An audio or sound driver is one of the crucial device drivers in Windows 11. No sound will come from your PC’s internal or external speaker without an audio or sound driver.
If the sound is not coming out from your Windows 11 PC’s speaker(s) and you are sure that an audio or sound driver is not installed, then installing a sound or audio driver will fix the issue.
NOTE: Windows 11 comes with a set of generic audio drivers which works on most computers. This means that, on most PCs, the audio should work even if an OEM-specific driver is not installed.
Method 1 of 3
Install the audio driver in Windows 11 via Windows Update
Yes, Windows Update allows you to download and install the sound driver. The best part is that you do not need to know your PC’s model number. Windows Update will download the correct sound driver required for your computer and install the same. Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Open the Settings app using search or Windows + I hotkey.
Step 2: On the left side of the Settings app window, click Windows Update to navigate to Settings > Windows Update page.
Step 3: On the right side, click on the Check for updates button to make Windows 11 automatically download and install the best audio driver.
Method 2 of 3
Manually install sound driver in Windows 11
Manually installing the audio driver includes downloading the correct sound driver from your PC manufacturer’s website and then installing it. In order to download the correct audio driver, you should know your computer’s model number.
Step 1: Visit your PC manufacturer’s website and visit the driver or download page.
Step 2: Type your PC’s model number in the search field and hit the Enter key. The model number is usually printed on the computer. If required, use the built-in System Information tool to check the model number.
Step 3: Download the audio driver installer file.
Step 4: Run the audio driver installer and follow the on-screen directions to install the same. Once installed, if asked, reboot your computer to complete the installation.
Your PC’s sound should start working now.
Run the sound troubleshooter to fix audio issues in Windows 11
Windows 11 ships with a troubleshooter that can find and fix sound issues. The audio troubleshooter can be accessed by going to Windows 11 Settings > System > Troubleshoot page and then clicking the Run button next to the Playing audio.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to find and fix the sound issue. Note that the audio troubleshooter cannot install a missing sound driver. So, if the audio driver is missing, you will have to install it yourself.
Our how to reinstall the Wi-Fi driver in Windows 11 guide might also interest you.
