Sound not working? Find where the sound stops.

Open youtube.com in your browser and play a video. Keep it playing while you work through the steps, so you can hear when the sound comes back.

Select the sound, network and battery icons at the right of the taskbar. Move the volume slider up. If the speaker icon shows muted, select it to unmute. If the keyboard has a mute key, press it once, then press the volume-up key a few times.

Right-click the speaker icon and choose Open volume mixer. Check the browser is not muted and its volume is up.

Still no sound? Choose what matches below.

In the app that has no sound, check its own volume and mute button. For a website, right-click the browser tab and check it is not muted, then reload the page.

For Teams, Zoom and other call apps, choose your speakers or headphones in the app's audio settings and test again.

Turn the device on, check it is charged and keep it near the computer. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices, turn Bluetooth on and check the device shows as connected. Choose it as the output from the sound icon on the taskbar and test.

If it is still silent, turn the device off and on, then disconnect and reconnect it in Windows.

If that does not help, select the three dots next to the device and choose Remove device. Put the device in pairing mode, select Add device > Bluetooth, choose it and choose it as the output again.

During calls in Teams, Zoom and similar apps, Bluetooth headphones switch to a lower-quality mode so the microphone can work. Music and game sound may become muffled or stop during the call. This is normal and goes back to normal after the call.

• Does the computer have speakers? Many desktop computers have no built-in speakers. Make sure speakers or headphones are plugged in and turned on.
• Has sound worked on this computer before? If it never has, the speakers or headphones may not be connected or set up.
• Can Windows see the speakers? Search Start for Device Manager and expand Audio inputs and outputs. Your speakers or headphones should be listed.
• Is the sound level moving? With the video playing, look at the volume mixer. If the level bar next to the browser moves up and down but you hear nothing, Windows is playing the sound and the problem is where it is going: the output device, speakers, headphones or cable.

Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and select Troubleshoot sound problems. Follow the prompts and let it apply any fixes it suggests, then test the sound.

Select the sound icon on the taskbar, then the arrow next to the volume slider, and choose the speakers or headphones you want to use. Play a sound.

Or open Start > Settings > System > Sound, choose the device under Output, check its volume and select Test if shown.

If the computer is connected to a monitor or TV, Windows may send the sound to it; it shows under the monitor's name. Many monitors have no speakers, or their own volume is turned down. Choose your speakers or headphones instead.

Search Start for Device Manager. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and Audio inputs and outputs. Look for a yellow warning symbol, an unknown device, or an audio device that is disabled or missing.

If it is disabled, right-click it, choose Enable device and test. If it is missing, choose View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.

For audio drivers, see our software and drivers guide.

Open Start > Settings > System > Sound and select your output device. Under Format, choose another format and select Test.

Turn Audio enhancements off and test again. If the sound gets worse, set it back.

Some computers have a sound app from the manufacturer. Search Start for it and open it. Check the speakers are not muted or disabled and no special sound mode is on, then test.

Connect other speakers or headphones, choose them under Settings > System > Sound and play a sound.

If they work, the original speakers, headphones or cable are the problem. If neither works, the problem is the computer.

Check the cables, plugs, audio port and headphones for bent plugs, broken connectors, cracks or signs of liquid. For sound through a monitor, check its cable too.

If liquid has got into the computer or speakers, unplug the power and stop using them.