Updated : Revised to correct outdated details and make the guidance easier to follow.
“No audio output device is installed” means Windows cannot find a usable sound output. A missing or disabled driver can cause it, but so can a disconnected device or a change in your setup. Start with simple checks before removing drivers or reinstalling Windows.
These steps focus on Windows 11. Some menu names differ on Windows 10, whose standard support ended on October 14, 2025.
First, check where the sound should go
- Restart the PC using Start > Power > Restart.
- Reconnect the speakers, headset or USB audio device and check its own power and volume.
- Open Settings > System > Sound and look under Output.
- If more than one output appears, select the one you actually use and try a familiar audio file.
An HDMI or DisplayPort screen may become the selected output even if you expected sound from the laptop speakers. Some monitors have an audio output but no built-in speakers. A connected Bluetooth device can also take over playback.
| What happens | Try next |
|---|---|
| Your device appears, but it is silent | Check its volume, the app’s volume and the selected output. |
| No output device appears | Run the audio troubleshooter, then check Device Manager. |
| Only one app is silent | Check that app’s output and sound settings. |
| Sound stopped just after a driver update | Check whether a driver rollback is available. |
| Only one cable, port or headset fails | Test another known-working connection before changing system settings. |
Run the current Windows audio troubleshooter
On Windows 11, open Get Help from Start and search for audio troubleshooting. Follow the checks it offers for your device. Microsoft now points users to this tool in its missing audio device guide.
Old instructions that rely on a particular legacy troubleshooter command may no longer match your Windows build.
Check whether the audio device is disabled
Search Start for Device Manager. Expand Sound, video and game controllers. If your expected device is listed, open its properties and note any error code. A disabled device may offer Enable device when you right-click it.
If it is missing, use Action > Scan for hardware changes. A missing entry does not by itself prove the speakers are broken: the driver or another required system component may be absent.
Install the correct driver, not a random driver updater
Check Windows Update, then the official support page for your exact laptop, desktop or motherboard. Match the model and Windows version. Some systems need a chipset or Intel Smart Sound component as well as the named audio driver.
Download the correct installer before removing an existing driver. Avoid deleting several sound devices at once: HDMI audio, Bluetooth audio and built-in audio can be separate devices.
If the problem began after a custom Windows installation, check that its driver packages match the hardware. Our nLite and NTLite guide explains that distinction.
If the problem started after an update
In the audio device’s properties, open the Driver tab. If Roll Back Driver is available and the timing fits the failure, it can help return to the previous driver. The button can be unavailable if Windows has no previous package saved.
See Microsoft’s post-update audio guide for the current procedure. Reinstall a driver only after you have a suitable replacement and understand which device you are changing.
When should you check the hardware?
Try a known-working headset or speaker. If one device works and another does not, focus on the failing device, adapter or port. If no outputs appear even with the correct maker-supplied drivers, contact the PC maker with the model, Windows version and Device Manager error.
Our headphone connection guide explains USB, wireless and 3.5 mm differences. For an older pair of Jabra earbuds, the Elite 75t review and feature update helps separate its features from a Windows detection problem.