Windows Update is the recommended way to get the latest audio drivers. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update. Select Check for updates. If audio driver updates are available, install them. Restart your PC to apply the updates.

Fortunately, most sound problems can be fixed by following a series of troubleshooting steps. This article provides a comprehensive guide to resolving audio issues in Windows. The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t.

Windows may not detect an audio output device if the required audio driver is missing, outdated, disabled, or not loading correctly. In this situation, sound options might not appear in Settings, or Windows may display an error indicating that no audio device is installed.

This issue occurs if the wrong audio output device is selected, the sound is muted, audio enhancements are interfering, or the audio driver isn’t working correctly. Try the following troubleshooting solutions to resolve the issue: Solution 1. Check your speaker output.

Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows. Tip: The best way to get driver updates in Windows is automatically using Windows Update. For more information, see Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware.

Use this tool to find and remove specific prevalent threats and reverse the changes that they made (see Covered malware families). For comprehensive malware detection and removal, consider using Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Safety Scanner.

Restarting audio services can resolve temporary sound issues. After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.

There are different ways to remove apps and programs, so if you can't find the one you're looking for, you can try another location. Note that some apps and programs are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled. You can try to repair a program first, if it's just not running correctly.

If you can’t install, uninstall, or update a desktop program in Windows 10, the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter can automatically fix common issues such as corrupted registry keys or incomplete uninstall data.

To remove the program, follow the instructions that appear on your screen. You may have to restart your computer. If the program that you want to remove is not listed in Programs and Features, you may be able to use the built-in program remover to remove the program. To do this, follow these steps: Click Start, and then click Computer.