I don't have a default audio output option anymore

Melissa leisenring 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T15:22:36.3466667+00:00

I am not getting audio output on my laptop anymore and when I go to sounds there is no speakers listed in the output which the laptop speakers should be listed. How can I get my audio output back?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. David-M 128.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-16T15:55:37.66+00:00

    Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

    To be able to assist you better, please share a screenshot of the devices under the "Sound, Video and Game Controllers" category in Device Manager.

    1. Press "Windows + X" and select "Device Manager";
    2. Expand "Sound, Video and Game Controllers".

    Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

    Also, share a screenshot of your system information.

    • Press "Windows + R", type msinfo32 and press Enter.

    Maximize the window and use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

    Looking forward to your reply.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-16T15:22:49.87+00:00

    Try these steps in order on Windows 11:

    1. Check whether the audio device is disabled.
      • Open Start and search for Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • If the audio device appears, right-click it and select Enable device if that option is available.
      • If no audio device appears, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
    2. Check Sound settings and device properties.
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
      • Under Output, see whether the laptop speakers appear.
      • Under Advanced, select More sound settings.
      • On the Playback tab, select the speaker device, then Properties.
      • Next to Device usage, make sure Use this device (enable) is selected.
    3. Set the correct default output device.
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
      • In Output, select the speaker device to make it the default output device.
      • If an external monitor or HDMI device is selected as default, switch back to the laptop speakers.
    4. Install the latest audio driver.
      • Go to the laptop manufacturer’s support site.
      • Download the latest audio driver for the installed Windows version.
      • Install it, then restart the PC.
    5. Run the automated audio troubleshooter.
      • On Windows 11, run the Audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
      • It can automatically diagnose and try to fix missing audio device problems.
    6. Restart the PC.
      • Select Start > Power > Restart.
      • After restart, check whether the speakers are listed again.

    If the speakers still do not appear, the driver may be corrupted or not loading correctly, and reinstalling the latest manufacturer audio driver is the key next step.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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