“If Windows encounters difficulty in determining the audio output location, employ these techniques to address the ‘no audio output device is installed’ issue.”
“Your Windows PC typically performs an automatic detection of all connected audio devices and installs the required drivers to ensure audio functionality. Nevertheless, there are instances when you might come across the error message ‘No Audio Output Device is installed’ when you hover your cursor over the audio icon in the system tray.
This error occurs when Windows is unable to identify your connected audio devices. It could be attributed to a temporary glitch, a driver-related problem, or, in certain situations, it may be linked to system file corruption. Below, you’ll find a set of troubleshooting steps designed to assist you in resolving the ‘No Audio Output Device is installed’ error on your Windows system.”
1. Employ the Audio Troubleshooter for Rectifying Sound Issues
You can utilize the integrated audio troubleshooter to address various sound-related problems within Windows. This utility is designed to inspect your PC for common audio issues and attempt to rectify them automatically, including cases where there is no audio in Windows 11.
To initiate the audio troubleshooter on Windows 11:
1. Right-click on the Sound icon (Speaker) located in the Taskbar.
2. Opt for “Troubleshoot sound problems.” This action will open the Help app with the “Help with audio problems in Windows” query pre-selected.
3. Click “Yes” to trigger the automated diagnostic process for resolving audio problems. The troubleshooter will commence scanning your computer for audio-related issues. Be patient, as this may take some time; wait until you hear a beep or observe the next step.
4. If you do not hear the beep, select “No” and adhere to the on-screen instructions to explore alternative troubleshooting measures.
To run the audio troubleshooter on Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the Speaker icon in the system tray and choose “Troubleshoot sound problems.”
2. Similar to the process on Windows 11, this will launch the Get Help app. Proceed by following the on-screen instructions to scan your system for audio issues and execute automatic fixes.
2. Deploy the Standard Audio Device Driver
You can resolve a corrupted driver by reinstalling the audio output driver using a standard device driver. This is particularly helpful if the dedicated audio device driver for your hardware is malfunctioning or has become corrupt. The Device Manager in Windows allows you to update and reinstall device drivers.
Here’s how to reinstall the generic audio output device driver:
1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” and click OK to access the Device Manager.
3. In the Device Manager, expand the “Audio inputs and outputs” section.
4. Ensure that your output device is listed. If not, click on “View” and then select “Show Hidden Devices.”
5. Right-click on your audio device and select “Update Driver.”
6. Choose “Browse my computer for drivers.”
7. Opt for “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.”
8. Enable the “Show compatible hardware” option.
9. Select “Generic software device” and click Next.
10. Allow Windows to complete the driver installation process.
11. Close the Device Manager and check for any improvements.
If updating the audio device driver does not yield the desired results, you should visit the website of your audio device’s manufacturer to locate updated drivers. In the case of a laptop, visit the website of your computer manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your specific model.
Furthermore, if you are using a laptop, consider using the troubleshooting options available in your system management utility. For instance, HP Support Assistant can diagnose various issues, including audio problems, on HP laptops. Similarly, major laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, Asus, and others offer similar diagnostic tools bundled with their devices. Running such diagnostic tools on your PC can be beneficial in restoring your audio functionality.
3. Reinstall the System Audio Device Drivers Manually
To resolve this error on your Windows computer, you can manually reinstall the system audio device driver. Here are the steps to accomplish this:
1. Open Device Manager by pressing Win + X and choose the most suitable result from the provided list of options.
2. Inside Device Manager, expand the section labeled “System devices.”
3. Look for any audio devices, such as High Definition Audio Controller.
4. Right-click on the audio device and choose “Update driver.”
5. Select the “Browse my computer for drivers” option.
6. Click on “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.”
7. Choose the driver listed under the “Model” section and click “Next” to initiate the driver installation.
8. Once the installation is complete, close Device Manager. This should resolve the error and reinstate audio functionality on your computer.
3. Utilize Device Manager to Install the Standard Audio Device Driver
You can also install the generic USB audio device driver using the “Add legacy hardware” feature within Device Manager. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press Win + X to access the WinX menu.
2. Click on Device Manager from the context menu.
3. In Device Manager, choose your computer name and then click on “Action.”
4. Select “Add legacy hardware.”
5. Click “Next” to proceed.
6. Next, opt for the “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)” option.
7. Click “Next.”
8. In the section labeled “Common hardware types,” scroll down and select “Sound, video and game controllers.”
9. Click “Next.”
10. Under the “Manufacturer” section, select “Generic USB Audio.” In the right pane, choose “USB Audio OEM Device.”
11. Click “Next.”
12. Click “Next” once more to confirm the action.
13. Wait for the installation process to finish and then click “Finish.” Afterward, restart your PC and check if your audio device is detected and functioning properly once again.
4. Verify Whether Your Audio Device Is Inactive
It’s important to check if your audio device has accidentally been disabled. While the audio troubleshooter should be able to identify and suggest the same, you can also manually re-enable the audio device.
To check and enable your audio output device, follow these steps:
1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “mmsys.cpl” and click OK to access the Sound dialog.
3. In the Playback tab, look for your audio output device. If there’s no device listed, right-click within the Playback section and choose “Show disabled devices.”
4. If your audio device is grayed out, right-click on it and select “Enable.”
5. Next, select the device and click the “Set Default” button to set it as the default audio device.
6. Restart your PC and check if the ‘no audio output device is installed’ error is resolved.
5. Verify the Status of Audio Services
Two crucial services, the Windows Audio Endpoint Service and Windows Audio Service, are essential for audio to function correctly on your PC. If these services are not running, your audio device may not work as expected.
To ensure that both services are running and set to start automatically, follow these steps:
1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “services.msc” and click OK to access the Services snap-in.
3. Locate and right-click on “Windows Audio Endpoint Service.”
4. Select “Properties” from the context menu.
5. Click the drop-down for “Startup type” and choose “Automatic.”
6. Click OK to save the change.
7. Right-click on the “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder” service again and select “Restart.”
8. Repeat these steps for the “Windows Audio” service.
9. Once you’re done, close the Services snap-in.
6. Uninstall or Deactivate Any Third-Party Driver Update Tools
Third-party driver update applications enable you to perform a comprehensive scan and update of all your computer’s drivers from a single interface. Although these tools can be convenient, they may interfere with the proper functioning of your audio components and Windows’ ability to identify your devices.
To address this issue, take steps to either deactivate or remove any third-party driver update utility, such as Avast Driver Updater, that might be installed on your PC. Following this, rerun the audio troubleshooter to determine whether it resolves the problem. In some cases, complete removal of the updater application might be necessary.
7. Repair the Windows Image Using DISM
The Deployment Image Service Management (DISM) is an integrated command-line utility for repairing Windows system images. If the audio problem stems from a system image issue, this tool can mend the image to restore audio functionality on your PC.
To initiate the DISM tool in Command Prompt:
1. Press the Windows key + S to open the Windows Search function.
2. Type “cmd” and then select “Run as administrator” under the Command Prompt option.
3. Within the Command Prompt window, input the following command and hit Enter:
The tool will inspect your system image for any anomalies. Upon reaching 100% completion, you might encounter a “The component store is reparable” message if a problem is detected.
4. Subsequently, input the following command and press Enter to initiate the image repair. An internet connection may be required to execute this command and download essential files.
This process may take some time, so be patient and wait for it to conclude.
5. Once the restoration operation is finished, close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.
6. After the reboot, verify if your audio device is functioning correctly.