Realtek High Definition Audio driver is the sound driver for Windows computers, responsible for sound output. If it stops working, you will not get any sound output from your computer. Some users encountered sound issues after updating the Realtek driver. If your system has no sound after installing or updating the Realtek driver, the solutions provided in this article will help you.
No sound after installing or updating the Realtek driver
Use the following fixes if your system has no sound after installing or updating the Realtek driver on your Windows 11/10 computer:
- Check the sound settings
- Run the Audio troubleshooter
- Check the status of the required services
- Roll Back the Realtek driver
- Uninstall and reinstall the Realtek driver
- Run System Restore
- Perform an In-place Upgrade
All these fixes are explained in detail below.
1] Check the sound settings
Probably, your sound device is not set as the default sound device. Check this in the Sound settings. Follow these steps:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click on the search bar and type sound.
- Select Sound from the search results.
- The Sound settings window will appear. Check if your audio device is set as the default device. If yes, it shows a green tick.
- If it is not set as the default, right-click on it and select Set as Default Device.
- Click Apply and then click OK.
2] Run the Audio troubleshooter
The next step is to run the Audio troubleshooter. It is an automated tool that fixes sound-related issues on a Windows computer. Open Windows 11 Settings and select System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters. Run the Audio troubleshooter. Alternatively, you can also use the Get Help app to troubleshoot and fix sound issues.
Open the Get help app and type no sound in the search box. Hit Enter after that. It will ask you to start automated diagnostics. Click Yes to grant permission.
3] Check the status of the required services
Check the status of the required services. The following two services should be running on your system; otherwise, you will get sound issues.
- Windows Audio
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
The Windows Audio Service manages audio for Windows-based programs. If this service is stopped or disabled, audio devices and effects will not work properly. Windows Audio Endpoint Builder manages audio devices for the Windows Audio Service.
Open Windows Services Manager and look for these services. Their status should show Running. If they are stopped, right-click on them and select Start. If they are already running, select Restart.
If the service is disabled, double-click on it to open its properties. Now, select Automatic Startup type under the General tab. Click Start to start the service. Now, click Apply and then click OK.
4] Roll Back the Realtek driver
If the issue persists, you can roll back the Realtek audio driver to the previous version. Follow these steps:
- Open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Sound, video and game controllers branch.
- Right-click on the Realtek Audio driver and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab and select the Roll Back Driver option.
- Follow the On-screen instructions to roll it back to the earlier version.
If the Roll Back Driver option is greyed out, you can try other ways to install the previous version of the Realtek driver.
5] Uninstall and reinstall the Realtek driver
If you cannot roll back the Realtek audio driver or rolling back the Realtek driver does not work, uninstalling and reinstalling it can help.
Follow these steps:
- Download the latest version of the Realtek Audio driver from the official website of your computer manufacturer.
- Open the Device Manager.
- Right-click on the Realtek Audio driver and select Uninstall device.
- Select the Attempt to remove driver for this device checkbox.
- Click Uninstall.
Restart your computer and run the driver installer file to reinstall the Realtek Audio driver.
6] Run System Restore
If the problem persists, you can use the System Restore tool to restore your system to the previous working state. This will work only if the previous restore point(s) exist on your system. This action will also restore the earlier working version of the Realtek Audio driver.
7] Perform an In-place Upgrade
If none of these fixes resolve the issue, the last resort is to perform an In-place Upgrade. This action reinstalls the Windows operating system on the currently installed version of Windows. Hence, your data does not vanish in this process. However, from a safety perspective, we recommend backing up all important files before proceeding.
That’s it. I hope this helps.
How do I restore my Realtek audio?
If audio is not working on your system, you can restore it by rolling back the Realtek Audio driver. If this does not work, reinstalling the Realtek driver can work. Also, check the Audio Services and the default audio output device.
How to update the Realtek Audio driver?
To update the Realtek Audio driver, open Windows 11 Settings and go to the Optional updates page. If the Realtek Audio driver update is available there, download and install it. You can also download the latest version of the Realtek Audio driver from the official website of your computer manufacturer and install it.
Read next: No sound after installing or updating NVIDIA drivers.
