Why Can’t I Hear Anything On My Laptop? | Fast Audio Fix

Guide / By

Laptop sound issues often come from muted audio, wrong output, driver faults, or app settings—try volume, output device, and a quick restart first.

You typed “Why can’t I hear anything on my laptop?” and now you want sound back fast. This guide gives you a clear path that works on Windows, macOS, and Chromebooks. Start with quick checks, then move to system tools, and finish with deeper steps if the issue sticks.

Quick Checks Before Deeper Steps

Small things trip up laptops more than you’d think. Run through these basics first. Each takes seconds and fixes a surprising share of “no sound” cases.

Confirm The Right Output

  • Click the speaker icon and pick the intended output (laptop speakers, headphones, HDMI display, USB headset).
  • If you use a monitor or dock, pick that device by name. Some devices expose multiple outputs such as “Speakers (Realtek),” “Digital Output,” or the monitor brand.

Turn Up Real Volume

  • Raise system volume and the app’s own volume slider. Many players and meeting apps keep their own control.
  • Open the volume mixer and raise the slider for your app. On Windows 11: Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer.

Check Mute Toggles Everywhere

  • Toggle the keyboard mute button.
  • Unmute the browser tab if you see a crossed‑out speaker icon.
  • On Bluetooth headsets, make sure the device isn’t set to “call mode” with a low‑quality profile.

Reboot And Reseat

  • Restart the laptop. It frees a stuck audio session in seconds.
  • Unplug and replug the headset or USB audio device. Try a different port if you can.

Why Can’t I Hear Anything On My Laptop: Common Causes

Most silent laptops trace back to a short list of culprits. Scan these and match what fits your setup.

Wrong Output Device

Your laptop may be playing to a device you can’t hear—an HDMI screen, a sleeping Bluetooth set, or a disabled speaker. The fix is to pick the correct output and test a sound clip.

Per‑App Volume Or Mute

Windows and many apps keep their own mixer. A single program can be set to 0% while the rest of the system plays fine.

App Control Over The Device

On Windows, one app can lock a device and block others. Turning off the option that lets apps take control in device properties often clears this.

Bluetooth Profile Switches

Headsets with a mic switch between music mode and call mode. Call mode can sound thin or go silent in some apps. Disconnect and reconnect, or pick the music profile in the app.

Driver Or OS Glitch

After updates or sleep, the audio stack can stall. The audio service restart or a driver refresh wakes it up.

Physical Faults

Dust in the jack, a bent plug, a torn speaker, or liquid damage can mute one channel or the whole set.

Fixes For Windows 11 And 10

Work down this list. It moves from fastest to deeper tools. You’ll work through settings, mixers, drivers, and services.

Pick The Correct Output

  1. Click the speaker icon on the taskbar.
  2. Click the arrow to open the device list.
  3. Pick the device you want (Speakers, Headphones, HDMI/Display Audio).

If sound returns, lock that device as default in classic Sound settings: press Win+R, type mmsys.cpl, press Enter, then set your device as Default.

Raise App Volume In The Mixer

On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer and make sure the app isn’t at 0%.

Run The Audio Troubleshooter

  1. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  2. Click Run next to Playing Audio.

Microsoft’s guide walks through these steps and more under “Fix sound or audio problems in Windows.” Fix sound problems in Windows.

Stop Apps From Taking Device Control

  1. Press Win+R, type mmsys.cpl, press Enter.
  2. Select your playback device > Properties.
  3. Uncheck the option that lets apps take control of the device.
  4. Click OK, then test audio.

Restart The Audio Services (Quick Command)

Use this when sound dies after sleep or an update.

# PowerShell (Run as Administrator)
Get-Service -Name Audiosrv,AudioEndpointBuilder | Restart-Service -Force

If you prefer Command Prompt, this pair also works:

net stop audiosrv && net start audiosrv
net start AudioEndpointBuilder

Reinstall Or Roll Back The Driver

  1. Press Win+X > Device Manager.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
  3. Right‑click your audio device (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia HD Audio, USB audio) and pick Update driver or Uninstall device (then reboot).
  4. If sound broke after a driver update, use Properties > Driver > Roll Back.

Reset Sound Settings Quickly

Jump straight to Sound with this Run command:

ms-settings:sound

HDMI Or Display Audio Shows Up But Stays Silent

  • Pick the display name as output, then open its Device properties and test.
  • On Nvidia/AMD GPUs, install or update the HD Audio driver bundled with the graphics driver.
  • Try a new HDMI cable or a different port on the screen or dock.

App Has Audio, Browser Does Not (Or The Reverse)

  • Reset the browser’s site permissions and unmute the tab.
  • Clear the app’s cache and restart it.
  • Disable third‑party audio “enhancers” while you test.

Deeper Repairs (If The Stack Is Corrupted)

Run these in an Admin Command Prompt. They check system files and repair the Windows image. Reboot after they finish.

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Fixes For macOS

These steps apply to current macOS releases on Apple silicon and Intel. Move through them in order.

Pick Built‑In Speakers And Raise Volume

  1. Open System Settings > Sound.
  2. Under Output, pick MacBook Speakers or the speakers you want.
  3. Slide Output volume up and remove the mute checkmark.

Apple’s help page walks through this exact path with screenshots. See “If the internal speakers on your Mac aren’t working.” If your Mac speakers aren’t working.

Disconnect Hidden Audio Routes

  • Unplug USB hubs and docks for a minute.
  • Turn Bluetooth off and back on, then reconnect your headset.
  • If you see multiple outputs with the same name, test each one.

Restart The Audio Process

Use Terminal to restart the core audio service. Sound should return within seconds.

# Terminal on macOS (you may be prompted for your password)
sudo killall coreaudiod

Test In Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads only required items. If audio works there, remove login items or kernel extensions that touch audio, then test again in a normal boot.

Update macOS

Install pending updates under System Settings > General > Software Update. Audio fixes often ship inside minor updates.

Fixes For Chromebooks

ChromeOS routes audio per device, and a simple toggle can point sound to nowhere. Start here.

  1. Select the time (bottom right) and move the volume slider up.
  2. Click the arrow next to the slider and pick the right Output (speakers, headset, HDMI).
  3. Unplug headphones, then plug them back in.
  4. Reboot. If needed, perform a hardware reset or update ChromeOS.

Google’s help center lists these steps in one place under “Fix hardware and system problems.”

HDMI, USB, And Dock Audio Quirks

External gear adds extra links in the chain. Here’s how to smooth them out.

HDMI Screens

  • Turn the screen’s volume up and pick the right input on the monitor menu.
  • Use a high‑quality cable. Shorter HDMI runs tend to be more reliable.
  • If the laptop is closed on a dock, wake it with the lid open once to re‑sync audio.

USB Headsets And DACs

  • Plug directly into the laptop for testing. Then add the hub back.
  • Install the maker’s control panel if they provide one.
  • For multi‑rate DACs, set 24‑bit, 48 kHz during testing, then raise later if you want.

App‑Specific Traps That Kill Sound

Meeting Apps (Teams, Zoom, Meet)

  • Pick the same output in the app that you picked in the OS.
  • Toggle “Use original audio” or “Noise suppression” off while you test.
  • If a headset mic is in use, watch for the profile switch that downgrades output. Disconnect and reconnect to reset it.

Browsers And Streaming

  • Right‑click the tab and choose Unmute site.
  • Check the player’s own volume and auto‑play settings.
  • Hardware‑accelerated decode can misbehave on old drivers; flip it off for a minute in browser settings, test, then turn it back on.

Deeper Windows Tweaks That Often Help

Turn Off Audio Enhancements

  1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
  2. Select your device > Enhancements and switch them off while testing.

Match The Sample Rate

  1. Open mmsys.cpl > pick your device > Properties.
  2. Set the default format to 24‑bit, 48 kHz and test.

Reset The Old Control Panel

Need the classic app fast? This takes you there.

control mmsys.cpl,,0

Quick Reference: Symptoms, Causes, Fixes

Symptom Likely Cause Fast Fix
No audio anywhere Wrong output or mute Pick correct device; raise volume; reboot
Apps play, browser silent Tab mute or site block Unmute site; check player volume
Headset works, speakers don’t Disabled speakers or jack sense stuck Enable speakers; unplug and replug; restart audio
HDMI shows but no sound Display volume low or bad cable Raise display volume; try new cable/port
Sound dies after sleep Audio service stuck Restart services; update driver
Tinny sound in calls Bluetooth call profile active Reconnect headset; pick music profile

When It’s Likely Hardware

If none of the fixes bring sound back, check for signs that point to a fault.

Speakers Fail But Headphones Work

This often means a blown speaker or a loose flex cable. Run a built‑in hardware test if your maker offers one, or book a repair.

One Channel Only

Left plays, right doesn’t? Try a new headset and clean the jack gently with a canned‑air puff. If both sets fail on the same side, the jack or amp may need service.

Sound Crackles Then Cuts Out

That pattern points to heat, a loose connector, or a short in the speaker. Back up your data and schedule a service visit.

Stop Audio Problems Before They Start

  • Keep OS and drivers current through the built‑in update tools.
  • Skip third‑party “booster” apps unless you trust the brand and can roll back.
  • When you dock, wait a few seconds after plugging in before pressing play.
  • Label your outputs in Windows Sound so you pick the right one faster.
  • Protect ports: avoid yanking the plug by the cable, and don’t twist the jack.

Fast Paths You Can Copy And Run

Windows Run Box Shortcuts

ms-settings:sound
mmsys.cpl
devmgmt.msc
control mmsys.cpl,,0

Windows Command Prompt (Admin)

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
net stop audiosrv && net start audiosrv

macOS Terminal

sudo killall coreaudiod

What To Do Next

Sound still missing? Try one last pass: remove every audio device in Device Manager, reboot, and let Windows redetect them. On a Mac, create a new user account and test audio there; that tells you if the cause is a user setting. If sound only fails through one app, reinstall that app. If speakers are dead but a headset works, schedule a repair. You’ll spend less time and get a cleaner fix than chasing it for days.