Why Is My Pc Not Detecting Any Audio? Windows 10/11

Windows 10 and 11 both have automatic audio connectivity features. This feature allows Windows to detect when an audio device has been connected and configure it accordingly. In previous Windows, you manually add drivers for each device. However, all you need to do in these Windows is connect to the internet.

Sometimes this plug-and-play feature doesn’t work according to our expectations. As a result, your PC doesn’t detect any audio. This article will discuss the potential causes of this issue and how you can resolve it in a few steps. So, stay tuned to know more!

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Why Is My Pc Not Detecting Any Audio?

It could be due to a faulty device, outdated audio drivers, incorrect audio settings, an unsupported device, or physical damage to the audio device. This problem might be associated with the hardware and software you are using.

Hardware compatibility with software and software compatibility with hardware are the most important things for your system’s proper functioning. Here are a few reasons why your PC is not detecting any audio.

Faulty Device: Check if your audio device is not faulty due to physical or electrical damages or any other malfunction. If yes, you will need to replace it with a working device.

Outdated Audio Drivers: Drivers are essential components that make the devices work. If your audio drivers are outdated, you will experience sound and audio issues. Make sure to update them periodically.

Incorrect Audio Settings: Incorrect settings can also lead to this issue. Check if all the settings on your PC related to sound and audio have not been changed inadvertently or by any other user, and reset them accordingly.

Unsupported Device: It is possible that your PC doesn’t support the particular device connected to it. Make sure that the device you are connecting is compatible with Windows 10/11. Otherwise, it won’t work as expected.

Physical Damage To The Audio Device: Any physical damage, such as loose connections or bad wiring, can cause this issue. Check the cables, connections, and other components related to your audio device before connecting it to your PC.

Default Device Not Selected: If your PC is not detecting any audio, it could be because the default device for audio playback has not been set. You have to select the default device to get audio output.

Disabled Muted Device: The audio device may be muted or disabled. We accidentally mute or disable the device. So, check the mute settings and enable the device.

Run Audio Troubleshooting

Whenever you are running into a problem, Windows troubleshooting is the best way to identify and resolve it. Troubleshooting is a built-in program in Windows 10 and 11 that helps locate and resolve any software and driver-related issues. Here’s how you can do it,

Open the windows search bar, type “Troubleshooting settings,” and press enter to open it.
Once in a new window, go to the “Troubleshoot” section from the left scroll bar.
Here navigate to “Additional Troubleshooter” and click on it.

On the new Windows, click on “Playing Audio” and then on “Run Troubleshooter.” Windows will start the scan and will suggest the best fix.

Update Audio Drivers

The second most important thing is the windows and audio drivers. Always make sure that your Windows audio drivers are up to date. To check and update the audio driver, follow these steps,

Open the Windows search bar, type “Device Manager,” and press enter to open it.
Once in a new window, go to the “Audio inputs and outputs” driver section and right-click on your current audio driver.
Select “Update” from the file menu to check and install the new audio driver updates.

Another window will pop up with two options. Select “Search automatically for drivers.”
Similarly, scroll down and go to the “Sound, Video and Game Controllers” section and repeat the process.

Note: You must have a valid and reliable internet connection to download the latest drivers.

Enable Default Device

The default audio device is the device that Windows uses to produce sound. If the default device has not been set, then you will have no sound. To set the default audio device:

Open the Windows search bar, type “Sound,” and press enter to open it.
On the new windows, select “Sound Control Panel.”

Once you are in the sound settings, go to the “Payback” tab.

Here you will find all the connected devices. Right-click on the device you want to make default and click enable from the list.

Note: Disable all other devices so they won’t interrupt and cause no audio.

Configure Audio Settings

You might not be able to listen to anything, If your audio settings are not configured properly, Audio settings are quite important; make sure to check them.

Go to the audio settings by right-clicking on the sound icon and selecting “Sound” from the list.

Check whether your playback device is working and has a green tick.
Now go to the “Sounds” section, select audio and press the “Test” button.

You will hear a sound, which means your audio settings are correct.

Check Device Specifications

Always go through your device’s settings. Sometimes our devices don’t support the system’s requirements, and we try to connect them, and as a result, the PC doesn’t detect any audio. This happens mostly when we are using a headphone or speakers with low wattage.

Each device is built to its specifications and to support and provide the best performance for the devices they can support. Check the device you are using and ensure that it is compatible with your system’s requirements. All information can be found on the device’s label or the manufacturer’s website.

Check the Volume level and Unmute the Audio Device

Don’t ignore the small details. When your PC is not responding to audio, you must always pay attention to each audio function. Sometimes you may believe that the error is caused by your PC or a connected audio device, but the reality is that you have muted the audio device or the volume level is very low.

You can check the mute or low volume by clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar.
You can also check the volume level from the sound settings. Right-click the speaker icon again and select “Sound” to open sound settings.
Go to the “Playback” tab and open your device’s properties by right-clicking on it.

Here go to level and check if the speaker is mute or not. If it is mute, increase the volume level.

Verify Windows Updates

Windows updates are required if you want your system to function properly and without problems. An out-of-date version of Windows may cause audio or other system errors. Therefore you have to keep checking for new windows updates periodically. To check for updates,

Open the Start menu, type “Windows Update,” and press enter.
Click on the “Check for Updates” button to get the latest updates.

Here you can also check for additional drivers via an additional driver search. This driver list is located below the “Check for updates” button. Click on “View optional updates.”

Here you will find all additional updates, including the outdated drivers, and their update is available.

Note: We recommend you create a backup of your drivers before installing the update in case anything goes wrong. You can also roll back the drivers in such a case.

Turn off Spatial Sounds

Headsets and headphones uses the Windows spatial sounds settings. If you do not have that device, we strongly advise you to disable these spatial sounds. These extra options also limit the PC’s ability to detect any audio connected to it. Here’s how to disable it,

Go to sound settings via the start search bar and then go to the sound control panel.
Here go to “Playback” and open the properties of your current connected audio device.
Navigate to “Spatial sounds” and turn it off from the list.

Restart Audio Services

The main component of the audio experience is Windows audio services. If there are any problems with the services, your computer will be unable to detect audio. You can restart these services to see if it resolves the problem. Here are the simple steps,

Go to the Windows search bar and type “Services,” and hit enter.
Once you are in the services, you have to restart three services here,

1. 1. Windows Audio
  2. Windows audio endpoint builder
  3. Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Just find these three on the list and restart each by right-clicking on and selecting restart from the file menu.

Select Correct Audio Format (Hertz)

If the hertz of your output device (Speaker) exceeds the default hertz, your PC will not detect any output device. All these options depends on your speaker that you are using As a result, ensure that the hertz settings on your output device and computer are the same. Here’s how to test and adjust the hertz.

First, check your speaker’s hertz from the manufacturer’s website, user manual, or speaker label.
Now open the sound settings. Right-click on the sound icon>Sound>Playback devices.
Right-click on “Playback devices” and open properties.

Now go to the advanced tab, where you will find the list of all hertz and formats. Change the hertz and click on a test to test your output device.

Check for Any Physical Damages

Lastly, inspect the output device and the system for any physical damage. If any of your devices are damaged, you must replace them immediately. We don’t always notice when our sound card or speaker cables are damaged. These are the most common causes of sound problems in your system.

As a result, you must inspect it for physical damage and replace it if necessary. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you have no audio detection on your PC.

Always check the cable connection first.
Check the audio jack of your device.
Keep your device clean and dust-free.
Check for any loose wires and reset all cable connections.
Seek expert help if you need to replace any hardware, so you don’t damage the other hardware.

Conclusion

We hope this guide was useful in troubleshooting the problem. With all of these tips in mind, you should be able to easily resolve any audio issues on your Windows PC. We strongly advise you to invest in a high-quality sound card and speakers to avoid experiencing similar issues in the future.

Hammad Ali Munam

Hey, I’m Hammad. I have been writing for several years now and have amassed a wealth of experience within my field. My focus is on technology and gaming, two areas that I am highly knowledgeable about.