How to fix sound errors on Windows 10

The problem may appear after you update the operating system, due to program conflicts or 3rd party software. In this article, TipsMake will show you some ways to check and fix the above audio errors on Windows 10.

The sound bug could be with 3rd party software and requires a patch. The problem could also be with Windows 10 itself or from some hardware. The following guide starts with fixes from simple steps and delves deeper into Windows 10 if you continue to face the problem of loss of sound.

1. Follow the basic methods first

First, you need to verify that the audio hasn't been accidentally turned off on your PC. If your keyboard has a volume control, press or adjust the control button to see if the volume goes up and down. You can also check the speaker icon next to the system clock.

As shown below, the speaker icon with an X means the sound is off. Simply click on it to expand the audio panel.

Next, click on the speaker icon to the left of the slider to unmute.

You should also verify that the sound is not muted in the hardware. For example, your speakers might have volume buttons, or they might be accidentally pulled out from your PC or electrical outlet. Likewise, your headset or microphone may include volume controls that are turned off or they are not connected to your PC.

Another simple fix is ​​to make sure that the problem is not related to a particular application or program installed on your computer. Audio is muted on YouTube, for example.

In addition, users can also try to install all Windows 10 updates or restart the computer.

Check the audio equipment

In general, you should only have one audio device installed. However, the list will pile up when you start to install external devices like HTC Vive, wireless Xbox controllers, headphones .

There may be situations where you switch from your headset to your laptop's built-in speakers, but Windows 10 still plays the sound through those disconnected headphones. You can verify the default audio device in 1 of 2 ways: from the taskbar or Control Panel.

Check the audio device from the taskbarA: Click the speaker icon located next to the system clock. You will see 1 name listed on the volume control panel. Click the name to open the Select Playback Device list and choose another audio device until you hear the sound.

Test the audio device through Control Panel: Enter the keyword Control Panel in the search field on the toolbar and select Control Panel from the search results. Next, select Hardware and Sound> Sound.

In the Sound window just in, you set your audio device as the default device by clicking on it and pressing the Set Default button. Finally, click OK to save the changes.

3. Run the troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a built-in troubleshooter that scans your system and provides a possible fix. You enter the keyword Audio in the taskbar search field and click Find and Fix Problems with Playing Sound from the search results to open the troubleshooter in Control Panel.

You can also access some troubleshooters by going to Start> Settings> System> Sound> Troubleshoot.
- After the troubleshooter scans the audio devices, you select the device to be processed and click the Next button.

Windows 10 scans for problems. Follow any available instructions to resolve the loss of sound on the computer.

4. Reboot the audio device

Enter the keyword Services in the taskbar search field and select Services from the search results.

In the Services window, you will need to restart the following 3 services:

1. Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
2. Windows Audio
3. Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

For each service, click to select, right-click to open the service's menu and then select the Restart option. If the Restart button is greyed out, replace it with the Refresh button.

5. Turn off the audio enhancements

These "innovations" are provided by audio hardware manufacturers and Microsoft to deliver the best possible experience. However, they could be the cause of the problem.

You enter Control Panel in the search field on the taskbar and select Control Panel from the search results.

Choose Hardware and Sound from the main Control Panel menu and then Sound.

Next, select the audio device listed under the Playback tab and right click on it to open the menu. Then, select Properties.

In the Speakers / Headphones Properties window that just opens, click the Enhancements tab, select the option Disable All Sound Effects or Disable All Enhancements. Click the OK button to confirm the change.

If that didn't work, you might not have chosen the right audio device as the default device. Follow the steps in Check your audio device through the Control Panel to set up the default audio device. If the loss of sound persists, proceed to the next step.

6. Change audio format

Current audio format may not work correctly with computer hardware. In this case, open the Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound > Sound.

Next, click on the audio device listed in the Playback tab, right-click on it and select Properties.

In the Speakers / Headphones Properties window , select the Advanced tab . In the Default Format drop-down menu, choose a different format and click the Test button to see if the selected format works. If so, click Apply > OK button to save changes.

One of the most common problems on Windows 10 is loss of sound. Therefore, if you are having problems with sound loss on Windows 10, then you are not alone. It is important that the sound error on Windows 10 can be fixed quite easily, and above are a few ways that you can apply. You don't have to try every method, go from basic to advanced.

Good luck.

David Pac

Update 14 March 2021