No Sound After Windows 11 Update – What to Do

Quick Tips

• You might lose sound in Windows 11 after an update or move from Windows 10.
• This is a software issue caused by drivers, unrecognized outputs, and conflicting software.
• Do the obvious checks before attempting more advanced solutions.

Did you hear that? Of course not, and that’s why you’re here. Some Windows 11 users report a loss of sound on their machine after making the shift from Windows 10 or following a Windows 11 system update.

Because it’s only the software that’s changed, the problems are software-based and most often have to do with the drivers. In this article, we’ll look at how to get sound flowing through your speakers again.

No Sound After Windows 11 Update – It’s All About the Software

There’s a lot involved with an operating system update. It’s quite a wonder that things go as smoothly as they do, considering all that’s being replaced and upgraded. If you’re struggling with sound on Windows 11 after an update or upgrade, some major causes could be:

• Drivers – Outdated drivers can conflict with newer system software or become incompatible.
• Corruption – Files (like drivers) can get lost or corrupted during the update process.
• Improper Updating – The Windows Update may fail or partially complete, leaving many problems.

Knowing the problem is good, but solving it is better.

Fix Windows 11 “No Sound” After Update

Here are some possible fixes to try to get sound back on your PC:

Obvious Checks and Fixes

It’s important not to forget these easily overlooked, yet crucial troubleshooters:

• Mute – Check your volume in the System Tray at the bottom right of the screen. If your Sound icon has an “X” through it, you’re on mute. Also, check the volume slider.
• Audio Device – Make sure your headphones or speakers are working. Plug them (or connect them) into a different device to confirm.
• Check Different Apps – Your web browser might be muted by Windows while your media player is fine. See whether the problem is local or universal.
• Updates – Make sure your PC is fully updated and all patches and hotfixes are applied.
• Restart – Restarting your machine can repair a lot of problems, even driver issues.

Windows Troubleshoot

Windows includes its own troubleshooting processes for different components. The Audio troubleshooter could help fix your problems. To use it:

1. Right-click the Sound icon in the System tray and choose “Troubleshoot sound problems” from the pop-up menu.

2. Follow the prompts. The troubleshooter will run and attempt to solve your problems.

Confirm Your Audio Device

Your speakers or headphones might be connected, but not recognized by Windows 11. Here’s how to confirm:

1. Right-click the Sound icon in your System Tray at the bottom right of the screen.

2. Select “Sound settings” from the pop-up menu.

3. In the “Output” subsection, you’ll see your list of recognized audio devices. Click the circle next to the one you want and test it.

4. If you don’t see your device, you can try adding it by clicking the “Add device” button.

Restart Audio Services

Instead of restarting your entire machine, you can just restart your Audio Services through services.msc. To do this:

1. Open the Run Dialog (Win + R) and enter “services.msc” and press (Ctrl + Shift + Enter) to run as an Admin.

2. Navigate down to “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.”

3. Right-click it and select “Restart.”

Disable Audio Enhancement

Windows 11 Audio Enhancement is designed to give better sound, but can also result in none. Try disabling it to see if it helps:

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to “System.”

2. Select “Sound” and navigate to the “Advanced” section.

3. Click “All sound devices” and select your output.

4. Navigate to the “Output settings” subsection and drag the “Enhance audio” slider to “Off.”

5. Test your device again.