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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Answer 1

Emma1-N 13,430 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 13,430 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 13,430 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