With the recent update launched by Windows, users face an error called “No Audio Output Device is Installed.” The error disables the Sound of your computer, and you cannot listen to any sounds from your computer.
The error identification is shown with a red cross symbol next to the speaker icon in the taskbar of your Windows.
Sound on your Windows works by collaborating your audio device with the audio drivers installed on your computer. An error can occur once your audio drivers are corrupted or outdated.
Here is how you can resolve the “No Audio Output Device is Installed” error.
1. Try Updating your Audio Drivers
You can try to fix the “No Audio Output Device is Installed” error by simply updating your audio drivers.
Audio drivers allow your computer to handle any third-party equipment which you plug into your system. Here’s how you can update them:
- Press the Windows + X key.
- Locate the Device Manager Option from the pop-up menu and click on it.
- Navigate to the ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ option and expand it by clicking on the arrow next to it.
Sound Control Panel - A list of audio drivers will appear. Right-click on each one of them and click on update driver.
Update Drivers - A new window will appear. Click on Search automatically for drivers.
Search For Drivers - Your Windows will look for the most recent drivers and update them accordingly.
Driver Support
If you don’t want to perform any manual labor, you can opt for a tool like Driver Support. This tool will scan your system and automatically find the relevant drivers for your audio device/OS version.
Follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Initially, download the Driver Support software and install it in your system.
- Perform a quick scan, and the software will start to scan your computer.
- If your driver is causing the issue, you will see “Realtek High definition Audio” listed in the finished scan report.
- Click on the ‘Fix it!’ button and follow the steps.
- Restart your PC afterward.
- Your drivers will be updated.
2. Device Manager Fix
You can also fix the “No Audio Output Device is Installed” error by going to Device Manager and making some changes.
- Press the Windows + X key.
Device Manager - Locate the Device Manager Option from the pop-up menu and click on it.
- Navigate to the ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ option and select it.
- Go to the top where the menu is listed and click on Action.
- Select the option of ‘Add legacy hardware’.
Add legacy hardware - A Wizard will pop up with the title ‘Welcome to the Add Hardware Wizard.’ Click on Next.
Add legacy hardware - Select the ‘Search for and install the hardware automatically (recommended)’ option and click Next afterward.
Search and install - You will be shown a list to scroll down and select ‘Sound, video and game controllers’. Click Next.
Add hardware - Select the sound card which you have in your system (find the brand name and model). Click on Next and install the relevant audio drivers.
- Once done, click on Finish.
- Now go back to your Device Manager window.
- Right-click on your audio device and choose the Enable field.
Hopefully, your issue will be resolved.
You can try uninstalling the audio driver update and restarting your PC. Windows will automatically load your audio drivers.
3. Reboot your PC
If a user changes hardware configurations during the loading process of Windows, the resulting error can be of “No Audio Output Device is Installed.”
The error can be removed by preventing any hardware changes like removing or attaching devices while your PC is booting up. Only attach or remove devices once the Windows are up and running.
You can even perform a simple reboot, and the error might not appear again, i.e., try turning it on/off.
4. Uninstall your Device’s Driver
Remove this error by uninstalling drivers manually and then allow your Windows to re-install those audio drivers.
- Press the Windows + X key.
- Locate the Device Manager Option from the pop-up menu and click on it.
- Navigate to the ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ option and expand it by clicking on the arrow next to it.
- A list of audio drivers will appear.
- Right-click on your audio drivers and select the option of ‘Uninstall device.’
Uninstall Drivers - After uninstalling all of them, restart your computer.
- Windows will automatically re-download the latest versions of your audio drivers.
5. Try Updating your Windows
Sometimes when Windows has some update in the pipeline, and you were unable to make that update, the error of “No Audio Output Device is Installed” can appear. So, try updating your Windows to the latest version.
- Press Windows + I from your keyboard. Your Windows settings will appear.
Update and Security - Click on ‘Update & Security.’
- You will see a tab titled ‘Check for updates.’
Windows Update - Click on the Install button if it shows you some new updates.
- Afterward, your problem might get resolved, and your audio will be functioning again.
6. Audio Troubleshooter
- Go to the speaker icon in your system tray, right-click on it, and select the ‘Troubleshoot sound problems’ option.
Troubleshoot Sound - The troubleshooter will start to scan for problems in your audio. If issues are found, click on the Fix it button.
- Check if your problem is resolved.
7. Hardware Issues
When all of the above solutions have not worked out, then this means that you are facing hardware issues, and your plug, card, or audio hardware of your device has been damaged somehow.
You can take your PC to a professional, identify faulty parts, and replace it with a new one. Also, you can contact the support team of your device’s manufacturers and place the query in front of them. Your “No Audio Output Device is Installed” error will be resolved.