After moving to Windows 10, if you’ve realized that audio is no longer working on your system, then this article is for you. In recent couple of weeks, we have found that a considerable number of users, who have came around this problem. The issue is justified for some devices, on which audio drivers are totally incompatible for Windows 10.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

While some others users were able to fix it using simple troubleshooting steps mentioned below in this post. Microsoft has also released some patched updates in recent days, which you must install and see if they helps you to fix the problem. Else, if you want to fix it manually, try these steps:

FIX : Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

Method 1 : Make sure audio dependency services are running

1. Press  W8K + R and type services.msc in the Run dialog box, hit Enter key to open Services snap-in.

Services Windows 10

2. In the Services window, make sure that following services have Running Status and their Startup Type is set to Automatic.

Windows Audio

Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

Plug and Play

Multimedia Class Scheduler

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

If you find any of these services don’t having Running Status and their Startup Type is not set to Automatic, then double click the service and set this in service’s property sheet.

Check after performing these steps, is audio started working or not. If yes, you’re good to go. If not, read on.

Method 2 : Using Device Manager

1. Press  W8K + R and type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, hit Enter key to open Device Manager snap-in.

Device Manager Windows 10

2. In the Device Manager window, expand Sound, video and game controllers or Sound and audio devices. Click/tap on the sound device and select Uninstall.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

3. Now confirm the uninstall by clicking/tapping OK here:

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

4. Lastly, in the same Device Manager window, click/tap Action -> Scan for hardware changes.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

Close the Device Manager and verify audio, it should started working now. If not, try Method 3.

Method 3 : Using built-in troubleshooter

1. Navigate to Control Panel -> All Control Panel Items -> Troubleshooting. In the Troubleshooting window, click/tap View all link.

FIX - Something Went Wrong. Try This Search Again Error For Cortana

2. Next, in All Categories window shown below, pick Playing audio and click/tap this link to open corresponding troubleshooter.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

3. In Playing Audio window so open, click Advanced Options and check Apply repairs automatically. Click/tap Next.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

4. Then troubleshooter will automatically identify and diagnose the issue(s) present on your system and ask you if you want to apply the fix or not. Click/tap Apply this fix option.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

5. Finally, you’ll see that troubleshooting is completed and issue that were fixed are enlisted. Click/tap Close.

FIX - Audio Not Working After Upgrading To Windows 10

You can now restart your system and this time we’re pretty sure that audio will start working after you make reboot.

Hope this helps! Go here to read additional sound troubleshooting steps in Windows.

56 Comments

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  • Srijan

    One more thing thing that might help:
    I had the same problem. To counter it, after updating the drivers and checking for hardware changes as mentioned above, right click on the volume control in the toolbar and select playback devices. From the newly opened window, select your playback device and open its properties. In the properties, under the advanced tab, try changing the default format. You mave have to push it up or pull it down depending on your device. This helped me.. :)

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding this :)

  • Mike

    Hi Kapil, I meticulously followed all 3 steps with high hopes, but alas, my sound is still not working. It worked perfectly before Windows 10, and I have not unplugged or changed anything else except to update my drivers, which were up to date anyway. Is there a step 4?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Hey Mike, let me know what troubleshooter reported you back?

  • vishal

    Hii Kapil i had a same problem which mike mentioned earlier
    I use all three steps still sounds is not working it says troubleshoot can not identify the problems
    then i click => view detailed information = one or more audio service is not running
    Detection Details: Audio end point
    Installed Audio devices : This file contains the details stored in the registry for all installed audio devices.
    File name: Registry log. reg
    I click next and run the file but the message says can not import path . not all data successfully written to the registry you have insufficient privileges to perform this operation or some keys are open by the system or other process

    What i need to do now
    Any help?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Have you checked all services mentioned in method 1 and set them as suggested? What about method 2? Also check your device manufacturer’s website, in case if they updated sound drivers for Windows 10.

  • Juan

    Thanks! I tried method 1, and it fixed it. However, the last couple of days, other fixes worked, but only for the rest of that day… Same problem arose the next day. But, hopefully this will work.

    But I have a question. Under the “Services,” I don’t have “Multimedia Class Scheduler.” Is that normal?

    Also, after upgrading to Windows 10, the sound worked fine for at least a month. Only started having problems the last week or so. I didn’t make any changes, so I’m not sure why I suddenly started having problems.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ It may be normal and I guess it depends upon configuration of your device. Though you don’t have made any changes but might be your drivers get outdated and you’ve started facing problem due to that. Suggest you to update your drivers as well!

  • Michi_246

    Nope. Tried all 3, but nothing. Thanks for trying to help though.

  • Anurag Tiwari

    I followed step 2, now my audio driver is working fine. thanx bro.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Awesome! :)

  • Janel M

    Thank you so much!! Method 1 worked for me!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help :)

  • kayleigh marie

    hi I’ve tried all options and it still doesn’t work plz help.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Please let me know if troubleshooter found any issues and couldn’t fix it. Else you may try reinstalling Windows 10 without affecting your data.

    https://www.kapilarya.com/reinstall-windows-10-without-affecting-personal-files

  • Greg

    Thank you so much for the advice. Step two fixed my issue (Toshiba Satellite C655 laptop).

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked 😊

  • James

    My problem is that my laptop speakers have been linked somehow to the headphone jack. The speakers do not play but if i plug in headphones I have sound. How can I separate them?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ I believe headsets are set as default playback devices. Try changing them to speakers and see if that helps.

  • sonny

    I just download window 10 and I reboot the system ( cause I have a major problem on my internet ) , my problem solve about the internet thing but now I cant hear any sound , and on sound Icon there is cross ( X ) …i already download realtek but now i m stuck , i already did my suggestion above but useless ..looks like i need a program for the sound …everything is missing now from my computer .i need help so bad …

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ For multiple issues, suggest you to go for clean install: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-make-clean-install-of-windows-10

  • Marian Sharp

    Wonderful – Method 3 worked for me.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Excellent 😊

  • Medardo

    I obtained the annual update of Windows 10 a week ago, after that the internal microphone of my laptop Lenovo G510 does not work

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Go head with the steps mentioned here, if any step don’t work for you, let me know.

  • RL

    Step 2 did the trick on my wife’s computer. I’m still working on mine. No success yet, but I wanted to say thank you.

  • RL

    Scratch that. My audio is now working. I found when I restarted my machine it was all good. Thank you sincerely. This has been so frustrating.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Great! that’s the perfect news this evening 😊

  • Gerry

    Thanks for your suggestions. When running Method ONE I found that the service Multimedia Class Scheduler was not listed. Perhaps this is the problem? How can I get this service running?
    Thanks again!!

  • julian

    hey Kapil the methods above didn’t work for me and when i tried to factory rest my pc its always says “something went wrong try again later” can you please help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Please try clean boot and if issue still persists, do a clean install.

  • julian

    i tried the clean install with a USB and it didn’t work. the whole problem started when i unplugged my HDMI cord from my PC, after that the volume just stopped working. hopefully you can help
    fix this thanks

  • Prasad

    I did like u told
    I un installed Realtek audio driver from device manager. But my question is how is it working without a audio driver. Please tell me. I’m interested

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ When you uninstall, Windows looks for hardware changes and reconnect the driver, which may solve the issue, if it is related with the configuration.

  • tracy

    hey Kapil here is my troubleshooting report. I restarted but still didn’t work.
    Issues found
    Check audio deviceCheck audio device
    There might be a problem with your audio device. Detected Detected
    Your PC must be restarted Your PC must be restarted Detected Detected
    Restart your PC to finish installing drivers and updates Completed

    Hardware changes might not have been detectedHardware changes might not have been detected Fixed Fixed
    Scan for recent hardware changes Completed

    Potential issues that were checked
    One or more audio service isn’t runningOne or more audio service isn’t running
    Both the Windows Audio and the Windows Audio End Point Builder services must be running for audio to work correctly. Atleast one of these services isn’t running. Issue not present

    Issues found Detection details

  • EVA

    MANY THANKS, VERY HELPFOOL

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Welcome!

  • Faizan

    Wow Amazing Great Man this method resolved my problem
    thanks a lot thumbs up

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help 😎

  • Goran Croatia

    Hello
    In my case going to manufacturer site And downloaded latest win10x86 acpi driver.
    After that Sounds Works again

    Good luck!

  • Ruth Butler

    tried numerous solutions. A couple worked for less than a day.
    #3 solution from your list works so far.
    Thank you.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You’re welcome, Ruth!

  • Ruth Butler

    It’s back to stuttering again.

  • Ruth

    Now I can’t make out any words.
    Is it possible for Microsoft to add a fix without reloading entire windows 10. Was there a need to mess with the sound?

  • Prashant Shah

    Very Nice Troubleshooting article.
    I have similar issue that it says “One or more Audio service is not working” then tried Both the Windows Audio and the Windows Audio End Point Builder services must be running for audio to work correctly. Atleast one of these services isn’t running. During Windows Audio service starting got Error:
    Error 0x800706cc: The endpoint is a duplicate
    AudioEndpointBuilder Service running fine.

    Your help will be appreciated!

  • rob

    I didn’t work

  • Julia

    Worked perfectly! Thank you so much.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help Julia 😊

  • Sorin

    In my case the problem was that after update in “Sound” Menu in Control Panel instead of “speakers” there were selected “Communication Headphones”

  • Peter Hughes

    Hi, I tried all the methods and i got a message “Generic audio driver detected !
    Still not working!

  • Rad

    your method 2 managed to uninstall my NVIDIA virtual audio device and now its even worse…now I got nothing to fix….cannot find the same driver anywhere….you better fix it because your advice is making it worse for some people!!!!

  • Vasiliki

    Finally! After so many hours of trying to figure this out!!

    Thank you Kapil!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help Vasiliki 😀

  • Betsy

    Option 2 worked for me on HP Envy 360 with Realtek Audio. THANK YOU!!!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Betsy!

  • JR Delos Santos

    I tried Method 1. But when I’m doing Step 2, it seems there is no “Multimedia Class Scheduler” in my services and my “Plug and Play” was on “Manual” which I then turned into “Automatic”.

    How can I fix this problem with Multimedia Class Scheduler? Thank you

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