No sound after a Windows 11 update (Realtek audio): Microsoft's fixes in order

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Work through these in order and test the sound after each one. The steps are Microsoft's, from its "Fix sound or audio problems in Windows" guide for Windows 11.

1. Run the audio troubleshooter. Use the Get Help app's audio troubleshooter, or go to Start → Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters and select Run next to Audio.
2. Check where the sound is going. Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar, then the arrow to the right of the volume slider ("Select a sound output"), and pick the speakers or headphones you're using.
3. Check the basics. Cables and jacks, power, mute and volume (including the app's own volume). For USB audio try another port; unplug headphones to test the speakers.
4. Turn off Audio enhancements. In Settings → System → Sound, select your device under Output, then under Advanced settings set Audio enhancements to Off.
5. Make sure the device is enabled. In Settings → System → Sound, select More sound settings, open the Playback tab, select your device, choose Properties and confirm Use this device (enable) under Device usage.

If sound broke right after an update: roll back the driver

Microsoft's guide covers this case directly. Search the taskbar for device manager and open it, then expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click your audio device (on many PCs it's a Realtek device), select Properties, open the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver, then Yes. If rollback isn't available, Microsoft suggests restoring from a system restore point.

Reinstall or switch the driver

Still in Device Manager, under Sound, video and game controllers:

1. Update: right-click the device, select Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers.
2. Reinstall: right-click the device, select Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select Uninstall, then restart the PC.
3. Try the generic Windows driver: right-click the device, select Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, select the audio device, then Next.
4. Restart the audio services: search for services, and restart Windows Audio, Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) (right-click each, Restart, Yes).
5. Change the format: in Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Sound, on the Playback tab right-click the Default Device, choose Properties → Advanced, change Default Format, select OK and test.

Where to get the right Realtek driver

Microsoft's advice, if the steps above fail, is to install the latest audio driver from the device maker's support site. For Realtek audio that usually means your laptop or motherboard maker, using the exact model: on 30 October 2026 Realtek's own HD Audio codec page listed driver R2.83 (15 August 2024) for Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10, with no Windows 11 entry. Our Realtek HD Audio Driver listing links to that page, and makers' own tools such as HP Support Assistant, Dell Command | Update and Lenovo Vantage are listed too.

Skip "driver updater" programs and sites offering a standalone "Realtek HD Audio Manager". They aren't Realtek or your PC maker.

If that didn't work

• Install pending updates. Start → Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, install, then Start → Power → Update and restart.
• Some PCs have an IDT codec: if Device Manager lists IDT High Definition Audio CODEC, Microsoft says to use Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → Let me pick… and choose High Definition Audio Device.
• Only the microphone is silent: check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and turn on Microphone access and Let apps access your microphone.
• Nothing works: contact your PC maker's support; built-in audio hardware is theirs to diagnose.