"No audio output device is installed" in Windows: how to fix it

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Windows shows this message when it cannot find a working audio device, usually because the audio driver is missing, disabled or not loading. Start with a restart and the audio troubleshooter, then check Device Manager and reinstall the driver if the device is still missing.

Applies to:Windows 11Windows 10support ended 14 Oct 2025
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What it means

Windows plays sound through an audio device (speakers, headphones, the sound chip on your motherboard). If it cannot find one it can use, you get the message "No audio output device is installed". You may also see wording such as "no audio output device found" or "no output devices found". These are the same problem described differently.

Microsoft's explanation is that the audio driver is missing, outdated, disabled or not loading. It often shows up right after a Windows update or a driver change, or when the driver or the audio hardware itself is damaged. The fixes below go from the quickest to the more involved, so work through them in order.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • A message says "No audio output device is installed."
  • Sound settings are unavailable or grayed out.
  • Your speakers or headphones are not listed under Output in Sound settings.

The usual causes, most common first:

Audio driver missing, corrupted or not loading
Without a working driver, Windows has nothing to send sound to. Microsoft lists a missing, outdated, disabled or not-loading driver as the cause.
Device disabled
The audio device can be switched off in Device Manager, which makes it vanish from the list of outputs.
A recent Windows update or driver change
An update or a driver swap can leave the audio driver in a broken state.
Hardware problem
If the sound hardware itself is faulty, no software fix will bring it back. Contact the device maker if everything else fails.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Restart the PC

Easy

A restart reloads the audio driver and clears many temporary glitches.

  1. Select Start > Power > Restart.
  2. After the restart, check whether your speakers or headphones now appear in the sound settings.

2.Run the audio troubleshooter

Easy

The built-in troubleshooter checks the audio setup and can apply fixes automatically.

  1. On Windows 11, open the Get Help audio troubleshooter at aka.ms/GetHelp-AudioTroubleshooter and follow the prompts.
  2. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Playing Audio and run it.

3.Reconnect external audio devices

Easy

A loose or misdetected headset or external speaker can leave Windows with no usable output.

  1. Unplug headphones or external speakers and restart the PC.
  2. Plug the device back in and check the sound settings.

4.Check Device Manager

Easy

The audio device may simply be disabled or hidden.

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
  3. If your audio device is listed, right-click it and choose Enable device (only shown when the device is disabled).
  4. If it is not listed, choose View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.

5.Install the latest audio driver from the manufacturer

Moderate

A missing or outdated driver is one of the causes Microsoft names, and the PC or sound card maker's driver is made for your hardware.

  1. On the support site of your PC or sound card maker, find the audio driver for your model and your version of Windows. Use another device to download it if this PC has no internet.
  2. Install the driver, then restart the PC.

6.Install pending Windows updates and optional driver updates

Easy

Windows may be able to supply a working audio driver itself.

  1. Open Settings > Update (on Windows 10: Update & Security) and install anything pending.
  2. Check the optional updates for audio drivers and install them, then restart.

7.Uninstall and reinstall the audio device

ModerateChanges settings

Removing a corrupted driver entry lets Windows set the device up again from scratch.

Before you start: Have the manufacturer's audio driver downloaded first (see the earlier fix), in case Windows does not reinstall one on its own.

  1. In Device Manager, right-click your audio device under Sound, video and game controllers and choose Uninstall device.
  2. Do the same for any entries under Audio inputs and outputs.
  3. If you see the option Delete the driver software for this device, tick it (it appears only for some drivers).
  4. Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the device, or choose Action > Scan for hardware changes.

8.Add the sound device as legacy hardware

AdvancedChanges settings

If Windows still does not detect the device, you can add it by hand.

Before you start: Choose the manufacturer and model carefully. Picking the wrong driver can leave sound still not working.

  1. In Device Manager, choose Action > Add legacy hardware.
  2. Select the manual installation option, then Sound, video and game controllers.
  3. Pick the manufacturer and model of your audio device, finish the wizard and restart.

9.Reset the PC or contact the device maker

AdvancedBack up first

If nothing else works, the Windows installation may be damaged, or the sound hardware may have failed.

Before you start: Resetting Windows can remove apps and settings, and may remove files depending on the option you choose. Back up your files first.

  1. Back up your important files.
  2. Use Reset this PC in Windows settings, or contact the maker of your PC or sound device, since the fault may be in the hardware.

Check that it worked

  • Your speakers or headphones appear under Output in the sound settings.
  • The sound settings are no longer grayed out and the message no longer appears.
  • You can play a sound or video and hear it.

If it still fails

  • If the device still does not appear in Device Manager after a driver reinstall, the sound hardware may be faulty. Contact the maker of your PC or sound device.
  • Try a different output (a USB headset or HDMI display) to see whether Windows detects any audio device at all, which helps tell a driver issue from a hardware one.
  • Back up your files and consider Reset this PC only as a last resort.

Questions

Is "no audio output device is found" the same error?

Yes, it is the same problem. Windows' own wording is "No audio output device is installed".

Sources

  1. Fix missing or undetected audio output device in WindowsOfficial · Microsoft Support
  2. How to Fix "No Audio Output Device Is Installed" in Windows 10 · Help Desk Geek

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