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Quick answer

Open Settings → System → Sound and look under Output. Select the speakers or headphones you intend to hear, then check mute and volume. If only one app is silent, inspect that app in Volume mixer. If the intended device is absent, use the missing-device branch instead of repeatedly switching outputs.

Choose the check that matches your symptom

Start with the row that describes what you see. You do not need to try every step.

Match your symptom to the relevant check
What you noticeWhere to start
Sound stopped after connecting a monitor or headsetSelect the intended output.
One app is silent but other sounds workInspect app mute and routing.
Speakers or headphones are not listedSeparate a missing-device fault.
The correct device is selected but remains silentCheck physical controls before effects.

Before you start

  • Use these steps for playback on Windows 11: built-in speakers, wired audio, an HDMI display with audio, or a connected Bluetooth audio device. Microphone problems use different settings.
  • Keep volume low before testing, especially with headphones. Use a short sound you recognize and change one setting at a time.
  • Identify what should play the sound: built-in speakers, a wired headset, a powered speaker, an HDMI display or a Bluetooth device. A display must actually support audio playback.
  • For a managed work or school PC, use your IT team if settings are restricted. Do not install an unknown driver-updater utility.

Why this happens

A monitor, headset or speaker can become the selected destination. An app may also have its own mute state or output choice. A device missing from the output list is a different symptom and may require detection or driver checks.

What to do, step by step

Try one step at a time. Stop when the issue is resolved. If an instruction doesn't match your device, use the official model-specific guidance instead.

1

Select the place you want to hear sound

  1. From Start, open Settings. Choose System, then Sound.
  2. Under Output, expand Choose where to play sound if it is collapsed. Select the connected device you want to hear.
  3. Check the Volume control for mute. Raise it cautiously and replay the same short audio.
If the device is missing, skip to step 5. Selecting a monitor that has no speakers will not create audible sound.
Windows 11 Sound example: Speakers selected under Choose where to play sound, above the Volume control.View larger
Illustrated Windows 11 example. Your device names and layout may vary.
2

Check the cable and the device’s own controls

  1. Check that powered speakers are switched on and their volume is not set to zero.
  2. With a wired headset or speakers, check the plug is seated in the intended audio output, not the microphone input.
  3. If you have a known-working compatible headset already, compare it at low volume. Record which output works.
Use equipment you already own. Do not force a connector or assume every USB-C port provides the same audio path.
3

If only one app is silent, inspect Volume mixer

  1. Keep the affected app open and playing a short audio sample.
  2. Return to Settings → System → Sound and open Volume mixer.
  3. Find the app under Apps. If it is not listed, play audio in the app and check again. Use the app’s speaker icon and volume slider to unmute or adjust it.
  4. Expand the app row if needed. If an Output device choice is available, choose the destination you want and replay the same audio.
If other apps sound normal, avoid changing every system audio setting at once.
Windows 11 Volume mixer example: Media Player is muted under Apps, while System sounds is active. The expanded app row shows Output device.View larger
Illustrated Windows 11 example with a sample app. Expand the app row if needed; available controls can vary.
4

Compare sound with enhancements switched off

  1. In Sound settings, select the affected output device to open its settings.
  2. If Audio enhancements is available, note its current value and select Off.
  3. Play the same audio again. If there is no improvement, you can restore the value you noted.
This control is not present for every device. Do not invent a missing option or change unrelated advanced settings.
5

When the output device is absent, check detection

  1. Open Start and search for Device Manager. Open the matching Windows tool.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and look for the expected audio device.
  3. If it appears and its menu offers Enable device, select that option. If it is absent, choose View → Show hidden devices, then Action → Scan for hardware changes.
  4. Return to Sound settings and check the output list again.
A hidden entry does not prove the hardware is currently connected. Do not uninstall a driver just to test whether sound returns.
6

Use Windows diagnostics and stop before guessing drivers

  1. Save open work. Open Get Help from Start and request audio troubleshooting.
  2. Read each proposed action before continuing; note any error or device name it identifies.
  3. If the device remains undetected, obtain model-specific assistance from the PC maker or your IT team. Use only its official support route for a matching audio driver.
Do not reset Windows or buy replacement speakers solely because this basic check failed.

Still not working? Know when to stop

Stop once sound works. If a device remains missing, diagnostics report a hardware or driver problem, or controls differ from this guide, keep the PC model, output name and exact error for the manufacturer or IT team. A damaged cable, liquid exposure or overheating needs a hardware assessment rather than more software changes.

Write down the exact model and error message before contacting official support.

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OPTIONAL, NOT A REQUIREMENT

Useful tools, only if they fit your situation

Try the free checks first. Compare these optional products for the specific uses below; buying equipment does not guarantee a fix.

Try a speaker or headset you already own or can borrow first. These premium systems are options if you’ve isolated a faulty speaker or already want an upgrade. A separate USB audio output can bypass the PC’s analog jack, but new speakers will not fix a muted app or a system-wide audio fault.
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    • Subwoofer output with automatic crossover.

    Consider only when: Your current speakers are faulty or you want a dedicated desk upgrade, and a known-working audio device has confirmed that the intended PC output path works.

    Check compatibility: Requires wall power and the included cable between the speakers. Use a USB data cable for the PC connection, select the USB input on the speakers, then choose the speakers as the Windows output. Use a matching cable if connecting the PC’s analog jack to RCA.

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    KEF LSX II LT wireless hi-fi speakers (graphite grey, pair)

    For a shared PC and home audio setup where you also want network music streaming, TV audio or optical input.

    • USB-C audio input for computers.
    • HDMI ARC and optical inputs for compatible sources.
    • Built-in network streaming and dedicated amplifiers.

    Consider only when: Your computer’s audio works with another device and you want a premium speaker system for the PC plus TV audio or network music. A simple PC sound check does not require this system.

    Check compatibility: Connect the pair to wall power and your local network before using USB audio. Use KEF’s supplied cable between the speakers and a separate USB data cable from the PC to the primary speaker’s USB input. For TV audio, use a TV port marked HDMI ARC.

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Frequently asked questions

Why did sound disappear after I connected a monitor?

Windows may be sending it to the display. Check the selected Output and whether that monitor has working speakers.

Why does only one app have no sound?

Its mute, volume or output may differ from the system. Compare the app in Volume mixer before changing drivers.

Does No audio output device mean I need new speakers?

No. It means Windows is not detecting an available output. Check device detection and the manufacturer’s driver path before buying hardware.

Do I need to reinstall all audio drivers?

Not as a first check. Establish whether the correct device is selected and detected; use the PC maker or IT team for a specific driver issue.

Sources and editorial transparency

Documentation checked: 2026-11-07. Our instructions are written for this guide. Interface labels can change; this is a source review, not hands-on testing of every device.

Reference titles and source dates
  • Microsoft Support — No sound from speakers or headphones
  • Microsoft Support — App audio versus system sounds
  • Microsoft Support — Missing audio output device
  • Microsoft Support — General sound and audio checks
  • Microsoft Support — Windows sound controls in the Teams speaker guide

Prepared by TechTweety Editorial · Source-backed troubleshooting guide.