The computer's sound system is closely related to its drivers. Therefore, if you start having any problems with sound playback, then you should not panic right away - it is quite possible that you can correct the error and to the average user. Today we will look at several different situations when there is no sound on the computer.
There are many reasons why sound may disappear on a PC. As a rule, this is either a hardware problem or a driver conflict with other programs. In this article we will look at what the problem might be and try to restore the sound.
Reason 1: Speakers are disabled
First of all, check that the speakers are actually connected to the computer. It often happens that the user simply forgot to connect them using a cord or did it incorrectly.
Attention!
There are completely different connectors on a sound card different types. But you need to find a way out covered green, and connect the device through it.
You should also make sure that the switch on the speakers themselves is in the working position and the volume control is not turned completely counterclockwise. If you are sure that the device is still connected and working, then move on to the next point.
Reason 2: Sound is turned off
One of the most banal reasons lack of sound - reducing it to a minimum in the system or on the device itself. Therefore, first of all, turn the volume control on the speakers clockwise, and also click on the speaker icon in the tray to change the volume.
Reason 3: Drivers are missing
Another common reason for no sound on a device is incorrectly selected drivers or even their absence. In this case, the system cannot interact normally with the audio subsystem and problems arise, the result of which we are trying to correct.
You can check if there are drivers for audio equipment in "Device Manager". Open it in any known way (for example, through "System Properties", which can be opened by right-clicking on the shortcut "My computer") and make sure that in the tabs "Audio inputs and outputs", and also "Sound, gaming and video devices" no unidentified devices. If there are any, this indicates that the necessary software.
You can select drivers manually on the official website of the laptop or speaker manufacturer and this will be the most reliable way to find suitable software. You can also use special universal programs or find the software using the speaker ID. Below we have left several links that tell you how to do this:
Reason 4: Incorrect playback device selected
Another common problem that can occur if third-party audio playback devices are or have been connected to the computer is that the computer is simply trying to play sound through another, possibly disabled device. To fix this, follow these instructions:
By the way, for this reason, a situation may arise when headphones are connected to the computer, but the sound is still broadcast through the main speakers. Therefore, do not forget to check which playback device is selected as the main one. You can read about other reasons why headphones may not work in the following article:
Reason 5: Missing audio codecs
If you hear a sound when Windows startup, but it is not there when playing a video or audio recording, then most likely the problem lies in the lack of codecs (or the problem is in the player itself). In this case, you need to install special software (and also remove the old one, if any). We recommend installing the most popular and proven set of codecs - K-Lite Codec Pack, which will allow you to play video and audio of any format, and also install a fast and convenient player.
Reason 6: Incorrect BIOS setting
There is a possibility that your audio device is disabled in the BIOS. To check this, you need to go into the BIOS. Entering the required menu on each laptop and computer is done differently, but most often it is by pressing a key F2 or Delete while the device is booting. On our website you will find a whole section dedicated to ways to enter the BIOS from various laptops.
When you get to the required settings, look for an option that may contain the words Sound, Audio, HDA and others related to sound. Depending on the BIOS version, it may be located in the sections "Advanced" or "Integrated Peripherals". Opposite the found item you need to set the values "Enabled"(Enabled) or "Auto"(Automatically). This way you will connect speakers in the BIOS and, most likely, you will be able to listen to audio files again.
Reason 7: Speaker malfunction
One of the worst scenarios is that the playback device breaks down. Try connecting the speakers to another PC to check their functionality. If the sound does not appear, try changing the cord with which you connected them. If you still don’t hear anything, in this case we cannot help you and recommend that you contact service center. By the way, you can only check your laptop speakers from specialists.
Reason 8: Driver corruption
Also, the sound may disappear as a result of damage to the audio driver. This can happen after installing or uninstalling some program, Windows updates or as a consequence of a viral attack. In this case, you need to remove the old software and install the new one.
To uninstall broken software, go to "Device Manager" with the help Win + X menu and remove your audio equipment from the list by right-clicking on it and selecting the corresponding line in context menu. At uninstalling Windows will prompt the user to erase and secure this device.
Now all you have to do is install the new software as described in the third paragraph of this article.
Reason 9: Viral infection
You can consider the possibility that your PC was subjected to some kind of virus attack, as a result of which the sound drivers. In this case, you need to scan your computer for virus software as soon as possible and delete all suspicious files. This can be done using any antivirus. On our website there is a whole section in which you can find reviews of the most popular products for preventing infection of the device, as well as cleaning it. Just follow the link below.
A computer is a device or device capable of performing a given, clearly defined, changeable sequence of operations. These are most often operations of numerical calculations and data manipulation, but this also includes input-output operations. A description of a sequence of operations is called a program.
Computer system is any device or group of interconnected or adjacent devices, one or more of which, acting in accordance with a program, performs automated data processing.
At times, unpleasant things happen to our computers, such as malfunctions. But any damage can be fixed. It happens that you turn on your PC, but do not hear the welcome tone. It is likely that someone will not even pay attention to this, and only later, when playing video or music, it will be discovered that the sound has disappeared on the computer. In this post, we will analyze the possible causes of this malfunction and consider ways to return sound by eliminating the problem. Below we invite you to familiarize yourself with step by step instructions, which is relevant for users of the operating systems Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10. After reading it, you will not ask the question “What to do if the sound is lost?”, since you can fix everything yourself.
Quick navigation
Speakers not connected
Speakers ( line array) - an acoustic system consisting of large quantity identical loudspeakers arranged vertically. A vertical sound speaker allows you to achieve a fairly narrow directivity pattern in the vertical plane, which is necessary for sounding open areas, and sometimes large indoor spaces.
Typically, a computer is system unit, monitor and connected peripherals, such as: keyboard, mouse and speakers. The system unit doesn’t have its own speakers, and the monitor usually doesn’t either. Accordingly, if there is no connection between the speakers and the sound card, the user should notice that there is no sound. Thoughts of a breakdown may be the first to come to mind, but the fault may lie with the speakers, the plug of which is not connected to the system unit in a special connector.
Incorrect sound settings
The volume level of sound effects in different applications can play a cruel joke on the user and one might think that there is no sound on the computer. Despite the fact that the situation seems trivial, check the set volume level in the settings. Perhaps you did something weird yourself or there was a glitch. Right-click the volume icon and select .
If the sliders are set at the top, but the sound does not appear, then move on to the next item in the recording.
The wrong playback device is being used
If the wrong device is set in the playback devices, there will be no sound on the computer. The sound card has different connectors. The most common speakers are connected to the green line-in connector. If some kind of failure occurred or someone messed up the computer, then perhaps the wrong playback device is being used and it would not be superfluous to check this item.
Right-click on the volume icon and select .
Driver failure
If the audio device icon shows yellow exclamation mark, then the device drivers are damaged. You need to reinstall them. If it was done incorrect update drivers, then you need to rollback. Below we will consider both methods.
Driver update
Choose sound card and click on the item Properties via the right mouse button.
In the window that appears, go to the tab Driver and press the button Update.
Next, we will be offered the option to choose how to search for the driver: to or from the specified location. If you have a disk with software or a folder with drivers for your computer, then select the second method and indicate the location of the drivers. If you don’t have drivers, choose the first method.
Driver rollback
As we all wrote above, a rollback is performed if the driver damage is associated with its failed update. For the sake of rollback, press the button Rollback and also in the warning that appears, click Yes.
If you have lost sound on your computer and this is due to the sound card driver, then the tips described in this paragraph should solve the problem. If the problem is not in the driver, then read the other options.
Sound card not connected
As a rule, personal computers use a built-in sound card; it is built into the . Let's look at the concepts so you understand what we're talking about.
Sound card (sound card, audio card) - additional equipment personal computer and laptop, allowing you to process sound (output to speaker systems and/or record). At the time of their appearance, sound cards were separate expansion cards installed in the appropriate slot. In modern motherboards, they are presented in the form of a hardware codec integrated into the motherboard (according to the Intel AC’97 or Intel HD Audio specification).
Motherboard ( motherboard) — PCB, which is the basis for building a modular device, for example, a computer.
The motherboard contains the main part of the device; additional or interchangeable boards are called daughter or expansion boards.
So, if you are using an external sound card, it may happen, for example, when transporting a computer, that the sound card comes out of the PCI connector. You can check whether the card is connected in Device Manager. If nothing is displayed in the list of sound devices, then there is a possibility that there are problems with the quality of the connection, try inserting it more tightly, do this with the computer turned off. Remove the side cover of the system unit and carefully examine how the sound card is installed.
Sound card disabled in BIOS
BIOS (BIOS) is a set of firmware that implements an API for working with computer hardware and devices connected to it. BIOS refers to the system software.
Another one of possible reasons no sound on a PC or laptop - the sound card is disabled in the BIOS. Although such a shutdown is unlikely, it may occur due to a software glitch. Also, disabling can be done by the user himself due to inexperience. In any case, a disabled sound card can cause a problem.
The solution is not complicated, but you need to understand English language. We go into the BIOS and turn on the card. After this, sound should appear on your computer or laptop. possible using special keys. These keys may be different on different laptops. You need to read the board's manual, but usually this is Delete keys, F1, F2.
After entering the BIOS, go to the section responsible for the operation of built-in devices. Depending on the board model, this Advanced Features, Chipset or Intergrated Peripherals. Then we go to Onboard devices and a list of used boards will appear on the screen. Here look for your sound card, for example Realtek Audio , Audio Controller or Onboard Sound and set the value opposite it Enable, which means on. When the sound card is disabled, the value will be set to Disable.
Windows Audio service is disabled
A crash may occur when the Windows Audio service is disabled. It may also simply not turn on when the system boots, although it should. Because of this, a red circle may be added to the sound icon to indicate that there is no sound. There are also cases when the red circle hangs, but there is sound. This is a problem with one service and you need to check its status.
In the window that appears, look for the service Windows Audio and look at her condition. It should work and start automatically. We had a situation where it was indicated that the service was running, but there was a red circle indicating there was no sound; restarting with the right mouse button corrected this situation.
If this service is stopped for you, then start it using the right mouse button and check the startup type.
Other reasons for no sound on your computer
We have listed the most common reasons for no sound on a computer or laptop. Eliminating the described problems in most cases solves the sound problem and there is no need to call a technician or contact a service center. But keep in mind that there are times when you won’t be able to fix your PC yourself. If the sound card has failed or your laptop has stopped seeing it, you will need to solder the contacts. In this case, there is nothing left to do but contact a specialist, because the average user will not be able to carry out such repairs at home without the appropriate knowledge.
Conclusion
So we have looked at the main reasons why the sound may disappear on your computer running Windows XP, 7, 8 or 10 and described ways to eliminate them. We hope that you can now figure out why there is no sound on your computer or laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no sound on my laptop even though everything is turned on?
Perhaps the equipment conflicts with each other, which leads to problems. You should turn them off one by one and check their functionality. I understand that it’s a tedious task, but there is no other way out. Of course, you can contact specialists who will do this for you. You can also try rolling back rather than updating the sound driver.
Sound doesn't work in browser
No matter what browser you use, be it Google Chrome, Opera, Firefox or Yandex browser, the reason for the lack of sound will be the same. There may have been adverse changes to the browser files that caused the crash. Another reason for the lack of sound may be an outdated Adobe Flash Player.
Checking settings
Play any music or video in your browser, for example. This is necessary for the volume settings to be displayed in the mixer.
Then click on the sound icon in the system tray with the right mouse button and select.
The notification area is an element of the environment toolbar (“taskbar” in Windows), used for the needs of programs that have been running for a long time, but are not constantly used. Usually located in the lower right corner (lower left if the reading order is right to left), but in custom GUIs it can be placed in an arbitrary location. It also has the unofficial name “system tray”.
Reinstalling the browser
Now that all data is synchronized through servers, information about the sites you visit, bookmarks, passwords and even cookies is stored not only on your computer, but also on the Internet and is available only to you. Try uninstalling the browser, restarting your computer, and installing it again. Perhaps the problem will be solved. And you can quickly import all data if synchronization is properly configured. To import you will need an address email and the user's browser password (not the email password), as well as a passphrase. And if you don’t use synchronization, you can first export some data to your computer and then reinstall the data, but synchronization is convenient and everything is done instantly.
Quite often, users encounter the loss of sound on a computer running Windows 7. There are many reasons for this. Some are quite simple. And sometimes it takes several days to find a problem. This short review is dedicated to how to find and fix the problem.
Non-working speakers
Let's consider possible options breakdowns:
These measures are basic, but you shouldn’t forget about them. If the check didn't yield anything, then it's time to move on.
Hardware audio settings
After obvious faults have been checked, you should pay attention to the software sound settings. It is quite possible that the sound in Windows is turned down or completely turned off. If it is reduced so much that it is barely audible, then the user will most likely assume that the computer itself has broken down.
It’s best to see visually how the sound is configured using Windows 7 as an example; on Windows 8 and 10 the operating principle is the same:
Let's look at the functions of the window that opens in more detail:
If you are unable to play the test sound, you should check to see if the sound is turned down to the minimum value or turned off altogether:
Check Device Manager
If there is no sound on the computer under Windows control 7, as well as operating systems Windows 10 and other versions, you should check the status of the mini-programs (drivers) for the sound card. Most likely, they need to be updated or they are not there at all.
You can check the status of the equipment and its drivers in “ Device Manager", which is easy to find in Control panels on the " System». 
Systematically displays all devices that are present on a computer or laptop, as well as the status of their drivers. If a yellow triangle is lit nearby, you should pay attention to it first. This means that the sound card is not working at all or is not working correctly. In our case, we are interested in the item “ Sound, video and gaming devices». 
If a problem is identified due to which the sound does not work, you need to download and install a driver that is compatible with this PC. You can keep your computer up to date using special utilities for automatic updating and searching current version drivers for any hardware on a PC or laptop. For example, the program Everest will determine the sound card model, check all drivers for relevance and tell you where to find them necessary drivers for sound on Windows 7.
When you monitor the current state of your computer and carry out regular updates, you may encounter the problem of no sound during the next automatic driver update. The source of the problem may be an updated driver. "" will help restore the working situation. On the " Driver» of your sound card, you must click the Rollback button. 
If the problem disappears, it is better to disable automatic update drivers for this device.
Updating drivers in Windows 10
The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:
- If the Internet is connected, then in the browser search engine you need to type search query type: (Your_laptop_model) support or (Your_motherboard_model) support.
- In the support section, select your computer model and click Select.
- From the Driver-Audio line, select to download to your computer the entire set of drivers that are in this list.
- If you are prompted to download drivers for Windows 7 or 8, and not for Windows 10, it’s okay, at least it’s better than nothing. The main thing is that the bit depth of the operating system does not differ from the installed one (x64 or x86). The driver that is missing in the system is included in the package offered by the official website.
- After the drivers are downloaded, you need to install the entire kit. If the system asks you to enable legacy compatibility mode Windows versions, this must be done.
- After this, check whether the sound appears or not.
No codecs for audio/video
If there is sound in the browsers, but there is no sound when you start the video on the PC, then you should look for the problem either in the media player itself or in the audio codecs.
To constantly watch videos, it is recommended to use KMR player. He has already proven himself and is showing good results. The creators of the program have provided a lot of different codecs for video playback. And, as a rule, most films are successfully reproduced in this program.
The problem with codecs can be radically solved using the package K-Lite Codec Pack. It can solve the missing sound problem. It has complete set current codecs that open almost all popular formats, both video and audio files.
Viruses and adware
Problems with sound on Windows 7 may mean that a virus has appeared in the system. There are many types of viruses and they can negatively affect operating system.
How to behave if the sound on your computer disappears and you suspect a virus:
- Take a close look at how your computer works as a whole. If it often freezes or slows down unexpectedly, then most likely the PC has undergone a virus attack. If installed antivirus program failed and missed the virus attack, then it is best to check the system with a third-party antivirus with up-to-date virus databases. For example, you can use the utility Dr.Web CureIt. This healing utility successfully cures an infected system.
- You can try checking your computer using Live CD(emergency boot disk). With its help, you can download a lightweight version of the operating system with a ready-made antivirus. If you boot the restored system from Live CD sound appears, then most likely there is a malfunction in Windows 10 itself. Most often, you will have to reinstall it or perform a system restore using restore points, if this mode was enabled and restore points were created.
Checking the BIOS settings
If your computer or laptop has a built-in sound card and there is no sound even in headphones, then you can look BIOS.
This is an extreme measure - AC97 is enabled by default in the factory settings. If the settings are lost, then the sound device in the operating room Windows system won't work.
Each computer logs into the BIOS differently. For example, for ACER computers, before booting the system, you must press and hold the Del key. In general, before loading the operating system, you must indicate how to enter the BIOS.
After pressing the Del key, the following dialog box will open, in which you need to select the item “ BIOS Setup».
In the window that opens, you need to find an inscription like AC 97 Audio, use the arrows on the keyboard to highlight this inscription and click on the Enter key. A dialog box will appear to select which function to activate HD Audio or AC97. We are interested in the AC97 “Auto” inscription. Confirm your choice and use the ESC key to exit this section. Exit the BIOS, saving the settings.
If you can’t get the sound back after changing the BIOS settings, then the last option is to replace or send the sound card for repair.
Laptop owners often encounter the problem of no sound in the Windows system. Due to frequent overheating of the sound chipset, the computer begins to malfunction. And all the other electronic components simply suffocate with dust, unless, of course, you do regular cleaning, and gradually fail, which can also lead to loss of sound on the laptop.
Conclusion
Of course, these are not all the reasons why there may be no sound, but the main, most common versions are revealed.
So, we told you how to restore sound in Windows 10, 7 and 8. And our main advice- don’t despair, but try all the options step by step.
Video on the topic
Imagine this situation: you turn on your computer as usual, but instead of a pleasant shimmering melody, you are greeted only by the hum of a working system unit. No sound on the computer! What to do, why is there no sound on the computer? You, in the silence of your speakers, go online and enter the cherished question: “Why is there no sound on the computer.” This article discusses the main causes and ways to eliminate them. You will find out the answer to your question, namely, step-by-step recovery sound on the computer.
Here's the question - why is there no sound? And where can I find the answer to this and some instructions?
Why is there no sound on my computer?
The reason for the lack of sound on the computer can only be in the hardware or software environment. That is, you either have faulty components, or you have problems in the settings of the operating system or individual programs. This is independent of the operating system. Similar incidents can happen with Windows XP, the sound can disappear in Linux and even in the latest system Windows 7. Moreover, speakers, headphones and a sound card can be the most modern and expensive.
How to restore sound on a computer?
The first step is to find out the reason for the missing sound on the computer. There are several ways to do this, but you should start with the simplest.
So, sound restoration step by step. Each subsequent step will bring you closer to the result.
1). Try restarting the computer, it is possible that the sound will appear when the operating system starts. This happens.
2). Check that the speaker plug is inserted into the socket. When disconnecting, plug the plug into the socket.
3). Check the switch on the speakers to see if it is turned off. Turn on the sound on the speakers by turning the control clockwise. The LED on the column with the control knob should light up (almost all models have it).
Are the speakers turned on - usually the power light is on on one of them
4). Look at the taskbar and find the speaker icon. It must not be crossed out. If this is the case, then turn on the sound simply by clicking on the “Turn on sound” button.
Desktop sound is muted. Click on the speaker logo
5). Check the speaker level, it can be reduced to a complete minimum - to zero. If the sound is reduced, then simply increase the sliders to the desired level.
6). Check the functionality of the speakers on any sound source. On the player, on the phone, on another computer. The other computer can be a laptop, yours or your friend's.
7). Check Device Manager for unknown devices. Such a device is displayed with exclamation point. You can open the device manager like this: Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> In the “System” column, find the inscription “Device Manager”. All devices there should be identified in this window, there should be no exclamation marks. If there is such an icon, then you need to install sound drivers.
The reason for the sound not working can be found in the task manager
8). Install sound drivers. The sound processor can be built into the motherboard or installed on a separate sound card. Download drivers from the website of the sound card or processor manufacturer.
9). Try inserting a known working sound card into the system unit. You can borrow it from a friend for a while. If the problem is solved in this way, then try the next step or buy a new sound card.
10). Try restoring to a previous restore point in your operating system. In Windows 7, this software environment is located in the “Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore” menu.
When the sound disappears, it may be worth restoring the system from a restore point. Suddenly a sound appears.
11). Try reinstalling the operating system. And install the sound drivers first, right after the chipset drivers motherboard. There may be hardware conflicts. If the sound appears, then gradually install the equipment and programs further. The sound may disappear at the most unexpected moment. This could be either a hardware conflict or a software conflict.
12). If nothing helps and sound does not appear on the computer, then the only option is to contact a specialist, or take your computer to a service workshop.
What to do if there is no sound on the computer or the sound is bad?
Before you take action, remember what you did yesterday when the sound on your computer was working. What programs did you install on your computer? Perhaps the problem will be solved if you remove it. Or maybe you deleted some required file from a computer. If you haven’t done anything like this, then follow the steps above. Surely something will help you. You can also try using the Help and Support section in the Start menu.
Help and support section - Music and sound, will help you find and eliminate the reason for the lack of sound
If the sound is quiet, wheezing or something else, then try to manipulate software configuration sound. Or maybe you just added some kind of effect to the sound, which is why your sound on the computer sounds like it’s coming through a pipe, wheezing and hissing.
If there is no sound only in a certain program, then you need to look at the settings of that particular program. You can also simply reinstall the program, the sound will probably appear.
Don't despair. Everything can be decided, everything is in your hands. Today you can buy a simple sound card quite cheaply and within the reach of any normal person.
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