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Windows Audio Fix • Windows • Step-by-step Windows help

How to Fix No Sound in Windows

This page starts with the quickest audio checks first. It tells the user which Windows sound page to open, how to test the playback device, and when to restart audio services with commands instead of guessing with random driver downloads.

Start here

Start with the fastest command or direct open action

This block comes first on purpose. Copy one command, open PowerShell, Windows Terminal, Run, or Start search, paste the exact text, press Enter, then do the slower click-by-click checks underneath only if you still need them.

Open Sound settings 
Start-Process "ms-settings:sound"
Open classic Sound panel 
mmsys.cpl
Restart audio services 
Restart-Service Audiosrv -Force; Restart-Service AudioEndpointBuilder -Force
Check audio service status 
Get-Service Audiosrv, AudioEndpointBuilder | Select Name, Status, StartType

Overview

What this guide helps you do

No sound can come from the wrong playback device, muted app output, broken services, or audio device state after sleep or updates. A useful fix page should check the obvious Windows paths first and only then move to service restarts.

  • Wrong output device selection causes many no-sound cases.
  • Restarting the Windows audio services is one of the fastest real fixes.
  • This page keeps the checks in a clear order so the user can test after every change.

When to use this

When to use this guide

Best when the PC shows volume but nothing plays, speakers disappear, headphones stop working, or sound vanishes after an update or restart.

Before you start

What to review first

Do not start with random driver packages from unknown sites. First confirm the active playback device and the Windows audio services because those are often the real cause.

Do this exactly

Open the right Windows area first, then follow the changes one by one

  1. Press Start, type Sound settings, and open the page with that exact name.
  2. Under Output, select the device you actually want to use and run the built-in test sound.
  3. If you still hear nothing, press Start, type mmsys.cpl, and open the classic Sound window.
  4. Open PowerShell as administrator and run the audio service restart commands shown on this page.
  5. Return to Sound settings or the classic Sound window and test the device again.
  6. Restart the PC if the services restart but the output still does not come back right away, then test the same sound again.

Exact click path

Tell the user exactly what to open and press

Do not change ten things at once. Open the exact Windows page first, make one clear change, then check whether it solved the problem before moving on.

Fast open: Press Start, type Sound settings, and open that page first. If the correct output is already selected, restart the Windows audio services with the commands below.

How to use

  1. Open the Windows sound page first and test the correct playback device before changing anything else.
  2. Check whether the wrong output device is selected, especially after Bluetooth, USB audio, or monitor audio changes.
  3. If the device looks correct but sound is still dead, restart the Windows audio services.
  4. Use the classic Sound control panel to test the output directly when the modern Settings page is not enough.
  5. Restart and test with the same file, video, or app sound again so you can clearly compare before and after.

Faster option

Open the Windows section

Related pages

Keep going with the next useful page

Use these links when you want the matching script, another Windows help page, or a browser tool for the same job.

Open the tools section Browse all script pages Open the Windows section How to Stop Windows from Tracking Activity How to Disable Telemetry Safely How to Remove Personal Metadata from Files Before Sharing

FAQ

Questions about How to Fix No Sound in Windows

Why do I see volume moving but hear nothing?

Windows can send audio to the wrong output device or a broken service state. That is why output selection and service restarts come first here.

Should I reinstall audio drivers first?

Usually no. Start with playback device checks, sound settings, and service restarts before bigger driver changes.