Have you ever been in the middle of a match and your game audio suddenly cuts out? For gamers, sound isn’t just background noise. You hear footsteps far away, an explosion behind you, or your teammate yelling directions. When your pricey gaming laptop suddenly goes silent, it can ruin your experience. However, most gaming laptop sound issues are fixable without needing to see a technician. This guide breaks down how to troubleshoot common audio issues easily.
No Sound on Your Gaming Laptop? Try These 11 Fixes
1. Proceed with Standard Fixes
Before we dive into advanced steps for gaming laptop sound issues, let us begin with the basics.
Check the Volume Levels
We know this sounds obvious. However, sometimes the system or app volume may be muted or turned down. So, check if the volume levels are correct.
Plug Your Headphones in Properly
Make sure the jack is fully plugged into your gaming laptop when using wired headphones. For Bluetooth or USB ones, make sure they are appropriately connected.
Try Another Game or App
Why can I hear no sound on my laptop? Sometimes the audio problem is with a particular game, not your system. That’s why you should check the sound by launching another app or game.
Restart Your Laptop
Sudden sound issues can be temporary glitches. And, a restart can help you eliminate such temporary problems. Hence, give your laptop a restart and see if it improves the situation.
If none of the above fixes can solve gaming laptop sound issues, let’s get a bit more technical.
2. Check Your Default Audio Device
Gaming laptops often switch between internal speakers, Bluetooth headsets, and HDMI outputs. In case your laptop selects the wrong one, you will get to hear nothing.
Here’s how you can fix it:
- Right-click the speaker icon that’s on the Taskbar.
- Then, choose Sounds or Sounds Settings depending on your Windows version.
- Look for your preferred output device under the Playback column.
- Then, right-click the device and select Set As Default.
Still nothing? Attempt to disable all other playback devices except the one you want.
3. Run the Windows Sound Troubleshooter
How to fix sound problems on Windows? Well, Windows has a built-in tool just for addressing gaming laptop sound issues. Check out how you can run the tool:
- Begin with a right-click on the speaker icon in the Taskbar.
- Next, hit the option called ‘Troubleshoot sound problems’.
- Now, follow the on-screen prompts.
If Windows detects any conflicts, it will try to fix them. However, the Windows troubleshooter may not always work. Still, you can give this fix a try.
4. Update Your Laptop’s Audio Drivers
Your hardware can’t work without commands from the respective software or driver. Hence, malfunctioning hardware often points to an old or corrupted driver. If you still get audio glitches, chances are that your audio drivers need an update.
To update your laptop’s audio driver, you should:
- Right-click the Start menu.
- From the respective context menu, select Device Manager.
- Next, expand the option of ‘Sound, video, and game controllers’.
- After that, right-click on the particular audio device. Often, it’s Intel, Realtek, or NVIDIA HDMI.
- Choose “Update driver” from the pop-up menu.
- Click ‘Search automatically…’. Then, you need to follow the on-screen steps to complete the update.
If updating the sound driver this way doesn’t help, head towards your laptop manufacturer’s website (like Alienware, MSI, ASUS ROG, Lenovo Legion, etc.). Next, you can download the newest audio drivers from the respective support page.
Make sure you avoid downloading drivers from random websites. Always use the official site.
5. Roll Back Your Laptop’s Audio Drivers
The gaming laptop’s sound isn’t working. Many gamers have reported similar instances, especially after system updates. If your laptop sound stopped working after an update, rolling back the drivers can fix it.
Sometimes new drivers introduce your system to bugs. However, you can roll back drivers using the steps below:
- Open up the Device Manager menu. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
- Afterwards, right-click your audio device.
- Hit Properties from the pop-up menu.
- Now, make your way to the Driver tab.
- Click on Roll Back Driver.
However, the rollback option may not be available all the time. If your laptop shows the option, you can revert the driver’s version to its previous one. Otherwise, move on to the next step to mitigate gaming laptop sound issues.
6. Sneak into Your Game Settings
This one’s easy to overlook when there’s no sound on my laptop. Most games have separate audio settings. If the game audio is muted or set to the wrong output, your laptop speakers won’t play anything.
So, check out your game’s settings:
- Examine Master Volume and other sliders.
- Also, look for Output Device. Ensure it matches your laptop’s default audio device settings.
So, you can reinstall or verify the game files through Epic Games, Steam, or whatever launcher you use.
7. Turn Off Sound Enhancements
Windows and some audio software have ‘enhancements’ that boost sound quality and features. However, on gaming laptops, these settings can lead to hazards.
If you still get no sound output or distorted audio, you should consider disabling them. Here’s what you need to do to disable them:
- Right-click the speaker icon.
- Now, hit Sound Settings.
- Select your audio device and choose Properties.
- Search for a tab named Advanced or Enhancements.
- Next, check the option of ‘Disable all enhancements’.
- Click the Apply button.
Finally, you can test your gaming laptop’s sound again.
8. Scan for Malware
This might sound weird, but malware can interfere with audio systems. If your gaming laptop has random sound issues and is slow or strange, you must run a virus scan.
Check out how you can fix sound problems on Windows with a scan:
- Open up Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus tool.
- Then, run a full scan, instead of a quick one.
Chances are that your laptop’s sound returns to normal once the malware is cleared.
9. Reset Your Laptop’s Audio Settings
Are you still stuck in the loophole of why the gaming laptop’s sound isn’t working? Then, it’s time to reset your audio settings. Configuration changes may interfere with your device’s audio settings. And, a reset helps you restore the audio.
If it’s a Windows 11 PC, you have to:
- Open your system Settings with the Windows + I shortcut.
- Afterwards, navigate to System and hit the Sound option.
- Scroll down unless you see the Advanced option. Click on it.
- Enter the option called Volume Mixer.
- Now, hit the Reset option.
For older Windows versions, use the Control Panel or audio software like Nahimic or Realtek HD Audio Manager.
10. Adjust External Devices
Are you gaming with a headset, speakers, or an HDMI monitor? Then, here are some points you need to consider:
- The audio device should be compatible with your laptop.
- Also, the cables and ports must be clean and undamaged.
- You should have installed the essential drivers or companion software. Some headsets or external devices need that.
- Moreover, you must pair Bluetooth devices properly if you use any of them while gaming.
On top of that, try removing and re-adding the Bluetooth device. See if that works.
11. Try BIOS and Firmware Updates
This is rare, still, a deeper issue in your BIOS or firmware can mess with the laptop’s sound. This is more advanced, but if you are still stuck, then you should go through the steps below:
- Check out your laptop’s support page for any BIOS or firmware updates.
- Then, follow the instructions carefully.
A bad BIOS update can brick your system. However, you should proceed with a BIOS update only if you are confident enough.
Contact Atdoorstep for an Easy Way Out!
Your gaming laptop’s sound isn’t working, and you have tried everything. Still, luck is not in your favour. Then, it’s more likely a hardware failure. Fortunately, Atdoorstep can help you fix gaming laptop sound issues. Their technicians are experts at replacing damaged hardware and restoring the vibe.
