SOUND PROBLEMS WITH AN ACER DESKTOP

Question

SOUND PROBLEMS WITH AN ACER DESKTOP

Peter Axon 0

I currently have no sound on my Acer desktop. There is a white cross on my sound bar which says there is no sound device installed. However a check with Device Manager says Realtek is installed and working correctly. While i am about it my computer does have a microphone installed which has also fallen victim to the not working ethic. It hasn't been operational for over a year.

Any ideas?

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Peter Axon 0

Okay:

It says Aspire C24 - 1700

Peter

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Answer 2

Emma1-N 13,700 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Welcome Peter Axon,

Thank you for posting to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

To help narrow this down, could you tell us:

Which version of Windows are you using (Windows 10 or Windows 11)?
Did the audio stop working recently, or has it been missing for a long time?
Does your Acer model use the built-in speakers, or are external speakers connected?

In the meantime, please try these quick checks:

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder"
Ensure both services show Running and Automatic. If not, right-click each service and select Start

Then check whether an audio device now appears.

Also, please open Settings > System > Sound and let me know whether any device is listed under Output or if the list is completely empty.

I look forward to your reply.

Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-02T04:32:27.56+00:00

Hi Emma and thanks for replying.

I am using Windows 11

The audio stopped working September 30th although the microphone has been inactive for at least a year.

The Acer model I have does have built-in speakers and microphone.

Windows Audio and Endpoint Builder both show Running and Automatic.

The Output on Settings shows: No Output Device Found. Also the sound check for the microphone does not work.

I hope I have covered everything you asked for.

Kind regards

Peter Axon
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-03T09:07:14.13+00:00
Hello Peter Axon,

Thank you for coming back.
Could you please check the following?

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager

Expand Sound, video and game controllers and let us know the exact name shown there.

Also expand System devices and check whether there are any entries with a yellow warning symbol.

In Device Manager, click View > Show hidden devices and see whether any audio devices appear grayed out.
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-03T13:35:02.5066667+00:00

Hello again, Emma:

There are four items showing under Sound video and game controllers. They are:

Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones

Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB Audio

Realtek (R) Audio

USB PnP Audio Device.

There are no yellow warning symbols in Systems devices

And no greyed out devices appear in hidden devices.

Kind regards

Peter
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-04T10:27:22.0166667+00:00

Hi Emma:

Further to yesterday's reply. the following might help:

Where the sound motif appears on the task bar there is a white cross on a black circle. Open that and the bottom line - the volume indicator - is, I suppose, to use your terminology - greyed out. It is of a lesser colour than the line above and the volume control will not slide along.

Also, if I click on Settings and go to Sound I am told both sound for the built-in Realtek speakers and the microphone are inoperable. Ie neither is connected.

Any help?

Peter
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-06T07:11:45.2266667+00:00
Hello Peter Axon,

Please try the step: Could you please try the following:

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager

Expand Sound, video and game controllers

Right-click Realtek(R) Audio and select Uninstall device

Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device if that option appears, then restart the PC
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-07T06:45:05.01+00:00

Hello Peter Axon,

Is there any update from you? Please let me know, I will be here to assist you.
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-07T09:48:43.8166667+00:00

Hello Emma:

I am sorry this seems such a complicated matter. Made more so by the fact your diagnosis has to be made from long distance. Were my latest comments of any help?

Before I go ahead with your latest proposal, can you please confirm you are suggesting I uninstall Realtek sound device. I don't want to make a bad situation worse!
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-08T07:32:49.07+00:00

Hello Peter Axon,

If you would prefer the more cautious approach first, you can also right-click Realtek(R) Audio > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers before trying the uninstall. Microsoft recommends updating the audio driver as an earlier troubleshooting option
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-09T11:06:58.2133333+00:00

Hi again Emma:

I am a little confused. Are you suggesting I remove the Realtek Audio facility? If so, what do I then do?

Peter
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-10T08:43:42.95+00:00

Hello Peter Axon,

Yes, I mean uninstalling only Realtek(R) Audio from Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers. You are not permanently removing the Realtek audio facility.

After uninstalling it, simply restart your computer. Windows will then attempt to reinstall the device driver automatically.
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-10T11:57:23.94+00:00

Hi Emma:

Thanks for clearing that up.

I have followed your instructionsd, but on re-starting there appears to be no change. The Realtek motif remains on the taskbar with the white cross on a black circle. And when opened the bottom volume line remains inoperative.

Peter
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Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-13T07:28:42.29+00:00
Hello Peter Axon,

Thank you for trying the reinstall. Since the Realtek device has returned but Windows still cannot use the speakers, we can leave the uninstall step behind and check the driver itself.

Please open Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right-click Realtek(R) Audio, and select Properties > Driver

First, please tell me:

the Driver Date

the Driver Version

whether Roll Back Driver is available or grayed out

If “Roll Back Driver” is available, please don't select it yet. Just let me know what you see.
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-13T11:38:29.0466667+00:00

Hi Emma: Thank you for perservering.

So, Driver Date is 03/03/22

Driver Version is 6.0. 9321.1`

Roll Back Driver is greyed out.

Kind regards

Peter
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-14T08:42:38.4266667+00:00
Hello Peter Axon,

Thank you, that information is helpful.

Since “Roll Back Driver” is grayed out, there isn't a previous Realtek driver available through Device Manager for us to return to. So please don't make any further changes there for now.

Let's check whether Windows has another audio driver available:

Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options

Under Additional options, select Optional updates

If Driver updates appears, expand it and look for an audio-related update, particularly one mentioning Realtek or Intel.

If one is available, install it and restart the computer.

If there are no audio-related driver updates listed, don't install anything unrelated. Just let me know what appears under Optional updates
Peter Axon 0 Reputation points

2026-10-14T10:38:11.12+00:00

Hi Emma:

There are no audio-related driver updates listed. Under Optional updates I get the following:

There is a white blank box. Then Firmware - 535. 10.40 and an instruction to Select the updates you want to install and a Download and Install box which is greyed out.

I did press Bluetooth and Devices and there was a Devices option for Audio and an Add Device option that is in Blue.
Emma1-N 13,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T05:33:58.36+00:00
Hello Peter Axon,

Thank you for checking. Since there are no audio driver updates available through Windows Update, let's take a different route and identify the exact Acer model before changing anything else.

Please try this:

Press Windows + R on your keyboard.

Type “msinfo32” and press Enter.

The “System Information” window should open.

On the right-hand side, look for “System Model”.

Please send me exactly what is written next to “System Model”.

There is no need to select “Add device” or install the firmware update at this point.