The problem can be on the side of both the TV and the playback device. Let’s deal with each separately.
Displaying an image on a large screen is a useful feature that many users use. You can run a game or movie on your computer while enjoying the picture on a large TV screen. The most popular connection method is HDMI cable, since this type of connector is found in almost all modern TVs. But when connecting via HDMI, you may encounter the following problem: there is no soundtrack, that is, “there is no sound.” Here’s how to fix it.
Check your TV settings.
It often turns out to be very simple. It is enough to go to the settings menu of the gadget and see-through which video input the current image is broadcast. Usually, modern devices have several HDMI ports: 1, 2, 3. You must select the one into which the cable is inserted.
Here are some other options for no sound when connected via HDMI:
- The volume is turned down to the minimum,
- The Mute key on the remote control is pressed (usually the corresponding inscription is displayed on the screen).
- A device is connected to the headphone jack. In this case, the speakers will not work.
Have you checked all the items on the list? So the problem is not in the TV. Go to the next method.
Inspect the cable and connectors
Mechanical damage is not uncommon. First of all, this applies to the cable, which could fray or break. If you have multiple HDMI wires, try using a different one. Also inspect the connectors: on the cable, on the TV, and the motherboard/graphics card. They should be free of dust, and the contacts inside should not show signs of oxidation.
Never use adapters! This is because not all cable types support digital audio signal transmission. That is, if you connect a laptop to a TV via a DVI> HDMI cable, then it’s no surprise that you will not have sound. The throughput of such a wire will always be equal to the “junior” type of connector, that is, to DVI. This rule is valid for all types of connectors. However, you can use the HDMI> DisplayPort pair, since both interfaces can output audio.
Select the desired output device
By default, in Windows 10, all connected devices that can output audio are turned on. In this case, the default gadget (that is, the primary one) is selected randomly. Therefore, setup of playback devices is required. To do this:
- Right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray, which is located in the lower right corner of the desktop.
- In the drop-down window, select “Open Sound Options “.
- In the window that appears, select the “Sound Control Panel” section, which is located on the right side.
After that, you will see all playback devices. The ones you don’t need can be disabled. To do this, right-click on the name of the gadget and select the appropriate item. In the same menu, you can choose the default device. This is a convenient feature for using multiple devices. For example, if you select a TV as the default device, then the sound will be fed to it. And if the TV is turned off, then the audio signal will go to the headphones or monitor speakers.
If the sound appears, but in some programs and games it is still absent, then the reason may be in similar settings, only within a particular application. You will need to additionally go to the game/program settings and select the output device again. Users of the Skype utility often encounter a similar problem.
To quickly switch between audio output devices – left-click on the speaker icon in the system tray. Then again on the current device: all available speakers will open.
Install or update drivers
If you encounter the error “The device is already in use by another application “, the reason why you have no sound is the drivers. To install the necessary software, you need to determine the type of connection. If you are using a port located on the motherboard, then you will have to have dealt with the onboard sound card software If the signal is coming from the video card, you need the graphics card drivers.
First, check if the devices are displayed correctly in the device manager. To do this, press the Win + R key combination and enter the devmgmt.msc command in the window that appears. In the window that opens, check the sections: “Video adapters” and “Sound, game and video devices .” If next to any name you find a question or exclamation mark, you need to install drivers.
This can be done using automatic updates that are built into the operating system. You can also use the services of special packs that include a massive database of drivers. Or download the required driver manually. Each method has both pros and cons.
Please note that when installing the video driver, an audio driver is included in the package. If you accidentally uncheck this checkbox during installation, you are guaranteed to encounter no sound.
