Why Can’t I Hear Sound From My Laptop? | Fix It Fast

Guide / By

Laptop sound problems usually come from muted volume, the wrong output, a disabled device, or drivers—check those and run the built-in troubleshooter.

If your laptop speakers are silent, start with simple checks, then move through system fixes. This guide lays out quick wins first, deeper steps next, and clear paths for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Can’t Hear Sound On Laptop: Quick Checks

These checks take seconds and solve many no-audio cases:

  • Turn Up All Volumes: Raise the system volume, the app’s own slider (YouTube, Spotify, Zoom), and any knob on external speakers. Unmute everywhere.
  • Pick The Right Output: Many laptops see multiple devices (speakers, monitor over HDMI, a headset). Select your built-in speakers or the device you intend to use.
  • Unplug And Reconnect: Remove USB headsets or 3.5 mm plugs, then try again. If you use a hub or dock, plug audio gear straight into the machine for a test.
  • Kill Sneaky Routes: Toggle Bluetooth off to stop the system from sending audio to a paired device in your bag or another room.
  • Restart Once: A single reboot can clear a hung audio stack after updates or a sleep-wake cycle.

Fix No Sound On Windows

Work through these steps in order. They align with Microsoft’s own guidance on fixing audio in Windows 10 and 11 and handle the common traps.

  1. Run The Audio Troubleshooter: Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then run Playing Audio. This test switches devices, resets features, and flags driver issues. See Microsoft’s fix sound problems.
  2. Select The Output You Expect: Click the speaker icon on the taskbar, open the device list, and pick your speakers or headset. Windows often defaults to a monitor over HDMI/DisplayPort after updates. Steps mirror the Microsoft page above.
  3. Check Volume Mixer: Right-click the speaker icon > Open Volume mixer. Make sure neither the device nor the app has an “x” on it. Raise sliders.
  4. Set A Default Device: In Control Panel > Sound, on the Playback tab, right-click your speakers > Set as Default Device. This avoids apps sending audio to a different path.
  5. Disable Audio Enhancements: Some drivers apply effects that break output. In device Properties (Playback tab > right-click device), turn off enhancements.
  6. Try Another Port Or Adapter: For USB headsets or DACs, switch ports. If you use a hub, test direct-to-laptop. For 3.5 mm plugs, confirm you’re in the headphone jack, not mic.
  7. Reinstall Or Roll Back The Driver: In Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device > Uninstall device (check “attempt to remove” if present), then restart. Windows reloads a clean driver. This sequence appears on the Microsoft page linked above.
  8. Turn Off The App-Only Control Option (If Drops Or App Locks): In Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Properties, uncheck the option that lets apps take control alone, then test. Some DAWs and voice tools grab the device and mute everyone else.
  9. Restart Windows Audio Services (Power User Fix): Use an admin Command Prompt to restart the services that manage sound:
net stop AudioEndpointBuilder
net start AudioEndpointBuilder
net stop audiosrv
net start audiosrv

These services set up endpoints and streams. If they fail to start, a driver or policy is in the way—reinstall, or undo recent changes.

Fix No Sound On Mac

Check the app first, then your system output. Apple lists the exact screens to confirm the right device and volume.

  1. Check App And Browser Sliders: Confirm the player isn’t muted. In Safari, the tab can be muted at the search field.
  2. Select Built-In Speakers: Go to System Settings > Sound > Output, pick Internal Speakers, raise the slider, and clear Mute. Apple’s page walks through each step: Mac internal speakers not working.
  3. Disconnect Extras: Unplug USB/Thunderbolt docks, displays with speakers, and headsets. Turn off Bluetooth to stop auto-routing.
  4. Restart Core Audio (Power User): If audio services hang, a quick restart can help. Open Terminal and run:
sudo killall coreaudiod

Core Audio restarts itself after that command. If the daemon keeps failing, reboot and install macOS updates. If there’s still no output across apps, book a repair.

Fix No Sound On Linux

Most modern distros use PipeWire (or PulseAudio on older releases). These commands restart the user audio stack without a reboot.

PipeWire

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Restart the PipeWire and Pulse servers, plus the session manager, to rebuild the graph.

PulseAudio

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

If your distro migrated to PipeWire, the first command may show “daemon not running.” Use the PipeWire restart above in that case.

Hardware And Connection Checks

When software looks fine, rule out wiring and speakers:

  • Headset Jack: Try a second pair of earphones. A bent plug can short the jack sensor and disable speakers.
  • External Screen: If you use HDMI or USB-C video, your laptop may send audio to the display by default. Switch output back to the laptop.
  • Speakers: Play a test tone on another device through the same speakers or amp to be sure they work.
  • Dust And Debris: For 3.5 mm jacks, a tiny lint ball can block full insertion; a short blast of air can help. Be gentle.

App Checks That Fool People

Plenty of “no sound” cases come from apps, not the system. Run through these before you dive deeper:

  • Meeting Apps: Teams, Zoom, Meet, and Discord can switch output to a headset you used last time. Open the app’s audio settings and pick your speakers there too.
  • Web Players: Many sites mute by default. Click the speaker icon on the player. In Chrome or Edge, right-click the tab and pick Unmute site if needed.
  • Game Launchers: Steam and some titles load with their own volume in Windows’ mixer. Raise the game’s slider in the mixer while it’s running.
  • DAWs/Audio Tools: Music apps may take full control of the device. Close them fully, then test a normal player.

More Windows Fixes If You Still Get Silence

  1. Check Spatial Sound: In Settings > System > Sound select your output device and set Spatial sound to Off for testing. Some virtualizers break output.
  2. Communications Ducking: In Control Panel > Sound > Communications, set “Do nothing.” That stops Windows from lowering volumes during calls.
  3. Reset App Volumes: In Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer, use Reset to clear per-app levels.
  4. Test Tone From Device Properties: In Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Properties, then click Test. If you hear the chime, the device works and the issue sits in an app path.
  5. Roll Back A Problem Driver: In Device Manager, open Properties > Driver and try Roll Back if the button is active.
  6. Windows Update > Optional: Audio drivers sometimes live under Optional updates. Install vendor audio updates, then reboot.
  7. Vendor Suite Cleanup: If you installed third-party enhancers or “audio managers,” remove them, then run the troubleshooter again.

Handy Windows Run Commands

mmsys.cpl                
ms-settings:sound         
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,0  
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,1

Deeper Mac Steps If Sound Still Won’t Play

  • Test With Another User: Add a new macOS user and try audio there. If it works, a per-user setting or add-on is blocking the old account.
  • Audio MIDI Setup: Open Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup. Select MacBook Speakers, set Format to a common rate like 44,100 Hz, then click Mute off and set Master to mid-range.
  • Reset Output Chain: Toggle Sound Effects > Play sound effects through to MacBook Speakers, then test the alert sound.
  • Safe Mode: Boot to Safe Mode to load minimal extensions, then test. If it works there, remove recent audio add-ons and restart normally.

Linux Sound Tips Beyond Restarts

  • alsamixer: Open a terminal and run alsamixer. Pick your card with F6, unmute Master/PCM with M, raise levels with the arrow keys.
  • Default Sink: On PulseAudio, pick a sink with pactl set-default-sink <name>. On PipeWire, pw-cli or your desktop’s sound settings do the same.
  • Bluetooth Profiles: Switch headsets between HFP/HSP (calls) and A2DP (music). Music needs A2DP for full-band output.
  • Udev Rule Oddities: If USB audio drops after wake, the PipeWire restart above brings it back cleanly.

Quick Decision Tree

Use this flow to zero in fast:

  1. One App Or All? If one app fails, fix that app or its slider in the mixer. If all apps fail, continue.
  2. Internal Or External? If headphones work but speakers don’t, test the jack and set speakers as default.
  3. Device Switch After Update? Pick the intended output again and make it default.
  4. Still Silent? Run the OS troubleshooter. Reinstall the driver (Windows) or restart the audio daemon (Mac/Linux).
  5. No Change? Suspect hardware. Try an external USB headset to confirm the laptop can still make sound at all.

Common Causes And Fast Fixes

The table below maps symptoms to likely causes and a quick action.

Symptom Likely Cause Fast Fix
No sound after an update Default device switched or driver glitch Set default in Control Panel; reinstall driver; run the troubleshooter
Apps play, browser tabs mute Per-app volume or muted tab Raise the app slider; unmute the tab in the search field
Sound works on HDMI screen only Output routed to the display Select laptop speakers as output
Works on headphones, not speakers Jack sensor stuck or speakers disabled Unplug/replug; check Playback devices; clean the jack
Zoom or DAW mutes others App-only control grabs the device Turn off app-only control in device Properties
Nothing plays anywhere Audio service or daemon hung Restart Windows Audio; restart coreaudiod; restart PipeWire
Popping or distortion Effects/enhancements or bad cable Disable enhancements; try a new cable or port

When To Seek Repair

If none of these steps restore sound across apps and users, the speaker amp, jack, or a board-level part may be damaged. Back up data and arrange a hardware check with the manufacturer or a trusted shop.