Reinstall the Realtek audio driver first, because this directly matches the Windows 11 symptom where the volume remains at zero after troubleshooting.
1. Reinstall the Realtek driver
Save open work before proceeding because the computer must restart.
- Press Windows key + X, then select Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the Realtek Audio device associated with your speakers and select Uninstall device.
- If shown, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device.
- Do not remove unrelated HDMI, Bluetooth, or webcam audio devices.
- Select Uninstall.
- Select Start > Power > Restart—use Restart, not Shut down.
- Windows should reinstall the audio driver automatically after startup. Test whether the volume slider now stays above zero. Microsoft documents this driver-reinstallation process for malfunctioning audio drivers.^1^
2. Check the output and enable the speakers
Because two Realtek devices are listed, Windows may be using the wrong output.
- Select the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Select the arrow beside the volume slider.
- Choose each Speakers (Realtek Audio) entry in turn and test it.
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select the Realtek speakers that work; this also makes them the default output.
- Select More sound settings > Playback.
- Right-click the intended speakers:
- Select Enable if that option appears.
- Select Properties, and verify Device usage is set to Use this device (enable).
- In the device’s Sound settings, set Audio enhancements to Off.^1^
If neither Realtek device appears under Output, return to Device Manager, select View > Show hidden devices, and then Action > Scan for hardware changes.^2^
3. Restart the Windows audio services
If the device appears but the slider still returns to zero:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
services.msc and press Enter.
- Find Windows Audio, right-click it, and select Restart.
- Open its Properties and set Startup type to Automatic.
- Repeat those actions for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- Test the speaker volume again.
Restarting these services is specifically recommended when Windows audio remains unavailable.^3^
4. Install the PC manufacturer’s driver
If Windows reinstalls the driver but sound still fails:
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Install available updates, including applicable Optional updates, and restart.
- If that does not help, visit the support website for the computer manufacturer—for example, Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, or Acer.
- Search using the computer’s exact model.
- Download its latest Windows 11 audio driver, install it, and restart.
Use the computer manufacturer’s package rather than an unrelated generic Realtek download; Microsoft recommends the manufacturer-provided driver when the generic driver does not resolve the problem.^4^
If the Realtek device remains absent from Device Manager after installing the model-specific driver, provide the PC manufacturer and exact model, plus any error icon or code shown in Device Manager; that points to a model-specific driver or hardware issue.
References
- [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/audio/fix-sound-or-audio-problems-in-windows#general-audio-troubleshooting-in-windows-11)
- [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/audio/fix-missing-or-undetected-audio-output-device-in-windows)
- cannot increase volume even if trouble shooter updates it - Microsoft Q&A
- [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/audio/update-audio-drivers-in-windows#get-the-latest-audio-driver-from-the-device-manufacturer)