audio from Realtek quit working

Windy 0 Reputation points
2026-11-05T20:12:36.59+00:00

Realtek and speaker icon on taskbar disappeared and sound quit working

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-05T20:12:55.3733333+00:00

    For Windows 11, this usually points to the audio device or driver being missing, disabled, or not loading correctly.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Restart the PC
      • Select Start > Power > Restart.
      • After restart, check whether the speaker icon returns and whether sound works.
    2. Check the audio device in Device Manager
      • Select Start, type Device Manager, and open it.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • If the Realtek 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.
    3. Install or update the audio driver
      • In Device Manager, right-click the audio device under Sound, video and game controllers and select Update driver.
      • Follow the on-screen steps and restart the PC.
      • If the Realtek device is missing or still not working, install the latest audio driver from the PC manufacturer’s support site, then restart.
    4. Reinstall the audio driver
      • In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device.
      • If shown, select Delete the driver software for this device.
      • Restart the PC.
      • Warning: save open work first, because the restart is required. Windows should reinstall the audio driver automatically after restart.
    5. Check Windows Update
      • Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
      • Select Check for updates and install all available updates.
      • Restart the PC.
    6. Run the automated audio troubleshooter
      • On Windows 11, run the automated Audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app.

    If the Realtek driver still does not return after these steps, the most relevant next action is to install the latest Windows 11 audio driver specifically for the PC model from the device manufacturer.

    References:

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  2. Ferdinand Nanalig 33,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-05T20:44:17.3533333+00:00

    Hi, let me help you.

    Please hover your mouse over the sound icon in the lower-right corner, then right-click it and select Troubleshoot Sound. Let the troubleshooter finish its task, then this should either resolve the problem or display an error message.

    If that doesn't work, we need to remove the Audio driver from the Device Manager and restart the PC to reinstall it.

    Here are the steps to completely remove a Device from your computer.

    Step 1. Use the Windows key + X shortcut.

    Step 2. Select Device Manager.

    Step 3. Expand the entry Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. Right-click the problematic device, which is either Realtek Audio, or AMD High-definition Audio, or High-Definition Audio, depending on the audio device installed in your PC, and select Uninstall device.

    Step 4. You need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device and then click the Uninstall button.

    Step 5. Reboot the computer.

    After the reboot, please see if the problem is fixed.

    If that still does not work, please visit the support website of your laptop or desktop and then download and install the latest Audio driver, then restart the PC.

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