No Sound Through HDMI or Monitor Speakers in Windows 11? Set HDMI as Default
The picture comes through your HDMI monitor or TV fine, but there’s no sound from its speakers in Windows 11.
Why: Plugging in HDMI doesn’t automatically switch audio to it — Windows keeps sending sound to whatever output is set as default. You have to pick the HDMI device yourself. (And if your monitor has no built-in speakers, there’s nothing to play through.)
Fix 1: Set the HDMI/monitor device as the default output
- Go to Start → Settings → System → Sound.
- Under Output, select the device you want — your HDMI display or TV is usually listed by its model name (for example, “Samsung TV” or a graphics-card audio name like “NVIDIA / AMD / Intel Display Audio”).
- Play something to test.
Fix 2: Set it as default in the Sound Control Panel
If the device is listed but stubborn, force it as the default:
- In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel and open it.
- Select Hardware and Sound, then Sound.
- On the Playback tab, right-click your HDMI/display device, choose Set as Default Device, then OK.
If the HDMI device is greyed out or marked “Not plugged in,” reseat the cable at both ends and try a different HDMI port.
Fix 3: Make sure the monitor actually has speakers
This is the catch that trips people up: if you’re using an external monitor that doesn’t have built-in speakers, make sure that monitor isn’t selected as your default output device — if it is, you’ll get no audio at all. Many office monitors have no speakers. In that case, route sound back to your PC speakers or a separate set, or connect speakers/headphones to the monitor’s own audio-out jack (if it has one).
FAQ
The HDMI device isn’t in the Output list at all. The display-audio driver may be missing or the port doesn’t carry audio. Update your graphics driver from the GPU maker’s site, and confirm the cable is a full HDMI cable in an HDMI (not DVI-adapter) port.
Sound was working over HDMI yesterday and stopped. Windows often reverts to PC speakers after sleep or a cable unplug. Re-select the HDMI device as default (Fix 1).
Sources: Microsoft Support — Fix audio issues when no sound plays from speakers or headphones in Windows · Microsoft Support — Fix sound or audio problems in Windows