How to fix laptop sound problems

During this pandemic, many laptop users experienced laptop sound issues during important conferences and this is really frustrating.

Luckily, this kind of laptop repair is easy since it has many ways to fix it.

In this article, you can start diagnosing your no-sound issue starting with the first tip in the list.

1. SYSTEM OR APP PROBLEM ?

I know that this seems obvious, but many laptop users can accidentally mute their system or web browser volume without notice.

First thing, start checking your system volume. For Windows users, drag the system volume slider and let go, if you hear a little sound effect, then your system sound is working fine and you should check with the app you are using.

If you don’t hear the sound of in-browser players, taking the example of Google Chrome, you can click the music note icon in the browser’s menu to control to unmute any tab.

• ARE YOUR HEADPHONES WORKING?

If after using external headphones or speakers you get any audio, then the problem can be from your laptop’s speakers.

• CHECK THE AUDIO SENSOR

As suggested in this article talking about laptop sound issues, sometimes the laptop thinks that headphones are plugged into the audio jack when they aren’t, and this is due to a malfunctioning sensor.

To fix this, try to twist the plug as you insert it and remove it.

If sound comes and goes, then your audio sensor is broken and you should take your laptop for service.

• CHECK YOUR CHOSEN PLAYBACK DEVICE

When you connect an external monitor or Bluetooth headphones, your laptop remembers them to save time connecting them in the future. If your laptop still thinks that it should play sound in one of those devices, you won’t hear any sound.

To fix this, open your laptop sound settings and check that nothing is set as your playback device.

• CHECK THE AUDIO DRIVER

If you just installed a fresh Windows and your laptop became silent then you need to install the audio driver for your audio card.

Another thing that you have to check, is if your audio driver is out of date. In this case, just delete your current audio driver and search for the latest version.

• DISABLE WINDOWS AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS

For Windows laptops, built-in Microsoft and third-party packages designed to enhance your audio could be the cause of your audio issue.

To fix this, just follow these steps:

• Right-click on the speaker icon in the “System Tray”.
• Select Sounds.
• Switch to the “Playback” tab.
• Double-click on the audio device you are using.
• Click the “Enhancements” tab.
• Check the box named “Disable all enhancements”.
• Hit “Apply”.

If you still don’t hear any sound, repeat the steps above for each one in the “Playback” list.

• CHECK THE WINDOWS 10 AUDIO SERVICES

Sometimes, you have to restart the Windows audio services for your audio to function correctly.

All you have to do is :

• Search for “Service” from your start menu to open service manager.
• Scroll down to Windows Audio.
• Double-click it and select Start to start it again.
• Double-check the service’s Startup type that is set to automatic.

If you still hear nothing coming out from your laptop, move to the next tip.

• CHECK THE BIOS

Sometimes the audio can be disabled from the BIOS.

To check if its the case:

• Restart your laptop and boot into BIOS.
• Look for audio settings.
• Check if the audio is disabled.
• If it the case, enable it and save your changes.
• Reboot your laptop into normal mode.
• RUN THE SOUND TROUBLESHOOTER

If you have a Windows laptop and nothing fixed the no-audio issue, then try running the built-in Windows sound troubleshooter. This tool is easy to use because it works automatically after you launch it.

To run this tool, all you have to do is to right-click the speaker icon in the system tray, then select “troubleshoot sound problems” and follow the instructions.