No sound from laptop speakers? Start here
Unlike phones, laptop audio failures are usually software, not dirt. Work through these in order.
1. Confirm the right output device
Windows: right-click the speaker icon → Sound settings → make sure “Speakers” (not HDMI, not a headset) is the output. This alone fixes a huge share of cases — Windows loves switching to a monitor’s audio.
2. Check the volume mixer
Right-click speaker icon → Open volume mixer. Individual apps (and sometimes the system) get muted independently. Unmute everything and raise levels.
3. Restart Windows Audio services
Press Win+R → type services.msc → restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder. Corrupted audio services are the classic “no sound after update” cause.
4. Update or reinstall the audio driver
Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers → right-click your audio device → Update driver. If that fails, Uninstall device (tick “delete driver”) and reboot — Windows reinstalls a fresh one.
5. The headphone-jack trick
Plug headphones in and out 2–3 times. A stuck jack sensor can leave the laptop convinced headphones are connected, muting the speakers.
Muffled laptop speakers?
Laptops collect dust in their downward-firing grilles. Our cleaning tones work on laptops too — play the Deep Clean program with the laptop’s speakers unobstructed, volume at 100%.