this directly using the Windows Update Utility feature.

To locate the Windows Update Utility feature, do the following:

Select Settings from the Start menu.
Click Windows Update & Security in the settings window.
Your audio or speaker drivers should update or install automatically after this.

If it doesn’t work, try searching for outdated or missing drivers directly in Device Manager:

Begin by typing “Device Manager” into the taskbar’s search box.
Right-click on your sound card’s or audio device’s listings, such as headphones or speakers.
Select the option to look for updated drivers automatically.
If these drivers need to be updated or reinstalled, Windows 10 will take care of it instantly.

Turn off audio improvements.

While audio enhancers might make your computer’s sound appear great, they can also cause audio issues. These upgrades are frequently used by third-party speaker producers, who are often more concerned with quality than with compatibility.

To turn off this feature, go to:

Within the Sound Control panel, go to the Playback tab.
Go to the Properties window by right-clicking on your audio device.
Deselect the option for audio enhancements on the Enhancement tab.

Update the BIOS

While this isn’t the most prevalent cause of computer audio problems, a hardware conflict or a software upgrade could be to blame. To fix this, you’ll need to upgrade the BIOS on your computer, which you can do by following these steps:

Run the BIOS/UEFI configuration menu after restarting your computer.
When doing so, pay close attention to the audio settings.
Go to the Advanced menu in BIOS and check sure the sound card is turned on.
If the previous step doesn’t work, try updating your BIOS to see if your sound issues are resolved.

Conclusion

While this isn’t a comprehensive list of all probable causes for your computer’s lack of sound, these troubleshooting techniques address many of the most prevalent difficulties with the defective PC audio.

Make sure you try all of these troubleshooting alternatives and carefully follow all of the steps before leaping to conclusions about broken hardware or malfunctioning software. If none of these suggestions work, contact a specialist or the maker of your computer.