Basics

13 reasons why Realtek Audio doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

by Jonathan Dudamel
16 min read

If your sound suddenly stopped working, the most likely culprits are a bad driver, a wrong output device, or a disabled Windows audio service. This article explains how to fix Realtek Audio not working in Windows 10, what causes it, and gives step‑by‑step repairs you can follow to restore sound.

You’ll learn 13 common causes — from driver problems and Windows updates to hardware and BIOS settings — with clear, beginner‑friendly steps to resolve each one.

Contents show

Key Takeaway

The fastest fix is usually to reinstall the correct Realtek driver and ensure Windows is using the correct playback device; if that fails, check Windows Audio services, device manager status, and BIOS onboard-audio settings before moving on to system repairs or hardware checks.

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem Quick Solution
1. Missing or corrupt Realtek driver Reinstall the Realtek audio driver from your PC/motherboard manufacturer.
2. Wrong playback device selected Set the correct playback device in Settings > System > Sound or Volume Mixer.
3. Disabled device in Device Manager Re-enable the audio device in Device Manager and ensure it’s not hidden.
4. Incompatible Windows Update or driver Roll back the audio driver or uninstall the problematic Windows update.
5. Conflicting audio drivers Uninstall other audio drivers and leave only the Realtek or Windows High Definition Audio driver.
6. Windows Audio service stopped Restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services.
7. Wrong audio format or enhancements Reset to default format and disable audio enhancements in Sound Control Panel.
8. Playback routed to HDMI or wrong port Change default playback device to speakers/headphones and unplug unused outputs.
9. Corrupted system files Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
10. BIOS/UEFI onboard audio disabled Enable onboard audio in BIOS/UEFI settings.
11. Hardware issue (jack, cable, speaker) Test with known-good headphones/speakers and try front/back panel jacks.
12. Exclusive mode or app blocking audio Disable Allow applications to take exclusive control in device properties.
13. Third-party app conflicts or registry issues Clean boot or uninstall audio utilities, and restore registry backup or use System Restore.

Detailed Fixes for “Realtek Audio not working in Windows 10”

1. Missing or corrupt Realtek driver

Why it causes the problem:

  • The Realtek driver translates Windows audio calls to your hardware. If it’s missing, corrupt, or the wrong version, sound can fail.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Download the correct driver:
    • Go to your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support page (e.g., Dell, HP, ASUS) and find the audio driver for your exact model and Windows 10 version.
    • Alternatively, visit Realtek’s site for the Realtek High Definition Audio driver, but prefer OEM drivers for laptops.
  2. Uninstall the current driver:
    • Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
    • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
    • Right‑click the Realtek device > Uninstall device. If shown, check Delete the driver software for this device.
  3. Reboot the PC.
  4. Install the driver you downloaded (run the installer and follow prompts).
  5. Reboot again and test sound.

Notes:

  • If the installer fails, try using the built‑in Windows High Definition Audio driver: in Device Manager, right‑click the device > Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list > choose High Definition Audio Device.

2. Wrong playback device selected

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows can send audio to a different output (HDMI, Bluetooth, virtual device) than your speakers or headphones.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
  2. Under Output, choose the correct device (e.g., Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)).
  3. Click App volume and device preferences if a specific app has a different output selected.
  4. Alternatively, right‑click the speaker icon in the taskbar > Open Sound settings > Manage sound devices to enable disabled outputs.
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Tip:

  • Use the small speaker icon dropdown (left of the clock) to quickly switch outputs.

3. Disabled device in Device Manager

Why it causes the problem:

  • The audio device can be disabled manually or by drivers, making it invisible to Windows sound settings.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and Audio inputs and outputs.
  3. If your Realtek device is disabled, it will have a down arrow icon. Right‑click > Enable device.
  4. If you don’t see it, click View > Show hidden devices to reveal disabled/hide devices.
  5. If the device is missing, use Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Note:

  • If enabling fails, check for driver reinstall (see Reason 1) or hardware issues (Reason 11).

4. Incompatible Windows Update or driver

Why it causes the problem:

  • A recent Windows update or a driver update may introduce incompatibilities or bugs.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Roll back the driver:
    • In Device Manager, right‑click the Realtek device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available).
  2. Uninstall the problematic Windows update:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
    • Find the recent update related to driver/audio and uninstall it.
  3. Pause updates temporarily:
    • Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > pause updates for a week while you test.

Tip:

  • After rolling back, block automatic driver updates for that device by using the Show or hide updates troubleshooter from Microsoft.

5. Conflicting audio drivers

Why it causes the problem:

  • Multiple audio drivers (HDMI, third‑party, virtual drivers) can conflict and prevent Realtek from functioning.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. In Device Manager, look for extra audio devices (NVIDIA/AMD HDMI, virtual audio cables, ASIO drivers).
  2. Right‑click and Uninstall device for drivers you don’t need; check Delete the driver software for this device when appropriate.
  3. Reboot and confirm the default device is Realtek.
  4. If you need multiple outputs, ensure each is updated and compatible.

Note:

  • Keep the graphics/HDMI audio driver if you use HDMI audio; just ensure Realtek remains default for speakers.

6. Windows Audio service stopped

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows requires background services like Windows Audio to be running for sound to work.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
  2. Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
  3. For each: double‑click > set Startup type to Automatic and click Start (or Restart if already running).
  4. Click OK and test audio.

Tip:

  • If services fail to start, check Event Viewer for error details (right‑click Start > Event Viewer).

7. Wrong audio format or enhancements

Why it causes the problem:

  • Mismatched sample rates, bit depth, or audio enhancements can produce no sound or distort audio.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Right‑click speaker icon > Sounds > Playback tab.
  2. Select your Realtek device > Properties > Advanced tab.
  3. Under Default Format, set to 24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality) or try 16 bit, 44100 Hz.
  4. Disable enhancements: Enhancements tab (or Spatial sound/Disable all enhancements checkbox) and check Disable all enhancements.
  5. Click Apply and test.

Note:

  • Some Realtek drivers show enhancements in the Realtek Audio Console; disable them there too.

8. Playback routed to HDMI or wrong port

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows might use HDMI, USB, or front panel as output, while speakers are connected elsewhere.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Unplug HDMI/USB audio devices temporarily.
  2. Set the desired device as default:
    • Right‑click speaker icon > Open Sound settings > choose output > Device properties > SetIf your sound suddenly stopped working, the most likely culprits are a bad driver, a wrong output device, or a disabled Windows audio service. This article explains how to fix Realtek Audio not working in Windows 10**, what causes it, and gives step‑by‑step repairs you can follow to restore sound.

You’ll learn 13 common causes — from driver problems and Windows updates to hardware and BIOS settings — with clear, beginner‑friendly steps to resolve each one.

Key Takeaway

The fastest fix is usually to reinstall the correct Realtek driver and ensure Windows is using the correct playback device; if that fails, check Windows Audio services, Device Manager status, and BIOS onboard-audio settings before moving on to system repairs or hardware checks.

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem Quick Solution
1. Missing or corrupt Realtek driver Reinstall the Realtek audio driver from your PC/motherboard manufacturer.
2. Wrong playback device selected Set the correct playback device in Settings > System > Sound or Volume Mixer.
3. Disabled device in Device Manager Re-enable the audio device in Device Manager and ensure it’s not hidden.
4. Incompatible Windows Update or driver Roll back the audio driver or uninstall the problematic Windows update.
5. Conflicting audio drivers Uninstall other audio drivers and leave only the Realtek or Windows High Definition Audio driver.
6. Windows Audio service stopped Restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services.
7. Wrong audio format or enhancements Reset to default format and disable audio enhancements in Sound Control Panel.
8. Playback routed to HDMI or wrong port Change default playback device to speakers/headphones and unplug unused outputs.
9. Corrupted system files Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
10. BIOS/UEFI onboard audio disabled Enable onboard audio in BIOS/UEFI settings.
11. Hardware issue (jack, cable, speaker) Test with known-good headphones/speakers and try front/back panel jacks.
12. Exclusive mode or app blocking audio Disable Allow applications to take exclusive control in device properties.
13. Third-party app conflicts or registry issues Clean boot or uninstall audio utilities, and restore registry backup or use System Restore.
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Detailed Fixes for “Realtek Audio not working in Windows 10”

1. Missing or corrupt Realtek driver

Why it causes the problem:

  • The Realtek driver translates Windows audio calls to your hardware. If it’s missing, corrupt, or the wrong version, sound can fail.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Download the correct driver:
    • Go to your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support page and find the audio driver for your exact model and Windows 10 build.
    • If using a custom desktop, you can also download from Realtek‘s site (prefer OEM drivers for laptops).
  2. Uninstall the current driver:
    • Open Device Manager (right‑click Start > Device Manager).
    • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
    • Right‑click the Realtek device > Uninstall device. If shown, check Delete the driver software for this device.
  3. Reboot the PC.
  4. Run the driver installer you downloaded and follow prompts.
  5. Reboot again and test sound.

Notes:

  • If the installer fails, in Device Manager right‑click the device > Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list > choose High Definition Audio Device to use the generic Microsoft driver.

2. Wrong playback device selected

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows may be sending audio to another output (HDMI, Bluetooth, virtual device) instead of your speakers/headphones.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
  2. Under Output, choose the correct device (e.g., Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)).
  3. Click App volume and device preferences to ensure apps are not assigned a different output.
  4. Or right‑click the speaker icon > Open Sound settings > Manage sound devices to enable disabled outputs.

Tip:

  • The speaker icon near the clock often has a quick device dropdown to switch outputs fast.

3. Disabled device in Device Manager

Why it causes the problem:

  • The audio device can be disabled manually or by drivers, making it unavailable to Windows sound settings.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and Audio inputs and outputs.
  3. If your Realtek device shows a down arrow, right‑click > Enable device.
  4. If you don’t see the device, select View > Show hidden devices.
  5. If the device is still missing, use Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Note:

  • If enabling fails, check driver reinstall (see Reason 1) or hardware (Reason 11).

4. Incompatible Windows Update or driver

Why it causes the problem:

  • A recent Windows update or driver update may have introduced a bug or incompatibility.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Roll back the driver:
    • In Device Manager, right‑click the Realtek device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available).
  2. Uninstall a recent Windows update:
    • Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
  3. Pause updates temporarily: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > pause updates.
  4. If rolling back helped, use Microsoft’s Show or hide updates tool to block the problematic update.

Tip:

  • Keep recovery options handy (System Restore point) before major updates.

5. Conflicting audio drivers

Why it causes the problem:

  • Multiple audio drivers (HDMI audio from GPU, virtual audio, Bluetooth) can conflict and stop Realtek from functioning correctly.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Device Manager and review audio devices (e.g., NVIDIA High Definition Audio, Virtual Audio Cable).
  2. Right‑click and Uninstall device for drivers you don’t need; check Delete the driver software for this device if you’re sure.
  3. Reboot and set Realtek as the default device in Sound settings.

Note:

  • If you need HDMI audio, keep it but ensure Realtek remains the default for speakers.

6. Windows Audio service stopped

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows relies on background services like Windows Audio; if they stop, sound stops.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
  2. Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
  3. Double‑click each service, set Startup type to Automatic, then click Start or Restart.
  4. Click OK and test audio.

Tip:

  • If services fail to start, check Event Viewer (right‑click Start > Event Viewer) for detailed error logs.

7. Wrong audio format or enhancements

Why it causes the problem:

  • Incompatible sample rate/bit depth or problematic sound enhancements can cause silence or distorted audio.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Right‑click speaker icon > Sounds > Playback tab.
  2. Select Realtek device > Properties > Advanced tab.
  3. Choose a standard format (try 16 bit, 44100 Hz or 24 bit, 48000 Hz) and click Test.
  4. Open Enhancements tab (or Spatial sound) and check Disable all enhancements.
  5. Apply changes and test.

Note:

  • Some Realtek control panels have additional enhancement settings—disable them there too.

8. Playback routed to HDMI or wrong port

Why it causes the problem:

  • Windows can send sound through HDMI (monitor/TV) or another port, leaving speakers silent.
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Step-by-step solution:

  1. Disconnect HDMI or USB audio devices temporarily.
  2. Right‑click speaker icon > Open Sound settings > select desired Output device.
  3. If using front panel jacks, try plugging into the back panel or vice versa.
  4. In Control Panel > Sound > Playback, right‑click the device you want and choose Set as Default Device.

Tip:

  • If your audio jack is multi-purpose, press Windows + I and search the realtek audio manager to configure jack assignments.

9. Corrupted system files

Why it causes the problem:

  • Corrupted Windows system files can break audio services or drivers.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Command Prompt (Admin): right‑click Start > Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Run System File Checker:
    • sfc /scannow
  3. If SFC reports issues, run DISM:
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. Reboot and re-run sfc /scannow until it reports no integrity violations.

Note:

  • These commands can take time; do not interrupt them.

10. BIOS/UEFI onboard audio disabled

Why it causes the problem:

  • The motherboard’s onboard audio may be disabled in BIOS/UEFI, especially if you previously used a discrete sound card.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI (often Del, F2, F10, or Esc during boot — check your PC manual).
  2. Navigate to Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or similar.
  3. Ensure Onboard Audio or HD Audio Controller is Enabled.
  4. Save changes and reboot.

Warning:

  • Changing other BIOS settings can affect system stability; only change what you understand.

11. Hardware issue (jack, cable, speaker)

Why it causes the problem:

  • Faulty cables, broken jacks, or dead speakers/headphones produce no sound even if software is correct.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Test the speakers/headphones on another device (phone, laptop).
  2. Try different cables and ports (front/back panel).
  3. If using USB audio, try a different USB port.
  4. Inspect the sound card or motherboard audio jack for physical damage.

Tip:

  • For laptops, if both speakers and headphone jack are dead, it’s more likely a driver or internal hardware failure—contact service.

12. Exclusive mode or app blocking audio

Why it causes the problem:

  • Some apps can take exclusive control of audio (recording apps, VoIP), preventing other sound from playing.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Right‑click speaker icon > Sounds > Playback tab.
  2. Select Realtek device > Properties > Advanced tab.
  3. Uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
  4. Click Apply, OK, and test.

Note:

  • Close apps one by one to find the one grabbing exclusive control.

13. Third-party app conflicts or registry issues

Why it causes the problem:

  • Audio utilities (equalizers, virtualization software) or a broken registry entry can disrupt audio.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Perform a clean boot:
    • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, go to Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all; in Startup open Task Manager and disable startup items; reboot.
  2. If audio works in clean boot, re-enable services/startup items one at a time to find the culprit.
  3. Consider uninstalling third‑party audio managers (e.g., Sonic Studio, Nahimic).
  4. Use System Restore to revert to a point where sound worked: Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
  5. As a last resort, repair Windows (Reset this PC or in-place upgrade).

Tip:

  • Back up the registry before making manual edits. Use System Restore rather than Registry edits unless you’re comfortable.

Additional tips and when to get help

  • Back up your drivers: export with *pnputil /export-driver C:\DriverBackup** (run in elevated Command Prompt) or use a third‑party tool before major changes.
  • Create a System Restore point prior to driver updates or BIOS changes: Control Panel > System > System Protection > Create.
  • If problems persist after trying all steps, contact your PC manufacturer or take the machine to a trusted technician — there may be a failing audio chip or motherboard issue.
  • For laptops under warranty, avoid opening the device; contact manufacturer support first.

FAQ

How can I quickly test if the audio hardware is dead?

Try headphones or speakers on another device; then try known‑good headphones on your PC. If both external devices work elsewhere, hardware is likely fine.

Is it okay to use the generic Windows High Definition Audio driver instead of Realtek’s?

Yes — the generic driver often restores basic audio quickly; however, OEM Realtek drivers can enable advanced features and better jack detection.

How do I prevent Windows Update from breaking my audio in the future?

Create a restore point before feature updates, pause updates temporarily after a major update, and use Microsoft’s Show or hide updates troubleshooter to block specific driver updates.

Can Realtek drivers cause system instability or BSODs?

Rarely — poorly matched or corrupted drivers can cause crashes. Use manufacturer drivers and roll back if a driver update correlates with instability.

What if audio works in Safe Mode but not in normal mode?

This indicates a software conflict (startup app, service, or driver). Use a clean boot to isolate the conflicting program or driver.

Conclusion

Most Realtek audio problems in Windows 10 are caused by driver issues, wrong device selection, or stopped Windows services; reinstalling the correct driver and ensuring the right playback device is selected will fix most cases. If these steps fail, follow the systematic checks above — from services and BIOS settings to hardware tests — to restore Realtek Audio not working in Windows 10.

About the author

Jonathan Dudamel

Jonathan Dudamel

I'm Jonathan Dudamel, an experienced IT specialist and network engineer passionate about all things Windows. I have deep expertise in Microsoft project management, virtualization (VMware ESXi and Hyper-V), and Microsoft’s hybrid platform. I'm also skilled with Microsoft O365, Azure ADDS, and Windows Server environments from 2003 through 2022.

My strengths include Microsoft network infrastructure, VMware platforms, CMMS, ERP systems, and server administration (2016/2022).

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