Here are solutions to some common sound problems with a PC.
Try using the Playing Audio troubleshooter to fix the problem. It checks for common problems with your volume settings, your sound card or driver, and your speakers or headphones.
Tap or click to open the Playing Audio troubleshooter. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.
To get the most up-to-date troubleshooters from the Windows Online Troubleshooting Service, your PC should be connected to the Internet. For more info, see Connect to the Internet.
Here are some things to try:
Make sure your PC actually has a sound card or sound processor.
You must be signed in as an administrator to follow these steps.
Tap or click to open Device Manager. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.
Double-tap or double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand it. If a sound card or sound processor is listed, you have one installed. If no sound card or sound processor is listed, check the info that came with your PC to see if there's supposed to be one installed.
Tablets and laptops don't usually have sound cards. Instead, they have integrated sound processors.
If you think you have a sound card or processor installed but you don't see it under Sound, video and game controllers, expand Other devices, and check the devices listed there.
Make sure your sound card or sound processor is running properly. If there's a yellow question mark next to the name of the sound card in Device Manager, there might be a problem.
Double-tap or double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand it.
Double-tap or double-click the name of the sound card.
Tap or click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to identify problems with the sound card.
If you have speakers, make sure they're plugged into a working power source and turned on.
Make sure that your speaker volume or headphone volume isn't muted or turned down too low. This is particularly important for tablets and laptops, which often have small speakers that can be hard to hear.
Tap or click to open Volume Mixer.
Under Device, move the slider up to increase the volume.
Some PCs have an external volume control on the outside of the case. Check that it's not turned all the way down.
Make sure your headphones are unplugged from the line-out (headphone) jack of your sound card or PC (unless you want to be listening with headphones rather than speakers). When you plug in headphones, most PCs automatically cut the sound to the speakers.
Make sure your playback device is set as your default audio device.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.) Enter Sound in the search box, tap or click Settings, and then tap or click Sound.
Press and hold or right-click in the list of playback devices, and make sure that both Show Disconnected Devices and Show Disabled Devices are selected.
Press and hold or right-click the device you want, and then click Set Default.
If these steps don't fix the problem, check the info that came with your PC or speakers, or go to the manufacturer's website.
Damage to speakers or the speaker wires can cause crackling. Try connecting another set of speakers to see if the problem continues. This can help determine if the problem is with your speakers or your PC.
If this doesn't fix the problem, check the info that came with your PC or speakers, or go to the manufacturer's website.
For Windows to recognize your sound card or sound processor, and for it to work properly, you need a compatible driver. Here are three ways to find and install a driver:
Use Windows Update. Windows Update can automatically download and install recommended updates.
Install software from the device manufacturer. If your device came with a disc, that disc might contain software that installs a driver for the device.
Download and install the driver yourself. Try searching for a driver on the manufacturer's website if Windows Update can't find a driver for your device and the device didn't come with software that installs a driver.
You can install a device driver using Device Manager in Control Panel.
Tap or click to open Device Manager. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.
Double-tap or double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand it, and then double-tap or double-click the device name.
Tap or click the Driver tab, and then tap or click Update Driver, and wait while Windows looks for a new driver.
If you don't hear any sounds coming from an audio device that you've plugged in, make sure your PC isn't muted.