If sound stopped after a Windows update or audio-driver installation, check the selected output first, then work through Windows Update, the driver, and audio services. If the problem began immediately after a driver update, try rolling back that driver when Windows makes the option available. Test sound after each change and move to the next step only if the problem remains.
Why sound can stop after a Windows or audio-driver update
A driver may be incompatible with your Windows version or only partially installed. Windows may also fail to start the audio services it needs. Other possibilities include a disabled or incorrectly loading driver, or Windows sending audio to a different output device. These are potential causes, not a diagnosis of every PC.
The steps below apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Menu wording can vary slightly by device and Windows version.
Work through these fixes in order
1. Check the selected output, volume, and mute
- Select the sound or speaker control in the taskbar and check that the volume is not muted or set too low.
- Open the available output-device list and select the speakers or headphones you intend to use. If several outputs are available, Windows may be playing sound through the wrong one.
- Play audio to check whether sound has returned. If not, continue.
2. Install pending Windows updates and restart
Open Settings > Windows Update, check for updates, and install pending updates. Restart the PC, then test sound. Microsoft recommends checking for pending Windows updates and restarting when audio stops after an update. See Microsoft’s update-related sound troubleshooting.
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3. Update the audio driver
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device and select Update driver.
- Choose the option to search automatically for drivers. Windows Update is Microsoft’s recommended first source for current drivers.
- Restart if Windows installs a driver, then test sound.
If Device Manager does not find a newer driver, check Windows Update for optional driver updates. Microsoft describes the Device Manager procedure in its guide to updating drivers through Device Manager.
4. Roll back the driver if the issue began after an update
If sound stopped right after a driver update, restoring the previous driver is a reasonable next step. In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click the audio device, and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. Follow the prompts, restart the PC, and test audio. Windows shows this option only when a previous driver version is available. See Microsoft’s instructions for sound problems after an update.
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5. Reinstall the audio device driver
If updating or rolling back does not help, uninstalling the audio device and restarting can prompt Windows to reinstall its driver. Save your work first: this process requires a restart.
- Open Device Manager and expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device and choose Uninstall device. Confirm the action if prompted.
- Restart Windows and test sound after the PC starts.
If Windows does not restore working sound, Microsoft also documents trying the generic audio driver: in Device Manager, select the audio device’s driver update option, choose Browse my computer for drivers, then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. Select a listed compatible driver and follow the prompts. The precise available choices depend on the device and installed drivers. See Microsoft’s audio troubleshooting steps and Device Manager driver guidance.
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6. Restart Windows audio services
- Open the Start menu, type Services, and open the Services app.
- Find Windows Audio, right-click it, and select Restart.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- If sound is still unavailable, restart Remote Procedure Call (RPC) as Microsoft’s broader sound troubleshooting guidance lists it among the relevant services.
- Test sound again.
For the update-specific service steps, see Microsoft’s sound troubleshooting guide.
7. Get the model-specific driver from the manufacturer
If Windows cannot find a compatible driver, look up the exact computer or audio-device model on its manufacturer’s support site. Download only a driver listed for that model and your Windows version. Microsoft advises using the device manufacturer’s driver when Windows does not provide the right one; avoid random driver-download sites and unverified third-party driver-updater tools. See Microsoft’s driver-update guidance.
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Which driver fix should you try?
| What you observe | Next step | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sound stopped immediately after a driver update | Try Roll Back Driver. | The option appears only if Windows has a previous driver version available. |
| The audio device appears in Device Manager, but sound is missing | Try updating the driver; if needed, uninstall it and restart. | Windows Update is Microsoft’s recommended first source for a current driver. |
| Windows does not find a compatible driver | Look for the exact model’s driver on the PC or audio-device maker’s support site. | Match both the model and Windows version. |
| The device is missing from Device Manager, or the steps have not restored sound | Contact the computer or device maker’s support team. | The symptom alone does not establish that the hardware has failed. |
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, and security fixes for Windows 10 ended on that date. See Microsoft’s sound troubleshooting guidance and its Windows 10 support-end notice.
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