Resolving No Sound Issues with Realtek Audio Drivers on Windows 10
Audio problems can be incredibly frustrating. Few things are more irritating than when your music or videos suddenly stop playing sound. If you are encountering no audio issues on a Windows 10 device using Realtek drivers, help is here.
In this guide, we will walk you through several proven solutions to restore sound when facing the “Audio Services Not Responding” error or having no audio output devices detected. Follow our troubleshooting tips below to get your Realtek audio working smoothly again in no time.
Update to the Latest Realtek Audio Driver
An outdated or incompatible Realtek audio driver is one of the most common culprits behind sound problems on Windows 10. Realtek releases new drivers periodically to fix bugs and improve compatibility with Windows updates.
Manually downloading and installing the newest driver from Realtek’s website often resolves audio issues caused by an outdated version. Here are quick steps for updating the driver:
How do I reinstall the Realtek HD audio codec driver?
Once you’re there, you can navigate to “sound, video and game controllers,” find the device that needs to be updated, right click it and select “update driver.” You’ll find that most of the time, this does the job and Windows will be able to reinstall the Realtek HD Audio Codec driver without requiring any further input from you.
Why is my audio driver not working Windows 10?
Your audio driver could have become corrupted, or maybe it needs an update to resolve some issue. Windows 10 gives a few options to fight a problematic driver. You’ll find these in the Device Manager, which you can access from a handy menu by right-clicking the Start button or hitting Win + X.
- Open Device Manager (right-click the Start menu and select it)
- Expand “Sound, video and game controllers”
- Right click on “Realtek High Definition Audio” and select Update driver
- Search automatically for updated driver software or browse your computer for the downloaded driver file
- Restart your PC after the installation completes
Alternatively, use an automated driver update utility like Driver Booster to download and install the newest Realtek audio driver with one click. This saves considerable time and effort.
Change the Default Sound Format
Another quick fix is to change the default sound format in Sound settings. The format can become corrupted or incompatible with certain applications.
To change it:
- Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sounds
- Go to the Playback tab
- Right click your speakers and select Properties
- Navigate to the Advanced tab
- Change the default format to a different setting like 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality)
- Click OK and see if sound is restored
Perform a Clean Reinstall of the Realtek Driver
If your audio issues persist, try completely uninstalling the Realtek driver and letting Windows automatically reinstall it:
How do I reinstall Windows 10 audio drivers?
To do this, in the Device Manager, expand the Audio inputs and outputs section. Right-click the audio device you’re using, select Properties, and browse to the Driver tab. Press the Roll Back Driver option if available, and Windows 10 will begin the process of using the prior driver version.
How to troubleshoot Realtek audio problems on Windows 10?
1. Right-click the Volume icon present in System Tray. 2. Select Open Sound settings > Device properties > Additional device properties. 3. This will open a new window; click the Enhancements tab and uncheck the box next to Disable all enhancements > Apply > Ok This should troubleshoot Realtek audio problems on your PC. 3.
How to fix sound problems in Windows 10?
I would suggest you to try the steps mentioned in Fix sound problems in Windows 10 and check. Click on Search on Taskbar and type Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand Sound, Video, and Game Controllers Right click on the audio device and select Update Driver. Select the option Browse my computer for Driver Software.
- Open Device Manager and expand “Sound, video and game controllers”
- Right-click the Realtek High Definition Audio device
- Select Uninstall device > Confirm
- Restart your computer
- Windows will detect the missing driver and replace it with a fresh working version
This clean reinstall process often fixes driver corruption issues plaguing the existing installation.
Disable Audio Enhancements
Some sound enhancements like equalization presets can interfere with certain programs and cause playback problems. Disabling all audio enhancements may resolve sound glitches:
- Right-click the speaker icon and choose Sounds
- Go to the Playback tab
- Right-click your speakers and select Properties
- Click the Enhancements tab
- Check the box for Disable all enhancements
- Click Apply and OK
With enhancements disabled, audio should play as intended. Remember to re-enable them if desired after confirming the fix.
Restore to a Previous System Restore Point
If you’ve exhausted other troubleshooting methods, perform a System Restore to roll back your PC’s state to when audio was functioning normally:
Why does my Windows 10 sound crackling?
Windows’ audio enhancement options are, usually, a helpful setting that improves the audio quality of your output devices. In some cases, the selected sound quality may interfere with the built-in settings of the audio device, resulting in crackling sounds. Thus, disabling audio enhancements may help resolve the issue.
What is Realtek HD Audio?
Realtek HD Audio is an audio driver for system sound that supports DTS, Dolby, and Surround Sound. It is not mandatory to install Realtek HD Audio, but it is very helpful. The application used for managing audio settings on the PC is called RealTek HD Audio Manager.
Which Realtek audio driver do I Need?
The appropriate Realtek audio driver for your system depends on the manufacturer of your motherboard. You can find versions of the Realtek audio codecs for Windows 10, Windows 11, and previous operating systems on the Realtek website. You can also customize your audio driver settings using the Realtek HD Audio Manager.
Why is Realtek HD Audio Manager not working?
If the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not working, showing, or missing from the Device Manager in Windows 11 or Windows 10, you can fix the issue using the following methods. Let’s get into the details of each method. If the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not working on your PC, it might be due to outdated drivers or missing files.
- Type “System Restore” into the Start menu search box
- Choose “Create a restore point” then “System Restore”
- Follow the prompts to choose a restore point date prior to when issues began
- Restart your computer after restoration completes
Reverting to an earlier system state often resolves driver and configuration problems causing sound issues.
Update Audio Drivers and Hardware Firmware
Alongside the Realtek driver, also update your computer’s other audio drivers and motherboard firmware to the newest versions. Old drivers and firmware bugs often create compatibility problems.
Use free utilities like Snappy Driver Installer and Driver Booster to auto-detect and update all drivers to eliminate potential conflicts. Update motherboard BIOS/UEFI firmware through your manufacturer’s website.
Following these tips should resolve most instances of "No Audio Output Device is Installed" errors, missing system sounds, and audio service crashes related to Realtek hardware. Let the tunes play on! For additional audio troubleshooting assistance, post a thread detailing your specific hardware configuration and issues.
Does Realtek HD Audio come pre-installed?
The Realtek HD audio comes pre-installed on many Windows computers out there. The troubleshooting methods will work on both the Windows 11 and Windows 10 OS (which Microsoft promised to support till 2025). We will point out differences if there are changes in steps.
Can I use a Realtek driver on my Motherboard?
You do not want to use the driver from the Realtek site. Always use the driver from the mfg of your motherboard (or machine if using a laptop). [EDIT: Linked by Vivian ] Even if that driver is older than a driver directly from Realtek it is likely the driver most suitable for your motherboards audio setup.
