Did you hear that? Of course not, and that’s why you’re here. Some Windows 11 users report a loss of sound after upgrading from Windows 10 or installing a system update. Kind of annoying, because it’s often not hardware failure but something with the drivers or settings that go awry after an update. Basically, Windows updates can mess with your audio configs, and figuring out which fix actually works can be a bit of trial and error. This guide aims to cover some common culprits and show how to get sound back without pulling out your hair.
How to Fix Sound Issues on Windows 11 After an Update
Obvious Checks and Fixes
Starting with the basics is never a bad idea. Sometimes, it’s the small stuff that makes the biggest difference. Make sure your volume isn’t muted or turned down too low. For that, check the System Tray in the bottom right and click the Sound icon. If you see a little “X” or the volume slider is at zero, that’s your culprit. Also, check your physical device (headphones, speakers) to see if they’re plugged in correctly or if they work on another device. Because, like, your headphones could be busted or disconnected. Also, test sound in different apps—what plays fine in YouTube but not in some game? That might tell you it’s an app-specific issue, not system-wide.
Another thing: update all your drivers. Windows updates sometimes don’t install drivers properly. Head to Settings > Windows Update and hit Check for updates. Make sure everything’s up to date, including optional driver updates via Device Manager. Restart each time after installing critics to see if that helps. Yeah, it sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly effective.
Use Windows Built-in Troubleshooter
Windows has its own troubleshooters, which are kind of hit-or-miss but worth a shot. To run it:
- Right-click the Sound icon in the System tray
- Select Troubleshoot sound problems
- Follow the wizard. Windows will scan and suggest fixes for common issues like disabled devices, driver problems, or misconfigured settings.
This definitely helped on one machine where I just forgot to enable the output device after a Windows update. Sometimes, it’s just the simple stuff that gets flagged first, so don’t skip this step.
Check Your Audio Output Device
It’s weird, but sometimes Windows doesn’t automatically switch to your headphones or external speakers after an update. To confirm what device Windows thinks you’re using:
- Right-click the Sound icon and select Sound settings
- In the Output section, see the list of recognized devices. If your device isn’t listed, click Add device.
- Select your preferred device and test it by clicking Test.
If your device isn’t showing up, you may need to reinstall drivers or manually add your device. Sometimes unplugging and plugging back in helps Windows recognize the hardware again.
Restart Windows Audio Services
This one is kind of a hidden gem. Restarting just the audio services can fix issues if, say, the services got stuck after an update. Here’s how:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog
- Type
services.mscand press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open as Administrator - Scroll down to Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- Right-click each and choose Restart
Sometimes, just that tiny restart fixes the problem. Not sure why it works, but it does. On some setups, you might need to restart these services twice or reboot if things refuse to cooperate the first time.
Turn Off Audio Enhancements
Windows offers these fancy audio effects, but they can sometimes cause conflicts post-update. Disabling them has helped in several cases:
- Open Settings (Win + I) and go to System > Sound
- Click on your output device under Output
- Scroll down to find All sound devices and select your output again if needed
- In the Output Settings, find Enhance audio and toggle the slider to Off
This can make a noticeable difference—it’s kind of weird that turning off something meant to improve sound can sometimes fix a problem, but Windows loves complicating things.
Sometimes doing these fixes in combination or in order does the trick. Other times, a driver roll-back or a clean reinstall of audio drivers might be needed—especially if the software updates corrupted your driver setup.
Summary
- Check mute and volume levels in the tray
- Try different apps or media to isolate the problem
- Update your Windows and audio drivers
- Run the Windows Troubleshooter
- Confirm your output device is selected properly
- Restart audio services via services.msc
- Disable any audio enhancements for a cleaner config
Wrap-up
Getting sound back after a Windows 11 update can be a pain, but these tricks cover most common scenarios. Sometimes, just toggling a setting or restarting a service makes the magic happen. If none of this works, it might be time to reinstall your driver or even do a clean Windows install, but that’s more of a last resort. Fingers crossed this helps, and at least you now have some solid troubleshooting steps to try out. Good luck — hope it gets your sound flowing again!