So, if your speakers are acting up or the sound just disappeared after a recent Windows 11 update, you’re definitely not alone. Several folks have reported that after KB5062553 — or whatever latest patch — their laptops suddenly lose audio. Tried the usual: reinstall sound drivers, mess with settings, reboot…but nada. It’s frustrating because on one setup, it worked fine, then after the update, silence. Sometimes Windows just decides to throw a wrench in the works with these updates, and fixing it isn’t always obvious.
What’s happening? Usually, it’s a mix of driver issues, Windows bugs, or audio services that just stop playing nice. Thankfully, there are a couple of tricks that can bring sound back without pulling your hair out. These fixes are worth a shot whenever your system starts muting itself unexpectedly or refuses to output audio, even if your device looks fine. And yes, sometimes a quick restart of Windows audio services or tweaking settings can work wonders — weird as it sounds.
How to Fix No Audio in Windows 11
There are a few tried-and-true methods to get your sound back, especially when Windows updates throw a wrench in the mix. This list covers some quick checks and deeper dive fixes, so hopefully one of these gets your speakers singing again. And if not, it’s always worth considering driver updates or rolling back an update that might be causing conflicts.
- First — just restart the PC. Sometimes Windows or drivers get stuck, and a reboot clears out the temporary glitches. On some machines, this fixes the no-sound issue instantly, on others, it’s a waste of time — but it’s worth trying first.
- If you’re on a laptop, don’t forget to check the mute toggle or the Fn + Mute key combo. Seems dumb, but those keys can accidentally mute your device, and it’s easy to overlook.
- Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar, then open Open Sound settings to make sure your output device isn’t muted or set to the wrong device, especially if you’re plugged into external speakers or a headset.
- If you’re using external audio devices, double-check all cables and connections. Sometimes, something as simple as a loose cable or a faulty port can cause silence — no fancy fix needed.
Choose the Correct Audio Output Device
Windows automatically switches to the best available output, but sometimes, if you have multiple devices connected — external speakers, HDMI outputs, or Bluetooth headphones — it might default to the wrong one. So, to change the default sound device:
- Hit Windows + I to open Settings.
- Head over to System, then click on Sound.
- Under Output, pick the device you actually want to use. If you don’t see it listed, check your connections and make sure it’s plugged in or paired properly.
Alternatively, you can quickly switch devices from the Action Center:
- Click the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Choose Manage Audio Devices beside the volume slider.
- Select the output device you want from the list. On some setups, this has fixed the issue immediately, but on others, you may need to reboot for it to kick in.
Restart the Windows Audio Service
This is kind of weird, but Windows’ audio services can get hung up or stop running after updates or driver issues. Restarting these services often makes Windows treat the audio hardware like a fresh device and can respawn the sound.
- Press Windows + R, type
services.msc, then hit Enter. - Scroll down to Windows Audio, right-click, and choose Restart.
- If it’s not set to start automatically, double-click it, go to the Startup type dropdown, and pick Automatic.
- Also, locate Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and restart that one too. Sometimes, these services are out of sync.
- Finally, reboot and check if sound is back.
On some setups, this step alone fixed things. On others, you might need to do it again after a reboot or combine it with other fixes because of how Windows sometimes has multiple layers of audio management.
Run the Built-in Windows Troubleshooter
If you’re feeling less confident poking around services or settings, Windows’ own troubleshooter is surprisingly decent at catching common problems and fixing them automatically.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters.
- Find Playing Audio and click Run.
- Follow the prompts. It might ask if your speakers are plugged in or if the correct device is selected. Usually, it just scans and applies fixes if needed.
This step has saved the bacon a few times when the audio just refused to kick back in after updates or driver installs.
Disable Audio Enhancements
Some audio enhancements in Windows might cause conflicts, especially after updates — kind of like Windows is trying to improve the sound but ends up breaking it.
- Open Settings, then go to Sound.
- Scroll down, click on All sound devices.
- Select your problematic output device.
- Under the Output settings, turn off “Enhance audio” or similar toggle.
Once turned off, test your sound again. Sometimes, this is enough to fix weird crackling or total silence.
Update Windows 11
Windows updates aren’t just for security; they fix bugs, including audio bugs. If the sound issue started after the most recent update, it’s worth double-checking for new patches or cumulative updates that might fix the bug.
- Hit Windows + I, go to Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- If any update shows up, install it. Sometimes, a quick reboot after updates helps the system stabilize.
Update or Reinstall the Audio Driver
This one’s crucial because drivers are the bridge between Windows and your hardware. If Windows 11 isn’t playing nicely with the current driver, updating or reinstalling it may do the trick.
- Press Windows + R, type
devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter. - Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click your sound device and choose Update Driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Let Windows find the latest driver.
- If you’re cautious or suspect the current driver is broken, you can also choose Uninstall device. Then restart your PC, and Windows will attempt to redownload the driver automatically.
On some machines, the driver might get corrupted or outdated after a major update, so reinstalling can often clear the problem. If you have a dedicated sound card or hardware, check the manufacturer’s site for the latest version. Here’s the plan if the latest driver isn’t working:
Roll Back Driver to a Previous Version
- In Device Manager, right-click your audio device, then choose Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver. If that’s available, it might revert to a version where sound actually worked.
- Follow the prompts and reboot. Check if audio is back to normal.
Because of course, Windows can be inconsistent with driver support after updates, and sometimes the latest isn’t always the greatest.
Hopefully, one of these methods gets your sound working again. Audio issues after Windows updates can be a pain, but once you’re familiar with the basics, fixing them gets a little less painful each time.
Summary
- Restart your PC and check cables and mute settings.
- Make sure the correct output device is selected.
- Restart Windows audio services.
- Run the built-in troubleshooter.
- Disable any audio enhancements to avoid conflicts.
- Update Windows and your audio drivers.
- Reinstall or rollback drivers if needed.
Wrap-up
If these tricks don’t fix it, sometimes it’s a driver or hardware compatibility thing, especially after major updates. But most of the time, a combination of rebooting services, updating drivers, or toggling settings will solve the mystery. Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid tearing out their hair over silent speakers.
- Press Windows + R, type