Windows tips fixing common sound problems

Windows 10 generally had a good response among users — its sleek user interface and relatively high-performance speed have been remarked by users repeatedly. However, the OS does have issues that need solving — sound quality is one of those.

Needless to say, sound issues do come in a way of watching films, working, gaming, and browsing the web. The good news is, there are more than a handful of tips that can help users take care of the problem.

The first thing that comes to mind when confronting any Windows-related issue is to run a system check. Unlike the older versions of the OS , that had fairly limited Troubleshooter capacities, the Windows 10 system checker is capable of pinpoint issues with surprising precision. A troubleshooter tab will open and run a system check. Another common reason why you might be experiencing audio issues is due to missing a driver update.

In order to check the state of audio drivers, enter the Device Manager. A PC will automatically connect to the Internet and update the driver for a newer version. Another hack that PC users might consider using to improve the sound quality is to change the audio playback format.

In case the issue has not been resolved, test all the available modes until you find the right fit. In case your issues are not limited to Cortana, double-check the microphone settings. Select the device you want to troubleshoot and then continue through the troubleshooter. You can also launch the troubleshooter from audio Settings. Check your speaker and headphone connections for loose cords or cables.

Make sure all cords and cables are plugged in. If you have multiple 5mm jacks to plug into, especially on a surround sound system, make sure all cords and cables are plugged into the correct jack. Note : Some systems use a green jack for output and pink for mic input and others will be labeled "headphone" or "microphone. It's possible that your speakers won't work when your headphones are plugged in. Unplug your headphones and see if that helps.

Right-click the Speakers icon on the taskbar, and then select Open Volume mixer. Make sure none of them are muted. In that case, select the volume control to unmute. Check your device properties to make sure that your devices have not been disabled by mistake. Select your audio device, and then select Device properties. Be sure to select Device properties for both the output and input devices. Make sure the Disable check box is cleared for the output and input devices. Hardware problems can be caused by outdated or malfunctioning drivers.

Make sure your audio driver is up to date and update it if needed. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling the audio driver it will reinstall automatically. If that doesn't work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. If you're having audio issues after installing updates, try rolling back your audio driver. In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager , then select it from the results.

Select the arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand it. Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, such as headphones or speakers, select Update driver , then select Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the instructions to complete the update. If Windows doesn't find a new driver, look for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow those instructions. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling your audio driver.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, select Uninstall device , select the Delete the driver software for this device check box, and then select Uninstall. Note: Be sure to save documents and any other current work before you restart. Select the audio device whose driver you want to update, select Next , and then follow the instructions to install it. Following is an example of a driver download page for a sound device manufacturer.

Right-click the listing for your sound card or audio device, then select Properties. Select the Driver tab, then select Roll Back Driver. Read and follow the instructions and then select Yes if you want to roll back your audio driver. If rolling back your audio driver didn't work or wasn't an option, you can try to restore your PC from a system restore point. When Microsoft installs updates on your system, we create a system restore point in case problems arise.

Try restoring from that point and see if that fixes your sound problems. For more info, see "Restore from a system restore point" in Recovery options in Windows If you're connecting to an audio device—such as headphones or speakers—using USB or HDMI, you might need to set that device as the default audio device.

You can check that when you set your default output audio device. Reload Windows audio service. To make it possible, follow the milestones provided above. In step 2, instead of Update driver option, select Uninstall driver. Confirm and take time until the procedure is completed. Reboot your device afterwards, and Windows will automatically locate and reinstall the driver.

TIP : Take a look at Startup type tab when you are in this section, and be sure Windows audio is switched to Automatic startup. If not, right-click on it, choose Properties , under Startup type select Automatic , afterwards select Apply and OK to save all these amendments.