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If your computer has no sound, first check whether the audio is muted in one app or routed to the wrong output device. Then check system volume and connected-device controls. On Windows, a missing device or a device that stays silent may call for audio troubleshooting or the correct manufacturer driver; on a Mac, test the built-in speakers after disconnecting external audio devices.
First, find out whether one app or the whole computer is silent
Play audio in a second app or on another webpage. Check the volume and mute controls inside the app or browser as well as the computer’s system controls. A browser tab or media player can be muted even when system volume looks normal.
- Only one app is silent: Check that app’s mute, volume, and audio-output settings before changing system drivers.
- Every app is silent: Check the system’s selected output and volume, then inspect the device itself.
Check the selected output, system volume, and mute
Windows 10 and Windows 11
Open Settings > System > Sound. Under Output, select the speakers or headphones you intend to use. Make sure the volume is not muted and raise the slider. If several playback devices are listed, set the intended one as the default output. Microsoft identifies an incorrect output, mute, interfering audio enhancements, or a malfunctioning driver as possible causes of silence. Microsoft’s Windows audio troubleshooting steps cover Windows 10 and 11; Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025.
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Open System Settings > Sound > Output (or System Preferences > Sound > Output on older macOS versions). Select Mac speakers if you want built-in audio, raise Output volume, and make sure Mute is off. Disconnect headphones, external speakers, USB audio devices, and external displays while testing the built-in speakers; the Mac may be sending audio to one of those instead. Apple’s internal-speaker troubleshooting guidance was published April 2, 2026.
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Check the speaker, headset, or display itself
For external speakers, confirm the cable is connected to the correct audio output, power is connected, the speakers are switched on, and their own volume is raised. If you use audio from a monitor or another display, check its connection and controls, then select the intended display or computer output in sound settings. Macs can route sound through built-in speakers, analog or USB devices, displays, and digital receivers; Apple documents these routes in its Mac sound-output instructions.
If available, wired or USB headphones can serve as an optional comparison: they help check whether another output route produces sound. If they work, that does not by itself prove the built-in speakers are broken. Check routing and software settings before concluding that hardware has failed; you do not need to buy headphones to troubleshoot.
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Windows: troubleshoot a selected device that remains silent
Turn off audio enhancements and run the troubleshooter
If the intended output is selected but still silent, turn off audio enhancements for that device and run Windows’ automated audio troubleshooter in Get Help. Microsoft lists the Get Help audio troubleshooter for Windows 11 and Windows 10. The exact settings labels can differ by Windows version, so follow the options shown on your PC. Start with these built-in checks before replacing equipment.
Resolve a missing or undetected output device
If Sound settings says No audio output device is installed, the output list is empty, or audio controls are unavailable, Windows may not be detecting the device. Microsoft says a driver can be missing, outdated, disabled, or failing to load.
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- Open Device Manager and look for the audio device. Check whether it is disabled and enable it if appropriate.
- If the driver is missing or incompatible, get the correct audio driver from your computer maker or sound-card manufacturer. Avoid random driver-download sites.
- Install the driver and restart the computer, then check whether the output device appears in Sound settings.
See Microsoft’s guidance for a missing or undetected Windows audio output device. If the device is still absent after the manufacturer-driver and restart steps, contact the computer maker for support specific to your model.
Windows: Bluetooth connects, but there is no sound
A Bluetooth device can connect without being the selected audio output. Check Settings > System > Sound and select the Bluetooth device under Output. If it appears but will not connect or play audio, use only the steps relevant to the symptom:
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- Remove the Bluetooth device from Windows and pair it again.
- Check for an updated Bluetooth driver from the computer manufacturer.
- For higher-quality audio streaming, confirm the device supports A2DP.
- If the device is selected and connected but still silent, consult Microsoft’s additional checks for output format, cycling Bluetooth off and on, Windows updates, and restarting.
Microsoft’s Bluetooth-connected-but-no-sound guide applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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After selecting the built-in speakers, raising output volume, turning off mute, and disconnecting external audio devices, test audio from more than one app or website. Apple notes that hearing audio from any app or website through the built-in speakers means the speakers are working. If they remain silent after those checks, Apple says service may be needed; use Apple’s internal-speaker troubleshooting steps and arrange service if the problem persists.
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