Laptop Speakers Not Working

Having your laptop's speakers stop working all of a sudden can be an annoying issue but, thankfully, there are plenty of troubleshooting tips you can try to fix the issue. If you are experiencing this problem, then we suggest following the steps below to try and get your laptop speakers to work once again:

Run the Windows Sound Test

To verify that the speakers are indeed the problem, we suggest running the Windows Sound Test. To access it, go to the Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound. Select 'Sound, Speakers, and Headphones,' click on your speakers, and then tap Configure. Press 'Test' and see if any sound comes from your speakers – if it does, then they are working fine, and the problem is elsewhere.

Verify you are using the Correct Audio Device

Right-click the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen, and select 'Audio Settings.' This will open a settings menu where you will find 'Choose your output device' on top. Make sure that it is set to 'Speakers.' Once the setting is applied, restart any software you use for audio playback (players, browsers, etc.)

Update Audio Drivers

Download the latest audio drivers from your laptop manufacturer's website, or use automated driver installation software. Audio driver updates are known to fix various playback issues, as well as other unexpected issues.

Reinstall Your Drivers Completely

If all else fails, you may need to try and get a fresh copy of your audio drivers. Start by removing the current ones by either:

• Go to Start Menu -> Apps -> Apps and Features. Find your audio driver and uninstall it. It may go under different names depending on your audio card's manufacturer – 'Realtek' is the most common one. Restart the system.
• Go to Start Menu -> Device Manager. Expand the 'Sound, video and game controllers' section, right-click your primary audio driver, and select 'Uninstall Device.' Restart your computer.

Finally, download the latest drivers for your audio card and install them. You may need to restart your computer again.