How to Fix No Audio Output Device is Installed Issue
By: M D.
Tags: Windows 10, Audio Issue, PC

The sound in your Windows system will only work with an audio device plus the right audio drivers. Sometimes, users will encounter the “No Audio Output Device is Installed” error, and they’ll notice a red X on the sound icon in the task bar. Just like that, your system produces no sound.

This error usually occurs when the audio drivers are corrupted or outdated. Many people are reporting that the error usually happens after a Windows update. This error can also occur due to a faulty audio jack.

This “No Audio Output Device is Installed” guide should help solve this problem.

1. Update Sound Drivers

As mentioned, the “no audio output device is installed in Windows 10” error happens due to a corrupted or outdated driver. Therefore, the best way to fix this error is to update your sound drivers.

You can update drivers manually, but it can be somewhat a daunting task. You’ll be required to find the driver source online and find the right version according to your audio device and OS version.

If you want a hassle-free way to update your audio drivers, you could use a professional driver update utility tool like DriverSupport. This tool will scan your system and will automatically find the right drivers for it.

To update your audio drivers using DriverSupport, you can follow the quick steps below:

Download DriverSupport and install. Launch DriverSupport and perform a quick scan. If there’s something wrong with your audio driver, you should see it listed (i.e. Realtek High Definition Audio). Click the “Fix it!” button to download and install the required drivers. You will be prompted to sign up for a Premium account. Restart your PC or laptop when prompted.

2. Fix With Device Manager

This error can also be fixed via Windows’ Device Manager. Refer to the steps below:

1. Press Windows + R key to bring up the Run app.

2. Type devmgmt.mcs to open the Device Manager.

3. Look for the section for “Sound, video and game controllers.”

4. Click Action located at the top-left part of the menu. Click “Add legacy hardware.”

5. A wizard will pop up and you can click Next. Select the “Search for and install hardware automatically” option, and then click Next.

6. Scroll down and find the “Sound, video and game controllers” tab. Click Next.

7. Choose your exact sound card (check the brand and model), and then click Next. Install the associated audio driver and click Finish.

8. Back in Device Manager, right-click on your audio device and choose Enable.

From here, you can check if the audio error is solved. If not, you can uninstall the audio driver update and perform a quick reboot. After restarting, Windows should automatically load the audio driver.

3. Reboot Your System

There are times when this audio device error is caused by changing hardware configurations while loading Windows. To prevent this from happening, you need to refrain from removing or attaching any devices or peripherals while your PC is booting up. Make sure that you only attach or remove devices after Windows has completely loaded. Sometimes, this error is easily fixed by simply rebooting your PC.

4. Replace Defective Sound Card

If the above solutions are still not working, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a defective sound card. Whether it’s a power problem or just plain wear-and-tear, sound cards can just stop working altogether. Fortunately, sound cards are easy to replace and not that expensive.