In this article, we will see the fixes for the “No speakers or headphones are plugged in” error in Windows 11/10. Most commonly, such types of problems occur due to corrupted drivers. Due to this error, you will not get any sound output from your PC and when you look at the volume icon on your Taskbar notification area, you will see this error message. Also, this error message is not associated with a particular brand of computer or sound card.
This problem can occur with both built-in and external speakers.
No speakers or headphones are plugged in error on Windows 11/10
If you see the “No speakers or headphones are plugged in” error on Windows 11/10, use the solutions below to resolve the problem. But before you begin, here is an initial checklist that contains some easy fixes. First, try these fixes. If they do not work, move ahead for further troubleshooting.
- Restart your computer. Sometimes, issues occur due to a minor bug fixed simply by restarting the computer.
- Try another cable. The cable you use to connect the speaker to your computer may be damaged. If you have another cable, use it and see if the error occurs again.
- Test your speaker. Though the possibilities of a damaged speaker are less, we suggest you test your speaker. Connect your speaker to another computer and see if it works.
- Check for Windows Update. Make sure that you are running the latest version of Windows 11/10.
Let’s see the troubleshooting methods.
- Run Playing Audio Troubleshooter
- Disable and re-enable Realtek High Definition Audio driver
- Roll Back or reinstall Realtek High Definition Audio driver
- Check the status of the Windows Audio Service
- Run a command in Command Prompt
- Update your chipset driver
Below, we have explained all these fixes in detail.
1] Run Playing Audio Troubleshooter
Windows 11/10 has different automated troubleshooters. These troubleshooters are dedicated to resolving different issues on a Windows computer. Because you are experiencing a problem with your audio device, running the Playing Audio Troubleshooter can be helpful for you.
- Open Windows 11/10 Settings.
- Go to “System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.” Windows 10 users may see Additional troubleshooters in the pace of Other troubleshooters.
- Locate and run Playing Audio Troubleshooter.
2] Disable and re-enable Realtek High Definition Audio driver
The Realtek High Definition Audio driver helps the Windows operating system to communicate with the audio devices and sound cards. The problem that you are experiencing may be occurring due to an issue with the Realtek High Definition Audio driver. Disable and re-enable this driver and see if it helps.
Follow the steps provided below:
- Open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Sound, video and game controllers node.
- Right-click on the Realtek High Definition Audio driver and select Disable device.
- Wait for a few minutes, then right-click on the driver and select Enable device.
Related: No Audio on the computer; Sound is missing or not working on PC.
3] Roll Back or reinstall Realtek High Definition Audio driver
When Windows Updates are installed, some drivers are also updated automatically. It is also possible that the updated version of the audio driver is not compatible with your system due to which you are experiencing the problem. If this is the case with you, rolling back the audio driver will help.
Locate the Realtek High Definition Audio driver in the Device Manager by following the steps listed in the previous fix. Now, Right-click on the Realtek High Definition Audio driver and select Properties. Switch to the Driver tab and see if the Roll back button is available. If yes, click on it and roll back the audio driver.
The above steps will install the previous compatible version of the audio driver on your system. This will fix the issue.
If the Rollback option is greyed out, uninstall and reinstall the audio driver. To do so, go through the following instructions:
- Right-click on the Realtek High Definition Audio driver.
- Select Uninstall device.
- Close the Device Manager and restart your computer.
Windows will automatically install the missing drivers on restart.
4] Check the status of the Windows Audio Service
Windows Audio Service manages audio on WIndows computers. If this service is stopped, audio devices and sound effects will not function properly. If the issue still persists, we suggest you check the status of this service. Follow the steps written below:
- Open Windows Services Manager.
- Locate Windows Audio service.
- If it is stopped, right-click on it and select Start.
- Now, right-click on it and select Properties.
- Under the General tab, select Automatic in the Startup type drop-down.
- Click Apply and then click OK.
Related: Computer sound volume too low on Windows.
5] Run a command in Command Prompt
The following commands fixed the issue for many users. If your system still displays the same error message, launch the Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands.
net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
Press Enter after typing each command. After executing the above two commands, the issue should get fixed.
6] Update your chipset driver
We also suggest you update your chipset driver. The chipset driver helps Windows operating system to communicate with your system’s motherboard.
Related: Headphones plugged in but sound coming from speakers on Window PC.
Why does my computer suddenly have no sound in Windows 11?
There can be many causes why your computer suddenly has no sound. Open the Device Manager and check if your audio driver shows a warning sign. If yes, uninstall and reinstall your audio driver. If you do not hear sound on a particular application, like a web browser, check the volume mixer setting. The problem also occurs if your audio device is disabled.
How to enable audio output in Windows 11?
You can enable audio output in sound settings. Open the Control Panel and search for Sound. Click Sound from the search results. Under the Playback tab, right-click on your audio device and select Enable.
I hope the solutions provided in this article helped you resolve the issue.
Read next: No sound after unplugging headphones in Windows 11/10.
