Sound and Audio does not work after Windows Update

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To resolve sound issues after a Windows 10 update, you can follow these updated steps:

1. Use the Windows Audio Troubleshooter

This tool automatically detects and fixes audio problems. It can be accessed in two ways:

Through Sound Settings:
1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Sound.
4. Under the “Output” section, click the Troubleshoot button.
5. Follow the on-screen directions to fix the audio issue.
Through the Troubleshoot Page:
1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Troubleshoot.
4. Under the “Get up and running” section, select the Playing Audio option.
5. Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
6. Continue with the on-screen directions.

2. Check and Set Default Audio Device

Ensure your audio device is set as the default device, especially if using USB or HDMI audio devices:

Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area.
Select ‘Sounds’ and then the ‘Playback’ tab.
Identify your audio device in the list. If it’s not set as the default, you will not see a green checkmark next to it.
Right-click the desired device and select ‘Set as Default Device’.
Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm.
Restart your computer and check if the sound issue is resolved.

3. Uninstall and Reinstall Audio Drivers

If the sound issue persists, your sound drivers might need reinstallation:

Uninstalling the Audio Driver:
1. Open the Device Manager.
2. Navigate to ‘Sound, video and game controllers’.
3. Right-click on your sound device and select ‘Uninstall device’.
4. Follow the prompts to uninstall and restart your computer.
Reinstalling the Audio Driver:
1. Upon restart, Windows should attempt to reinstall the audio driver automatically.
2. If Windows does not reinstall the driver, visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest driver manually.

4. Update Audio Drivers

Keeping audio drivers up-to-date is crucial for resolving sound issues:

Manual Update:
1. Open Device Manager from the Start menu.
2. Expand ‘Sound, video and game controllers’.
3. Right-click on your audio device and select ‘Update driver’.
4. Choose ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ and follow the instructions.
Automatic Update:Use a driver updater tool to automatically find and install the latest drivers.

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5. Restart Audio Services

Restarting certain Windows services can resolve audio issues:

Press Windows logo + R keys to open the Run Dialog box.
Type ‘services.msc’ and press Enter.
In the services list, find ‘Windows Audio’, ‘Windows Audio Endpoint Builder’, and ‘Remote Procedure Call (RPC)’.
Right-click each service and choose ‘Restart’.
After restarting these services, check if the sound issue is resolved.

6. Use Different Audio Formats

Changing the audio format can sometimes resolve compatibility issues:

Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area and select ‘Sounds’.
Go to the ‘Playback’ tab and double-click on your default audio device.
Switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab.
In the ‘Default Format’ section, try selecting different audio formats and test each one to see if the sound works.
Click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ after each change to save your settings.

7. Disable Audio Enhancements

Disabling audio enhancements can solve compatibility issues:

Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area and select ‘Sounds’.
Go to the ‘Playback’ tab and select your default audio device.
Click ‘Properties’ and navigate to the ‘Enhancements’ tab.
Check the ‘Disable all enhancements’ box or select ‘Disable all sound effects’.
Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to save changes and check if the issue is resolved.

8. Roll Back or Use Generic Audio Driver

If recent updates caused the sound issue, rolling back to a previous driver version or using the generic Windows audio driver might help:

Roll Back Audio Driver:
1. Open Device Manager and expand ‘Sound, video and game controllers’.
2. Right-click on your audio device and select ‘Properties’.
3. Go to the ‘Driver’ tab and click on ‘Roll Back Driver’, if available.
4. Follow the prompts and restart your computer.
Use Generic Audio Driver:
1. Open Device Manager and expand ‘Sound, video and game controllers’.
2. Right-click on your audio device and select ‘Update driver’.
3. Choose ‘Browse my computer for drivers’ and then ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’.
4. Select the generic audio driver (High Definition Audio Device) and follow the instructions to install it.

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