Remote Desktop Doesn’t Have Sound – 6 Quick Fixes

Quick Tips

• Check that audio isn’t muted and that the correct playback device is selected.
• Confirm that Remote Desktop is configured to play sound on the target device.
• Check that Windows Audio and the relevant Remote Desktop services are running (you may need to restart them).
• If necessary, check the audio-redirection policy on the remote computer.

Remote Desktop is a handy way to access a PC over a network without being in the same room. However, sometimes audio from the remote session doesn’t play as expected, making for a frustrating experience.

In this article, we’ll be looking at 6 fixes for when your Remote Desktop doesn’t have sound.

Remote Desktop Doesn’t Have Sound – Fixes to Try

If you’re stuck with Windows Remote Desktop no sound, try these fixes below:

Check the Sound

A good place to start is somewhere obvious. If connecting to a remote desktop, ensure that its sound is not switched off. Click the Sound Icon in the System Tray at the bottom-right of the other desktop and check that it’s both unmuted and not on “0” volume.

Check Sound Before Connecting

Another area where things go wrong is failing to enable sound before connecting. This can be avoided by confirming settings in Remote Desktop’s options. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. When opening Remote Desktop Connection, click the “Show Options” button.

Step 2. Click the “Local Resources” tab.

Step 3. Under “Remote audio” click “Settings.”

Step 4. Under Remote audio playback, select “Play on this computer” if you want to hear the remote session’s sound on your local device. If you want sound to play on the remote computer instead, select the corresponding option.

Update Drivers

If the previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, check for audio-driver problems on the local and remote computers. If a driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, updating or reinstalling it may help restore audio playback.

Restart Audio Services

If the Windows Audio service isn’t running correctly on the computer responsible for audio playback, Remote Desktop sound may not work. You can check the service’s status and restart it if necessary:

Step 1. Open the Run Dialog (Win + R) and type “services.msc” before hitting OK.

Step 2. In Services, navigate to “Windows Audio.”

Step 3. Right-click “Windows Audio” and select “Restart” if the service is running. If it isn’t running, select “Start” instead.

Step 4. See if this resolves things.

Restart the Remote Desktop Service

While you’re in the Services window, it might also help to restart the service associated with Remote Desktop. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. In Services, locate “Remote Desktop Services” and “Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector.” Check whether both services are running.

Step 2. If a service isn’t running, try starting it. If you need to restart Remote Desktop Services, be aware that Windows may prompt you to restart dependent services as well. Save your work and ensure you can reconnect before proceeding.

Step 3. See if the sound issue is resolved.

Enable Audio Redirection

If you’re still having trouble, you can try enabling audio redirection via the Group Policy Editor. Ensure you have Admin permissions, then do the following:

Step 1. Open the Run Dialog (Win + R) and type “gpedit.msc” before hitting (Ctrl + Shift + Enter) to run as Admin.

Step 2. Once in the editor, head to “Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Device and Resource Redirection.”

Step 3. Double-click “Allow audio and video playback redirection.”

Step 4. In the window that pops up, make sure that “Enabled” is checked, then click “Apply” and “OK.”

Step 5. Close the Remote Desktop session and reconnect to apply the updated settings. Then test the audio again.