HDMI Audio Not Working on Windows 10/11? Fix No Sound From PC to TV

TL;DR:

HDMI audio failure on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is typically a playback selection or undetected endpoint issue, requiring you to manually set the TV as the default output in system sound settings rather than immediately replacing the cable.
    ● Confirm the external monitor actually contains built-in speakers, and verify that any DisplayPort-to-HDMI or USB-C adapter specifically supports audio transmission, as dual-mode dongles lacking HDMI identification will act as video-only DVI sinks.
    ● If the display is completely missing from the Windows output list, turn on Show Disabled Devices in the Sound Control Panel or update your NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics driver, which natively houses the HDMI audio controller.
    ● When the TV is successfully selected but remains silent, clear the enable audio enhancements checkbox in the device's Advanced properties and switch the application output to stereo PCM to bypass surround bitstream format rejections.

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HDMI audio not working is usually an output problem, not proof that the cable is dead. One HDMI cable can carry picture and sound, but Windows still picks a playback device on its own. That is why a TV can show the desktop while staying silent, or why laptop speakers keep playing after you plug in the display.

If you have picture but hdmi no sound, confirm the TV or monitor actually has speakers, then select that HDMI device as the Windows output. The same checks cover hdmi audio not working windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, but these sound-output steps still apply. Eligible Windows 10 version 22H2 PCs can keep getting consumer Extended Security Updates through October 12, 2027.

This guide covers hdmi sound not working, a missing HDMI device, stuttering audio, and no audio from pc to tv hdmi. Recoverit Audio Recovery does not repair HDMI sound. Use it later only if a crash or storage problem deleted a local recording.

Part 1. What Does an HDMI Audio Problem Look Like?

Name the symptom before you change drivers. HDMI no audio is not one fault. Picture-only output, a missing device, dropouts, and laptop-speaker fallback each point to a different check.

HDMI Video Works but There Is No Sound

This is the common hdmi sound not working case. The cable is passing video, but Windows is still sending sound to Speakers, Headphones, or the last Bluetooth device. Microsoft says an HDMI or other external audio device often has to be selected as the output. A working picture does not force Windows to switch sound.

HDMI Audio Device Is Missing From Windows

If the TV never appears under Output, Windows did not enumerate an HDMI audio endpoint. The display may have no speakers, the device may be hidden or disabled, or the graphics driver's HDMI audio component may be off. Treat a missing device as a detection problem, not as automatic cable failure.

HDMI Sound Cuts Out or Stutters

Sound that cuts in and out usually follows the physical path: a loose plug, a bent port, a long or cheap cable, or an adapter that cannot hold the handshake. Sleep, a dock, or moving the laptop can reproduce the same dropout. Swap the cable and the HDMI port before you reinstall Windows audio.

PC Plays Sound Through Speakers Instead of the TV

Windows remembers the previous default output. After you connect a TV, the laptop speakers can stay selected. Games, browsers, and meeting apps can also keep their own output even after the system default changes. This is a settings issue more often than a broken HDMI port.

HDMI Works on One Display but Not Another

Many desk monitors accept HDMI video and have no speakers. If you set that monitor as the default device, you get silence with a perfect picture. Microsoft warns against leaving a speakerless external monitor selected. Check the spec sheet and any headphone jack on the display before you replace hardware.

Part 2. Quick Checks Before Changing Windows Settings

Do these checks first. They catch the cases that look like windows 10 hdmi no audio but are not a Windows bug.

• Confirm the TV or monitor has speakers or an audio output. A silent office monitor is not an HDMI fault. Use the TV speakers, the monitor headphone jack, or a soundbar.
• Check TV volume, mute, and input. Use the TV remote, not only the Windows volume icon. Confirm the TV is on the same HDMI input you plugged into, and that the TV is not muted or set to a headphone or Bluetooth output.
• Reconnect the HDMI cable and restart both devices. Unplug both ends, seat them fully, then power the TV off and on. Standby is not always enough for a fresh handshake.
• Try another HDMI port, cable, or adapter. Test a known-good cable on a different TV port and a different PC port. If you use a DisplayPort-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-HDMI adapter, test a direct HDMI cable when the PC has a native HDMI port.
• Connect the display before opening audio or video apps. Some apps lock the output that existed when they launched. Plug in the TV, then open the browser, game, or player.
• Remember Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. HDMI troubleshooting still works on Windows 10 and 11. If the PC stays on Windows 10 22H2, consumer Extended Security Updates currently run through October 12, 2027. Do not install unofficial driver packs to "keep Windows 10 working."

Part 3. Why Is HDMI Audio Not Working?

Match the sign to the cause before you change drivers. Most no sound through hdmi cases sit in this table.

One adapter issue looks like a Windows fault and is not. DisplayPort audio documentation says dual-mode DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters need HDMI identification for audio. Without that identification, the PC can treat the TV as a DVI sink and send video only. This applies to DisplayPort-to-HDMI dongles, not to every USB-C adapter.

Part 4. Fix HDMI Audio Output in Windows

Start here when the TV appears in Windows but you still have hdmi audio not working. These six fixes stay inside sound settings.

Fix 1. Select HDMI as the Windows Audio Output

Windows may keep the previous output after you connect a TV. Select the HDMI device, then play a short clip.

Step 1. Open Settings > System > Sound. On Windows 11, you can also click the taskbar speaker and use the output arrow. On Windows 10, right-click the speaker and open Sound settings.

Step 2. Under Output, choose the TV or monitor. Play a video or use Test. If the display has no speakers, do not leave it selected or the whole PC will stay silent.

Fix 2. Enable the HDMI Device and Set It as Default

A detected HDMI device can still be disabled. Setting it as the default device stops Windows from falling back to laptop speakers.

Open More sound settings or Sound Control Panel from the Sound page. On the Playback tab, right-click the HDMI device, choose Enable, then choose Set as Default Device. If calls stay on the laptop, also set it as the default communication device.

Fix 3. Run the Windows Audio Troubleshooter

Microsoft recommends the built-in audio troubleshooter before driver work. On Windows 11 it can also start from Get Help.

Step 1. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. On older Windows 10 builds, look under Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Step 2. Run Audio. Some screens still label it Playing Audio. Choose the HDMI device when Windows asks, then test the TV again.

Fix 4. Disable Audio Enhancements and Check the Audio Format

Enhancements and an unsupported format can leave a TV listed but silent. Microsoft includes turning off audio enhancements in its sound-fix steps. There is no single required bit depth for every TV.

In Sound Control Panel, open the HDMI device Properties and go to Advanced. Clear Enable audio enhancements. If Test fails, try 16 bit, 48000 Hz or 24 bit, 48000 Hz, then click Test and Apply. If the TV or receiver still stays silent, switch the app or device to stereo PCM instead of a surround bitstream.

Fix 5. Restart Windows Audio Services

Audio services can stall after sleep, a dock change, or an update. The HDMI device may still appear while nothing plays.

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and restart Windows Audio. Repeat for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and Remote Procedure Call (RPC), which Microsoft lists with those audio services. Then select the HDMI output again.

Fix 6. Check App Volume and Output Settings

One app can stay silent while YouTube or system sounds work. Windows lets each app keep its own volume and output device.

Open Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Find the browser, game, or meeting app. Raise its volume and point its output at the HDMI TV. Close and reopen the app if it launched before the TV was connected.

Part 5. Fix Missing HDMI Audio Device

Use this part when hdmi sound not working includes a TV that never appears in the output list.

Fix 1. Show Hidden or Disabled Playback Devices

Windows hides disabled or disconnected HDMI endpoints. The device can exist without showing up in Settings.

In Sound Control Panel, open Playback, right-click empty space, and turn on Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices. If the TV appears, enable it and set it as default.

Fix 2. Scan for Hardware Changes in Device Manager

A rescan can restore an HDMI endpoint after a cable swap, dock change, or failed handshake.

Open Device Manager, select the PC name or an audio device, then choose Scan for hardware changes. Wait for the list to refresh before you uninstall anything.

Fix 3. Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

A damaged audio driver can leave no audio from pc to tv hdmi even when the TV name is visible. Use Windows or the PC maker. Do not download third-party driver packs.

Step 1. In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click the HDMI, NVIDIA High Definition Audio, AMD High Definition Audio, or Realtek device and choose Update driver.

Step 2. Choose Search automatically for drivers, then restart. If that fails, choose Uninstall device, restart, and let Windows reinstall the driver. Get a replacement package only from Microsoft, the PC manufacturer, or the GPU maker.

Fix 4. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers With HDMI Audio Support

HDMI audio often lives in the graphics driver, not in a separate sound card. NVIDIA notes that many of its GPUs embed audio in HDMI and DisplayPort, and Control Panel can turn audio off on a connector.

Step 1. In Device Manager, open Display adapters and note the exact GPU name.

Step 2. Download that GPU's driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. Use a custom or clean install when the installer offers it, restart, then check NVIDIA High Definition Audio or the matching AMD/Intel audio device. In NVIDIA Control Panel, confirm digital audio is not disabled on the HDMI connector.

Fix 5. Enable the HDMI or High Definition Audio Controller

A disabled controller can cause hdmi no audio with the correct cable and GPU. The label is not always High Definition Audio Controller. Look for Intel Smart Sound, NVIDIA High Definition Audio, AMD High Definition Audio, or a similar system-device entry.

In Device Manager, expand System devices and Sound, video and game controllers. If the HDMI or HD Audio device is disabled, select it and choose Enable device.

Fix 6. Roll Back a Problematic Driver or Windows Update

A recent GPU, audio, or cumulative update can trigger windows 10 hdmi no audio or the same symptom on Windows 11. Roll back only the change that arrived with the problem.

For drivers. Open the audio or display adapter Properties, choose the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if the button is available. Restart and test HDMI sound.

For Windows. Open Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, then remove the update installed just before sound stopped. On Windows 10 after end of support, uninstalling a security update is a tradeoff. Prefer the official ESU path over unofficial update tools.

Part 6. No Audio From PC to TV Through HDMI

If Windows settings look correct and you still have no audio from pc to tv hdmi, check the display chain. These cases sit on the TV, soundbar, adapter, or second monitor.

• The TV shows video but uses the wrong audio source. Some TVs keep audio input separate from the HDMI picture. Switch the TV audio source to that HDMI input, or set the TV to its internal speakers while you test.
• Windows keeps switching back to laptop speakers. Sleep, undocking, or unplugging HDMI resets the default output. After the TV reconnects, select it again and set it as the default device.
• The TV or receiver rejects the audio format. Surround bitstream, Dolby, or DTS can leave a TV silent even though stereo PCM works. Use the HDMI device Advanced format and the app's audio output to test stereo. This is a playback-format mismatch, not a file-codec repair job.
• A soundbar or AV receiver breaks the HDMI path. If the PC goes into a receiver or a soundbar, then to the TV, any device in that chain can drop audio. Connect the PC HDMI cable straight to the TV speakers first. If you use ARC or eARC out to a bar, confirm that return channel is enabled only after the TV itself has sound.
• A second display changes the default output. Adding a monitor, closing a laptop lid, or using a dock can move sound to a speakerless panel. Pick the TV by name, not just "HDMI".
• The adapter or cable is video-only. Microsoft's Surface display guidance treats HDMI as an audio and video connection, and notes that a long cable can lose image or sound. USB-C-to-HDMI audio works only when the adapter or dock is designed to carry it. A DisplayPort dual-mode dongle without HDMI identification can show a picture with no sound.

Part 7. Recover Lost Audio Files After a Crash or Storage Problem

HDMI silence is a playback path. Lost audio files are a storage problem. Use this part only when a recording, export, or project file disappeared from a drive. Do not install recovery software to "fix" a quiet TV.

When Audio File Recovery Is Relevant

File recovery matters after a crash, accidental delete, format, or storage error, not after Windows picks the wrong HDMI device. Typical cases: a DAW project vanished from the PC, a recorder export disappeared from a USB drive, or a meeting recording was emptied from Recycle Bin.

Recovery is possible only when the audio data was written to readable storage and has not been overwritten. Recoverit cannot rebuild a take that never reached disk, decrypt a locked volume without the password, or restore a file that a new save already replaced.

Recover Deleted or Lost Audio Files With Wondershare Recoverit

Wondershare Recoverit scans a Windows PC, internal drive, USB drive, memory card, camera, or recorder for remaining audio data. Current product formats include AAC, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, MP3, PCM, WAV, and WMA. If you already know the type, start with the matching guide for MP3, WAV, FLAC, or M4A.

Install Recoverit on a different drive from the one you plan to scan. After a crash or incomplete save, it can search whatever audio data was actually written. It cannot invent the missing seconds if the app never flushed them to disk.

Step 1. Select the drive that held the recording.

Open Recoverit, choose Hard Drives and Locations, then select the internal disk, USB drive, or memory card. Do not scan the HDMI TV. The TV is an output device, not the file's storage.

Step 2. Filter the scan to audio files.

Use Filter to narrow File Type and File Size to the recording you need. That keeps a large disk scan from burying one WAV or MP3 under unrelated documents.

Step 3. Preview the files and save them to another drive.

Preview the hits, select the recordings you need, and click Recover. Save them to a different disk or USB drive. Saving back to the source can overwrite other recoverable audio.

Why Recoverit Does Not Fix HDMI Sound Output

Recoverit restores files from readable storage. It cannot select an HDMI playback device, enable a disabled audio controller, update a GPU driver, change a TV input, or repair a DisplayPort adapter. If the picture is fine and the TV is quiet, stay in Parts 4 to 6. Open Recoverit only when a local audio file is missing.

Part 8. How to Prevent HDMI Sound Problems

A few habits stop hdmi no audio from returning every time you dock or switch displays.

• Keep audio and graphics drivers current from official sources. Use Windows Update, the PC manufacturer, NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. Skip unverified driver packs.
• Use a reliable HDMI cable and a compatible adapter. Replace a damaged cable. If you need an adapter, pick one that is specified to carry audio, not a video-only dongle.
• Recheck the playback device after every display change. Docking, a second monitor, or a TV power cycle can move Windows back to Speakers.
• Connect the TV before you open the player or game. Then confirm that app's Volume mixer output once.
• Keep Windows and TV firmware on a supported path. Windows 11 PCs should stay updated. Windows 10 22H2 PCs that remain in use should use official ESU rather than random ISO or driver sites.
• Keep important recordings on a second drive. HDMI troubleshooting does not protect a project file. Copy exports off the working disk before you chase driver rollbacks.

Conclusion

HDMI audio not working is usually a playback-device, driver, or display-chain problem. Select the TV in Windows, enable it as the default device, and confirm the monitor actually has speakers. If the HDMI endpoint is missing, check hidden devices, the graphics driver's audio component, and any DisplayPort or USB-C adapter before you replace the cable.

The same sequence applies to Windows 11 and to Windows 10 after end of support. Recoverit cannot restore TV sound. Use it only when a local recording was deleted or left behind after a crash, and save recovered files to another drive.