Encountering sound issues such as “sound not working after a Windows update” can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of a task or looking forward to enjoying some entertainment. This article dives deep into the common causes of this issue and provides step-by-step solutions to restore your sound system efficiently.
Why Sound May Stop Working After a Windows Update
Windows updates are designed to improve your system’s performance, enhance security, and add new features. However, sometimes these updates can cause unexpected issues, such as sound not working. The potential culprits for audio problems post-update include:
- Driver conflicts or outdated drivers
- Incorrect audio settings
- Disabled sound services
- Third-party software interference
Basic Troubleshooting Steps
Before diving into more complex solutions, try these basic troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure that your speakers or headphones are properly connected and powered on.
- Check that the volume is turned up and not muted, both in Windows and on the external device.
- Restart your computer to reset any temporary glitches.
Solution 1: Update Audio Drivers
Outdated or incompatible audio drivers are a common reason behind sound not working after a Windows update. Here’s how to update your drivers:
- Open Device Manager: Right-click on the Start menu and select “Device Manager”.
- Locate Sound, Video, and Game Controllers: Expand this section to view your audio drivers.
- Update the Driver: Right-click on your audio driver (e.g., Realtek High Definition Audio) and select “Update driver”.
- Search Automatically: Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software”. Windows will attempt to find the latest driver updates.
- Reboot System: After updating, restart your computer and check if the sound is working.
Solution 2: Roll Back Audio Drivers
If updating the driver doesn’t help, you may need to roll back to a previous driver version that worked. Here’s how:
- Access Device Manager: Follow the steps above to open Device Manager.
- Right-click on Audio Driver: Select your audio driver and click “Properties”.
- Go to the Driver Tab: Click on the “Driver” tab, where you’ll find an option to “Roll Back Driver”.
- Follow Instructions: Follow the on-screen instructions to revert to the previous driver version.
- Test the Sound: Restart your computer and test if the audio issues persist.
Solution 3: Configure Audio Settings
Windows might alter some audio settings during an update. Here’s how to check and configure them:
- Open Sound Settings: Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select “Open Sound settings”.
- Check Output Device: Ensure the correct playback device (e.g., speakers or headphones) is selected in “Choose your output device”.
- Device Properties: Click on “Device properties” and ensure that the device is not muted and the volume is elevated.
- Advanced Sound Options: Click on “App volume and device preferences” to make sure no applications are muted.
Solution 4: Restart Audio Services
At times, restarting Windows Audio services can fix the problem of sound not working after a Windows update:
- Open Run Dialog: Press Windows Key + R, type “services.msc”, and press Enter.
- Locate Windows Audio: Scroll down to find “Windows Audio” and double-click it.
- Restart the Service: Click “Stop” and then “Start” to restart the service
- Dependency Services: Repeat the steps for related services like “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder”.
- Verify Sound: Once the services are restarted, check if the sound has resumed.
Solution 5: System Restore
If none of the above solutions work, consider performing a System Restore to revert your computer to a point before the Windows update caused sound issues:
- Open System Restore: Type “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and select it.
- System Protection Tab: Hit the “System Protection” tab and click “System Restore”.
- Select a Restore Point: Choose a restore point dated before the update and click “Next”.
- Follow Instructions: Follow the prompts to complete the restore process.
- Check Sound: Once restored, check if the sound issue persists.
Solution 6: Contact Support
If your sound is still not working after trying these steps, consider reaching out to Windows or your computer manufacturer’s support for professional advice. They may offer specific solutions based on your hardware and software configuration.
Conclusion
While it’s frustrating when sound is not working after a Windows update, there is a good chance one of these solutions will work for you. Finally, I want to say that I already had a similar article with a similar topic, but it seemed to be the problems of Bluetooth devices and you can read it here, maybe this is exactly what you need!