If you’re here, you most likely turned on your PC and found out that the sound wasn’t working. No startup chime, no music, nothing. However, before you update your audio drivers, there’s something most people usually overlook.
Sometimes, all your system needs is a quick restart or to run the Windows Audio troubleshooter (right-click on the speaker icon on your taskbar, select Troubleshoot sound problems, and follow the suggestions). These two simple steps can solve unexpected glitches.
But if those don’t do the trick, don’t worry, we’ll walk you through exactly how to update your audio drivers, whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11. And we’ll explain what each step does, so you’re not just clicking buttons. You’ll actually understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
Let’s begin.
How to Update Audio Drivers on Windows 10/11
In this section, I’ll break down the fixes, from the simple built-in tools to widely recommended solutions to update your audio drivers.
To make things easier for you, the fixes below are arranged in the most logical order, starting from the simplest and most beginner-friendly solutions all the way to more advanced or manual methods.
This way, you can try the quick and easy options first and only move on to the more involved steps if necessary. The goal is to help you troubleshoot smart, not hard.
Fix 1: Check for Windows updates
This solution involves using Windows Update to check for any available system updates, including optional audio driver updates. It’s a quick check that can sometimes patch OS-level bugs or deliver missing drivers quietly in the background.
It can also fix audio-related bugs introduced by recent Windows versions or updates.
So if your audio services stopped working after a recent update, or you haven’t updated in a while, it’s worth a try.
- Press
Windows + Ito open Settings. - Click Update & Security > Windows Update (on Windows 10) or Windows Update (on Windows 11).
- Hit Check for updates.
- If there’s anything pending, go ahead and install it.
- You can also check optional updates under Advanced options for any audio driver updates pending.
- Restart your PC after the update completes.
Once the update finishes, you can go to Device Manager to check if your audio driver version changed (check out Step 1 under Fix 4 to see how). If it’s the same, you’ll likely need to update it using one of the next methods.
- If a recent Windows update caused sound issues
- If you haven’t updated Windows in a while
- When you want a quick fix before diving into other solutions
- If your system is missing essential audio services or patches
- On fresh Windows installs where drivers are still loading in
Fix 2: Update audio drivers using Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in tool that lets you view and control hardware components, including sound devices, and update your device drivers.
It’s also a quick way to perform a basic audio driver update. If Windows detects a newer driver version for your audio hardware, it can install it for you to fix audio bugs, improve sound quality, or restore missing sound.
Here’s how it works for both Windows 10 and 11:
- Type Device Manager in the search bar and click on it to open.
- Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.
- Right-click your audio device, like Realtek Audio or Intel High Definition Audio , and select Update driver.
- Click Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, it’ll be installed. If not, you’ll get a message saying the best drivers are already installed. If the audio is still not working, there are still more options for your audio driver update.
Check out the next solution.
- You want a quick, built-in method without installing extra tools
- You’re troubleshooting a basic sound issue
- You’re using common devices like Realtek or Intel
- You’ve recently reinstalled Windows and want to refresh key drivers
Fix 3: Use a trusted driver updater tool
Driver updater tools are apps designed to scan your computer for outdated, missing, or mismatched drivers, including your audio drivers, and replace them with the most up-to-date and compatible versions.
These tools, such as Auslogics Driver Updater , Driver Booster by IObit , or Driver Easy , are especially helpful if you don’t want to manually check manufacturer websites or dig through Device Manager.
These tools streamline the whole update process and help avoid driver conflicts or errors. If you’re not tech-savvy or just want to save time, they’re a great choice for keeping things running smoothly.
Let’s go through how Auslogics Driver Updater works:
- Visit the official Auslogics Driver Updater page and download the installer.
- Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Once installed, launch the app. It’ll automatically analyze your PC and detect outdated or missing drivers, including sound drivers.
- After the scan, look for your audio device in the results. Click Update next to it, or choose Update All to refresh all outdated drivers in one go.
- After updating, restart your PC so the new driver can fully take effect.
| Tool | Free version | Automatic scan for updates | Driver backup & restore | Scheduled scans | Key notes | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auslogics Driver Updater | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (with Pro) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (with Pro) | Lightweight, very user-friendly | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Driver Booster (IObit) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Offers game-ready drivers | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Driver Easy | ❌ No (free trial) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Shows detailed info on each driver | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| AVG Driver Updater | ❌ No (free trial) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅Yes | Trusted brand, minimalist design | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
- You’re not confident manually updating drivers
- You want to save time and avoid searching manufacturer websites
- You’re experiencing issues with multiple drivers, not just audio
- You want automatic scans and regular driver maintenance
- You prefer a one-click update with backup/restore features
Fix 4: Download and install drivers from the manufacturer’s website
Sometimes, Windows doesn’t catch the latest version of your audio drivers. In those cases, going straight to the source, like NVIDIA , AMD , or Intel, gets you the newest version.
Manufacturers often release updated drivers that fix bugs or add features before Windows does. This is especially useful for W indows 11 and 10 audio driv er compatibility, or if your sound card requires a more specific driver.
However, before you proceed, you need to check your audio driver information . Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Sometimes, Windows doesn’t catch the latest version of your audio drivers. In those cases, going straight to the source, like NVIDIA , AMD , or Intel, gets you the newest version.
Manufacturers often release updated drivers that fix bugs or add features before Windows does. This is especially useful for W indows 11 and 10 audio driv er compatibility, or if your sound card requires a more specific driver.
However, before you proceed, you need to check your audio driver information . Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Check your current driver info
Before you install anything, know what you’re currently working with:
- Go to Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click on your audio device and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab.
- Note the driver provider, date, and version.
Step 2: Go to the manufacturer’s website
Now you’ll need to go to the right site based on your setup. Let’s take Realtek as an example:
- If you use High Definition Audio, go to Realtek’s official download page. If you have a branded laptop or PC, check your model’s support page from Dell, HP, ASUS, Lenovo, etc.
- On the website, search for the latest driver for your system. You’ll typically see the driver version number and date.
- Compare it with your current version. If it’s newer, download it.
- Follow the prompts to complete installation and restart your computer.
| Manufacturer | Sources |
|---|---|
| Intel HD Graphics and Audio | Intel Drivers and Software |
| AMD | AMD Drivers and Support |
| NVIDIA | NVIDIA Driver |
| Realtek | Realtek Audio Codecs |
| Dell | Dell Drivers & Downloads |
| HP | HP Drivers and Software |
| Lenovo | Lenovo Drivers & Software |
Use the manufacturer’s specialized software
If searching the manufacturer’s site manually feels like a long, frustrating process for you, you can use the manufacturer’s app to make things easier. Most of the manufacturers and brands have it. Let’s take the Intel Driver & Support Assistant application as an example:
- Go to the Intel Driver & Support Assistant webpage using your browser.
- Click on the Download now button and run the setup after the download is complete.
- After installing the program, click the Intel icon in your system tray and select Check For New Drivers from the menu.
- The tool will open in your browser, scan for any driver updates, including those for audio drivers, and list available updates.
- Click the Download all button. Then, select Install all to install all the drivers.
- After everything, restart your PC and check if your sound is working.
- If your current driver is outdated or causing problems
- If the sound stopped working after a major Windows update
- If your sound card is Realtek or Intel, and you want the absolute newest version
Here’s a summary table of the solutions discussed:
| Fixes | Steps to the solution | Key notes to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update |
|
|
| Device Manager |
|
|
| Third-party driver updater tools |
|
|
| Manufacturer’s website |
|
|
Is It Always Necessary to Update Your Audio Drivers?
Not always. If your sound is working perfectly, up dating your audio driver s just for the sake of it isn’t essential. But when you’re having problems or you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11 , it’s worth checking.
A proper audio driver update can solve strange issues, improve performance, or add support for newer features.
If you’ve tried all the solutions and it still isn’t working, the issue might be hardware-related or tied to deeper system conflicts. But in most cases, following these steps will bring your audio back to life.
Which solution did work for you? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQ
Under the Driver tab, you’ll see the version and date. Compare that with the latest version on the manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can use a reliable third-party driver updater tool to easily check.
