No Sound in Windows 11 or 10 From Speakers or Headphones? Work Through It in Order

Q: Only one app has no sound but everything else works?

That's a per-app problem — check that app in the Volume mixer (Fix 2) and confirm its output device.

Published ✓ Verified ⏱️ 2 min read January 7, 2025 · by Ryan Bennett

Your volume slider looks normal, but no sound comes out of your speakers or wired headphones.

Why: Windows is almost always sending audio to the wrong output, the device is muted, an “enhancement” is breaking playback, or the audio driver has stalled. Work fastest-first.

Fix 1: Select the correct output device

Windows often defaults to the wrong output (HDMI monitor, a disconnected headset, etc.).

Open Start → Settings → System → Sound.
Under Output, click Choose where to play sound and pick your actual speakers or headphones.
Confirm the volume slider is up and the speaker icon isn’t muted.

To force a default the old way: Settings → System → Sound → More sound settings → Playback tab, right-click your device and choose Set as default.

Fix 2: Check the per-app volume mixer

A single app can be muted even when the system isn’t.

Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer.
Make sure the affected app isn’t muted and its slider is turned up.
Confirm the correct Output device is selected for that app.

Fix 3: Turn off audio enhancements

Enhancements (spatial sound, loudness equalization) can silence some hardware.

Settings → System → Sound → under Output, click your device to open its page.
Under Advanced settings, set Audio enhancements to Off.

On Windows 10: Sound Control Panel → Playback tab → device → Properties → Enhancements → Disable all enhancements → OK.

Fix 4: Restart the Windows Audio service

If the audio engine has hung, restarting it brings sound back without a reboot.

Win + R  →  services.msc  →  Enter

In the Services window, right-click Windows Audio → Restart, then right-click Windows Audio Endpoint Builder → Restart. Play audio again to test.

FAQ

Only one app has no sound but everything else works? That’s a per-app problem — check that app in the Volume mixer (Fix 2) and confirm its output device.

Sound stopped right after a Windows update? Different cause — roll back the audio driver. See Audio stopped working after a Windows update.

Sound settings are greyed out / “No audio output device is installed”? The driver or device isn’t detected — see No audio output device installed.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Fix audio issues when no sound plays from speakers or headphones, Microsoft Support — Fix app audio not working while system sounds work