Volume not audible

Hi Charles Lee,

I can see that Q&A Assist and the Independent Advisor have already shared the initial guidance. Please go ahead and try those steps first and see how it goes.

To help narrow this down further, could you please let me know:

• Are you currently using the built‑in speakers or headphones/external speakers?
• Does this happen in all apps, or only specific ones?

In the meantime, while checking the items above, you may also try the following additional steps if you haven’t already:

-Test audio using a different user account on the same device to rule out profile‑specific settings.

• Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users
• Select Add account > Add a user without a Microsoft account
• Create the account, sign out, sign in to the new profile, and test the audio

-If available for your device model, check for any BIOS or firmware updates from the manufacturer’s support site and apply only those officially recommended.

-Try playing audio from different sources (for example, a web browser, a local audio file and a system sound) to see if the behavior is consistent.

Please let me know what you find after trying the steps above and I can advise further based on the results.

If you have additional questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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The best option is to go to the support page for your PC on the manufacturers website, then from there, download and reinstall (not update) the version of HD Audio drivers and Graphics drivers they provide for your system model.

If you have any difficulty locating that support page, click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

Try these steps in order on Windows 11 to fix very low volume even when set to maximum:

1. Check the correct output device and basic hardware
   • Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar. If it’s not visible, select Show hidden icons.
   • Use the arrow next to the device name to pick the correct output (speakers/headset/monitor).
   • Physically check cables, jacks, and power: ensure speakers/headphones are firmly plugged in, powered on, and not muted.
   • If using 3.5mm jacks, verify they are in the correct output jack (often green or labeled “headphone”).
   • Unplug headphones to see if built‑in speakers work, and try a different USB port for USB audio devices.
2. Check all volume controls (system, app, and accessory)
   • Press the hardware volume keys or buttons on the device to raise volume.
   • On the taskbar, select Speakers and raise the main volume slider.
   • Open Start > Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer and ensure:
     • System volume is turned up.
     • The affected app’s volume is turned up and not muted.
   • If using external speakers/headset, turn up volume on the accessory itself and in any companion software.
3. Turn off audio enhancements
   Audio enhancements can sometimes make sound quieter or distorted.
   • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   • Under Output, select the audio device in use.
   • Scroll to Advanced settings and set Audio enhancements to Off.
   • Test the sound again.
4. Change the audio format
   • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   • Under Output, select the audio device.
   • Select Advanced (or More sound settings then device Properties, Advanced tab).
   • Under Default format, choose a different format and test audio to see if volume improves.
5. Update or reinstall the audio driver
   • Press Start, type Device Manager, and open it.
   • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   • Right‑click the audio device (for example, Realtek or similar) and select Update driver. Restart and test.
   • If the problem persists, right‑click the device again, choose Uninstall device, then restart so Windows reinstalls the driver. If needed, install the latest driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer.
6. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
   • Select Start > Settings > System.
   • Choose Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   • In the Audio section, select Run and follow the prompts.

If volume is still extremely low after these steps, test with a different headset/speaker. If another device sounds normal, the original audio device may be faulty.

References:

• Fix low or quiet sound in Windows
• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• Troubleshoot Surface sound and audio accessories
• The volume of the incoming audio is low