What to Do When Your Laptop Has No Sound

There’s nothing like cranking up some tunes to keep your momentum going during the workday.

- WHITSON GORDON

But if your laptop speakers aren’t working, it can really kill your groove. Here’s how to troubleshoot your PC when you aren’t getting any sound. While many of these suggestions reference Windows 10, similar processes can be used no matter which operating system you use.

CHECK YOUR VOLUME

This seems obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally muted my volume in Windows only to slap my forehead in exasperation later. Click the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of the Windows taskbar, and make sure your volume is unmuted and turned up. (If you have external speakers plugged in, make sure they’re turned on and turned up, too.)

When you drag the Windows volume slider and let go, you should hear a “ding.” If not, the problem lies elsewhere. If you do hear a ding, there’s a chance the app you’re trying to use is muted instead. Make sure the music player, video player, or any other app you’re using is unmuted and turned up. The same goes for YouTube and other in-browser players—it’s easy to mute them accidentally, which can be frustrating to diagnose later.

TRY SOME HEADPHONES