Updated 19 October 2026.
A monitor can display a perfect picture while its speakers remain silent. The most useful first checks are whether it has built-in speakers, whether the connection carries sound, and whether the computer is sending audio to that display.
Confirm that speakers actually exist
Read the exact model’s specification or manual. A headphone socket or an audio-output menu does not necessarily mean there are speakers inside. Some displays pass sound to external speakers instead.
Dell’s HDMI connection guide explains that display sound relies on the connected display’s audio facilities. Use the equivalent documentation for your own monitor.
Check the complete connection
| Connection | Audio consideration |
|---|---|
| HDMI or DisplayPort | Can carry audio, but the source, adapter and display must support the actual setup. |
| USB-C | Depends on the host, cable, monitor and its supported audio/display mode. |
| VGA | The VGA video signal does not carry sound; a separate supported audio path is needed. |
| DVI or a DVI adapter | Do not assume sound will work. Check the specific source and adapter arrangement. |
| 3.5 mm audio input | Requires a separate audio cable connected to the monitor’s actual input. |
For connector differences, see our PC video-output guide. A chain of adapters can change which functions remain available.
Select the monitor as the sound output
- In Windows, open Settings > System > Sound.
- Choose the display or its audio endpoint under output devices.
- Raise the Windows volume and play a known working sound.
- Check the application’s own output choice and volume.
- Disconnect a headset if the monitor automatically routes sound to it.
The endpoint can use the monitor name or a graphics/display-audio label. The correct choice depends on how it is connected, so do not select Realtek solely because that name is familiar.
Check the monitor’s own menu
Use the physical controls to check mute, volume and the selected audio input. Conferencing monitors can have additional USB speakerphone endpoints. Dell’s S2422HZ and S2722DZ speaker instructions illustrate why the exact model’s manual matters more than a generic screenshot.
Then try a direct connection and a known working supported cable. If audio disappeared after a graphics update, review the computer or GPU manufacturer’s display-audio driver instructions. A monitor color-profile file is not a universal sound repair.
Separate a settings problem from a hardware fault
Test another supported source with the same display, and test the original source with another audio output. If the monitor remains silent across suitable sources with its own volume enabled, contact its manufacturer. Our missing audio-device guide covers the separate case where Windows has no usable output endpoint.
FAQs
My monitor has a headphone port. Does it have speakers?
Not necessarily. Check its exact specification.
Can DisplayPort carry sound?
Yes, when supported by the source, connection and display.
Do all USB-C cables carry monitor audio?
No. Cable and host capabilities, the display mode and the monitor all matter.
Why does Windows show an NVIDIA or AMD audio device?
Graphics hardware can supply the digital audio sent over a display connection.